del·i·cate
Rather like “eerie” which was the subject of yesterday’s post, delicate is a very nuanced word.
I’m a robust, and fairly buxom, woman (Reubens-esque on a good day) who has grown only gradually from feeling like a totally klutzy child into an adult comfortable with, and able to celebrate, my body. I have dark eyes and (once upon a time) dark hair, and could not – under any circumstances – be described as delicate.
But delicate is a word used often to describe my gender; and in literature, art and popular culture, delicacy has been regarded (by men at any rate) as a desirable trait for women. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons for my very ambivalent relationship with the word.
There are of course some images that ” delicate” connotes with which I am comfortable; pale, fragile blooms, handcrafted glass art – or a parent holding their newborn, muscles straining to achieve a gentleness perhaps unknown.
This post is part of Ailsa’s Travel Theme: http://wheresmybackpack.com/2013/11/01/travel-theme-delicate/
Here are some other posts you may like:
http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/travel-theme-delicate/
http://shootngo.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/1698/
http://starryiskies.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/travel-theme-delicate/
http://tigadibumi.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/travel-theme-delicate/
http://ileanapartenie.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/travel-theme-delicate/
http://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/travel-theme-delicate/
http://lonnalisawilliams.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/delicately-eerie-woman-haunted-by-man/
These are beautiful images for delicate! And I agree, I dont associate the word delicate with myself but definitely with other things such as new born babies and flowers.
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Thank you so much. It was a really challenging post for me to do.
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I see you have a photo of “silver dollars”…I just love them…the sound they make in the wind is also “delicate.”
I like your choices…the newborn at the end is perfect!
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Thanks. I’m not really familiar with “silver dollars” (I’m a bit of a botanical-dummy), but I found them growing outside a National Trust house in Twickenham, England and they just looked so lovely. I’m glad I know the name now. Cheers, Su. 🙂
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Nicely interpreted and captured.
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Thank you Sally; much appreciated.
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Beautiful photos!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Hi Su, the baby is my favorite. Absolutely delicate !
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Thank you. The baby is now almost 16 and waaay taller than me, but I still remember how fragile and delicate he seemed then.
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I enjoyed your words as well as your photos, Su.
janet
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Thank you Janet; and thanks for reading my blog.
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