Australian Magpie mural in Chippendale for Mural Monday

 

I have begun to think my left knee carries a double grievance — a meniscus quietly torn, a tendon inflamed and unyielding — conspiring to still me for months. What once moved without thought now hesitates. Each step feels negotiated, each staircase a small summit. There is a dull sorrow in enforced stillness, in watching distance exist where ease once lived.

And yet, on a wall in Chippendale, a painted Australian magpie stands poised in permanent balance. Its form, bold against brick, holds both grace and defiance — a creature ready to stride, to claim its perch, to sing into open air. I find myself drawn to its style: sharp lines, confident posture, colour laid down without apology.

While my own movement narrows to careful increments, the mural keeps its effortless stance. It is a reminder that strength can exist even in stillness, that even when grounded, there is presence — and perhaps, eventually, flight.

Sony A7RV

FE 20-70mm f4 G

Linking Mural Monday