Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Photography and Story: The First Moment



I wanted to love you the first moment I saw you. I watched. What did I notice about you first? It was your face or maybe your eyes. No, I saw you from behind so it was your head and the shape of your hips. *blush* I later learned that your hair was cut short out of respect and honor of Abambo (father) who had recently passed away in South Africa. You later mentioned that your head is shaped like his. “He is from Malawi,” you said with a smile. I smiled. It was the shape of your head that caused me to remember a moment in time. At the time, I did not know that you were from the Bantu people, but the shape of your head reminded me of the Khoisan of the Kalahari (Bushmen). They are your ancestors, but I didn’t know. Where have I seen a head like that? Yes! I remember now! I saw your head once when I was flipping through a book about the indigenous people of the Earth. There was a photo of a beautiful Khoisan woman, who was confident and young. She was surrounded by the people of her tribe, and they were smiling. Her arms were stretched wide and her body was twisted towards the sun. Her head was turned over her shoulder and she was smiling as she admired her own steatopygic beauty that most of the Western world both desired and feared. That moment came back to me when I saw you. You reminded me of the woman in the picture. It was in the shape of your head and your lovely neck; it was your beautiful curves; it was in your black, sun-kissed skin, and beautiful face. I watched. I watched as you laughed and conversed with your friends and I knew at that moment that I would love you.

Photo Source:  SBess

25 comments:

the prisoner's wife said...

beautiful.

you paint beautiful pictures.

Anonymous said...

U hooked Bess!!

Thanx babe, that's beautiful :)

MJW said...

Lovely.

Stephen A. Bess said...

SEJ-
Thank you friend. I learned that from you. :)

Prisoner's Wife-
That is my goal when I write. Thank you.

Mosadi-
I can't help it. Look at that beautiful head. :)

Stephen A. Bess said...

MJW-
Thank you.

Stunuh Jay said...

That's really lovely! COOL!

Stephen A. Bess said...

stunuh j-
Is it cooler than the water in a swimming pool? :)

Thanks.

Sumeeta said...

OMG! How incredibly beautiful! Is this about your wife?

Stephen A. Bess said...

Sumeeta-
Thank you! Yes, I wrote this for my wife. She's the anonymous note. She just laughs and tells me that I'm "hooked." :)

Anonymous said...

You have a very fertile imagination. I am "hooked" to your twist of backdoor-romance writings. The picture is beautiful!! Is that part of your novice endearvors?? She is beautiful, and you are a handsome couple. South African women are so beautiful, way to go Stephen!!!

Was I loud?? groupies!!

Stephen A. Bess said...

Tryphina-
Thank you for your lovely comments. You weren't too loud. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm blushing for her. That ws too beautiful Bess.

*Georgiapeach

Stephen A. Bess said...

Peach-
Thank you. :)

NML/Natalie said...

Wow, this was beautifully written.

Stephen A. Bess said...

nml-
Thank you.

Anonymous said...

That was so poignant and sweet.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Ms K-
I appreciate your comment. She's a good woman and worthy of being honored.

Michelle said...

There's nothing more beautiful than a black man that truly respects and appreciates his black woman. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful and intimate memory. Every woman wants this type of heartfelt appreciation. Blessings to you both.

Lyrically speaking said...

awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, I love this post Mr. Bess, talk about passion...wow

Mickle in NZ said...

Incredible writing, and an incredible way to fall in love. I send care to you each and both,

Michelle in NZ

Rethabile said...

Beautiful, brother Stephen. Um, you should see the shape of my head.

:-)

It's great you should say it but Baroa do largely have this special head shape.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Rethabile- yes, brother. I saw many heads shaped like that in SA. :)It's beautiful and distinctive.

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Oooh, my scalp tingled. I love a good love story, especially when a man declares his love for his wife.

This is beautiful.

Hi Mrs. B. (I'm waving hello).

Rabab Khan said...

Beautiful. :) God bless you both.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Thanks GG and Insanely. Love is a beautiful thing. I thank God for teaching me how to love.

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