Matthew’s Blog

In the past two days I have just been amazed by talent.   Two remarkable dance performances and one  Montreal street guitarist.

The first dance came from Pilobolus who I was first introduced to several months ago the same way many others did - on Conan O’Brien show or on YouTube - Summer In the City - The shadow play performance.   Shadows of full busloads of people, Statue of Liberty, and even a bust of Conan.

Well, yesterday I was surfing TED for interesting green ideas when I saw their name and had to investigate.  This performance was mesmerizing.   I like dance, but I’ve never seen synergy like this before.  And I love that they were part of the TED conference because of course art belongs in the same category as business and technology.  It is all about innovation and maximizing the human potential and delighting in the world of possibility.  Take a look

Today I was amazed by a Swan Lake performance presented by the Great Chinese State Circus.   The intro is charming as four frogs delightfully romp/leap around the stage.  The swan dance then seems like any other performance I’ve seen and then I take note that she is dancing on top of someone.  At one point she is piroetting on his right deltoid.   AMAZING strength and fluidity.

Lastly, for now at least, on the same website that brought us the Swan Lake performance an incredible guitar tapping musical performance by Erik Mongrain, a Montreal street performer with a critically aclaimed album.

Wow what incredible and beautiful paradigm shifts.  Take artistic standards and their expectations rotate them 90 degrees literally and figuratively and discover a new art-form, a new style, a new awareness, a new thinking.

Crisp Autumn
blue crisp sky above
steam and breath before me
cold no longer felt

Winter
white wind
needles on my skin
fresh anew

Running
one last lap
season’s blanket under foot
break the winter’s breath

Cover Photo
naked trees stand guard
yellow joy runs swiftly past
while white wind races

Inspired by photographs by Jim Fuglestad http://www.fuglestadphotography.com/onlineprints/landscapes/?show=mpls092.htm
©2005 Matthew Rochte

I was writing some  in haiku - some tame, some not so.

Autumn Glory
Air earthy moisture
Red, Orange and gold
Vs in the sky

Long Awaited Hello
sip kiss zip slip sigh
huff giggle tingle pant squirm
careen my oh my

Strangers
jittering at the bar
a look a touch a knowing
two keys one room’s fine

Hmm
I have a secret
wouldn’t you like to know
play to find out now

Copyright 2005 Matthew Rochte

Photos that trim the top of this "connections" theme blog were all taken and modified by me, Matthew Rochte, all rights reserved.

• Archway (Guatemala, Antigua - Archway -Feb 2005) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/arch.jpg
• Archway2 (Guatemala, Antigua - Archway2 -Feb 2005) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/archb.jpg
• Big Trees (Minneapolis, MN - Cottonwood pair between Lake Harriet and Minnehaha Creek - Summer 2005) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/bigtrees.jpg
• Busy Bee (Guatemala, Xela, Escuella de Madre Tierra Feb 2005) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/busybee.jpg
• Callelillies (Guatemala, Xela, Escuella de Madre Tierra Feb 2005) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/lillies.jpg
• Cornflower (Echinacea) (Minneapolis, MN - Cornflower/wildflower garden on Oliver Ave - Aug 2004) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/cornflower.jpg
• Dock (Clare’s Well, Annondale, MN August 2005) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/dock.jpg
• Labyrinth (Carondalet Center, St. Kates, St. Paul, MN 2004) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/labyrinth.jpg
• Pond (Clare’s Well, Annondale, MN August 2005) http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/pond.jpg

As many people know I have been on a quest to find the biggest/oldest trees in Minneapolis.   So far the biggest I have found have been cottonwoods tucked away in the parks and trails in the older parts of the city.    If you know of any grand old trees in the Minneapolis St. Paul area add a comment and/or drop me a line.  

 One of the rotating images I have atop my blog is of a pair of cottonwoods I found between Lake Harriet and Minnehaha Creek.   There are several grand trees along the route, but this one I believe is the largest.   I captured a 6 foot tall man in this photo to give it scale.  
If you want to see the picture goto http://www.matthewsblog.com/wp-content/themes/connections/img/bigtrees.jpg

A Soul’s Kiss

During the first conversation
when time seemed to stand still
two souls meet each other
for the first time

They bow and curtsy
Then walk hand in arm
as they promenade
to the dance floor

They are like old friends
One in the same
The passage of time
means nothing to them

They spin and laugh
swing, dip, and cry
A moment outside of time 
has arrived

A stroke, an embrace
A kiss, A knowing
At peace amongst
the quandary of time’s sewing

Eyes linger with sight like no other
Hearts flutter & breaths intertwine
A moments rush of energy
That bathes us in eternity

Caught off guard
the mind takes control
the body still senses though
the other’s soul-shadow

It was a soul’s kiss
An unmistakable bliss
A moment of rare delight
In that first night

A mystery of a kiss
An embrace
A wave good bye
And very old and a very new
Hello

~ Matthew Egan Rochte 6/12/2005