--

There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks.

Most of the time we are simply not patient enough,

quiet enough, to pay attention to the story.


-- Linda Hogan

To Heather and Sean

Peonies arranged like jewels,
witness to our joy,
bobbed upon a table
while we ate and drank and danced;
even little boys jumped about
and smiled.
But most of all, it was a family
of blood and not blood too
gathered in loving celebration
for the joining of you two.

In this world
that can snarl and sting and bite,
hold that family to your hearts,
arrange them for their beauty
on the table of your life.
Flowers fade and die away
sooner than do we,
so gather in your loved ones
unto the distant cousins,
mothers and fathers and grandparents, too
to live and love in the garden with you.

-- Barbara Wolf
-- June 26, 2010

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

-- William Shakespeare

I live beneath the rocks

"I live beneath the rocks," said he,
"In wooded valley, mossy dell,
Away from angry urban yell."

"My time is never dull," said he,
"I gather berries, roots & bark,
Then sing & dance through day & dark."

"Perhaps you'll soon drop in,' said he,
"It is not hard; let thought unwind,
And wander where you find your mind.'

-- Merlin Sheldrake

There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

... The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

... Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

Taps

Taps
{original lyric inspired bugle music}

Day is done
Gone the sun
From the lakes
From the hills
From the sky
All is well
Safely rest
God is nigh

Fading light
Dims the sight
And a star
Gems the sky
Gleaming bright
From afar
Drawing nigh

Falls the night

Thanks and praise

For our days
Neath the sun
Neath the stars
Neath the sky


As we go
This we know
God is nigh.