We notice something wonderful on the way to City Island,
the setting moon and rising sun, across from each other on the horizon, visible at the same time.
It took a minute for me to understand, but there it was: the moon and the sun were pulling all the water on earth to opposite ends.
It made the tide extremely low right were we were,
a perfect day to visit islands that are only visible at low tide.
As we paddled through the marina we saw Lifeboat Louie pulling a hulking pile of flotsam treasure.
“That guy is famous.” I told Antone and Sara, but they were impressed already.
The water was perfectly glassy,
as we floated into Eastchester Bay.
We could see High Island,
and the Chimney Sweeps,
and found our way with the map in Other Islands of New York City.
Sara is a friend of the authors, and brought the book along. I told her it has always been my guide.
Of all the special islands in NYC, my favorites are East and South Nonations Islands. “Legend has it that Dutch and English colonists were unwilling to fight over these two adjoining reefs… so they became owned by no nation.” says the book.
They only emerge at low tide,
and host so many natural things, that I was afraid to step out of the boat for fear of hurting something.
“Just creating an oportunity for birds.” said Antone.
Earlier he had pointed out a violet color in the waves, some bit of light stretched by reflection, more visible here than in the sky.
I thought about his artwork, and how he looks for the unnoticed and implied.
We came to an island that was under construction and spoke for a while with the foreman.
I imagined the contentment he must feel, to work in such a pretty spot, but I was wrong. “Is this your dream home?” I asked. He paused for a while. “It’s my nightmare.”
Sara pulled up some information about the house as we paddled away, and there was a picture of the foreman.
We were seeing a lot of famous people, and it wasn’t even 8 a.m.
Our next stop was Huckleberry Island.
Part of Sara’s practice is a ‘Mindfulness in Nature’ art project.
It’s based on Mark Coleman’s teaching in his book Awake in the Wild. Sara thinks it’s important to connect with natural objects in the city too.
“Can you meditate on a rock?” I asked. “Can you meditate on another person?” asked Antone.
“Or how about the green moss? It might be cool to connect with something that is going to be under water in a few hours.”
Sara guided us while we emptied our minds and absorbed every stimulus in our surroundings.
We concentrated on each sensation one by one; we touched, tasted, felt, and listened to the moss. We felt the island underneath, and listened to the things in the air all around us.
Talking about it later, I realized how much energy I spend communicating rather than perceiving.
When our meditation was over, the moss was disappearing under water.
This is Antone’s picture of South Nonations Island. I realized later that I didn’t take many pictures that day. The events exist strongly in my memory; the vision of the sun and moon, the violet waves, the moss disappearing into the sea. Maybe pictures are like talking, a way to communicate that reduces my awareness just a little bit.
Thank you Antone and Sara for a great day!
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