Birthday

The first in 65 years

without you in it.

Bracketed for me

the tender black silhouettes

of trees against early and late

light

Soft spring air

I dreamed you in the middle


.

Lost in the Forgetmenots tonight
A night I never imagined

A night without you in it.
Somewhere, real, in the world.

Drowning in the blue of their little faces
In memory that begins to hurt
refuses solace

And I want, forgive me, to pry
my eyes loose of the memories
my fingers from around the neck
of your soul

If you once were not
Not one thing I could have imagined
Why now that you are not
Can I not just let you fly
free of me, my longing?


.

.

I want to write you and tell you
how the peepers sound tonight
how their glorious sexifying
makes me want to be in your arms

To tell you of the stars
so bright you'd be amazed
I want to wait for the sweet
Honey, I'm home

To hear your voice
to make plans
to laugh and dream
I just want you.


.

This was a favorite of Edwin's -- he sent it to me early in our courtship.

The Lama of the Crystal Monastery appears to be a very happy man, and

yet I wonder how he feels about his isolation in the silences of

Tskang, which he has not left in eight years now and, because of his

legs, may never leave again. Since Jang-bu seems uncomfortable with the

Lama or with himself or perhaps with us, I tell him not to inquire on

this point if it seems to him impertinent, but after a moment Jang-bu

does so. And this holy man of great directness and simplicity, big

white teeth shining, laughs out loud in an infectious way at Jang-bu’s

question. Indicating his twisted legs without a trace of self-pity or

bitterness, as if they belonged to all of us, he casts his arms wide to

the sky and the snow mountains, the high sun and dancing sheep, and

cries, “Of course I am happy here! It’s wonderful! ESPECIALLY when I

have no choice!”

In its wholehearted acceptance of what is, this is just what Soen

Roshi might have said: I feel as if he had struck me in the chest. I

thank him, bow, go softly down the mountain: under my parka, the prayer

flag glows. Butter tea and wind pictures, the Crystal Mountain, and

blue sheep dancing on the snow - it’s quite enough!

Have you seen the snow Leopard?

No! Isn't that wonderful?

Peter Matthiessen - “The Snow Leopard”

Paradise

Any day I knew you
took a breath

Any evening I knew you'd
be home

Any morning I woke
with you in my bed

Any time my body
touched yours

Any second our
eyes met

Every time our
minds sang together

Mysteries of Nature

The gibbous moon keeps watch
spring frost

The beast, blood full of flowers
lounges in bower birds nests

Violets protest, the fern unfurls
its fronds; iris buds fatten

Peepers batten down, naked and wet
There is hope yet: find that girl, find that girl

Heart, out of season, out of reason,
out of hope. Hoping nevertheless, yes?

First greeting of the first violets
Followed by the elder full of bloom
and the honeysuckle foaming along
the hedgerows.

The pale luminescent green of the new dogwood,
flutters in the understorey
the dark translucence of the Redbud, greening.

The first crop of lion's teeth all blowsy
and fields gone gold with wild mustard

Mayapple poking up its charming green umbrellas
the flower you'll never find without hunting for it

All the apples but the eldest in full bloom
the old lady always waits

Spring has made it through another
winter. Go. Do likewise.

Cinco de Mayo

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond its significance in Mexico.[4] Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration advertising Mexican products and services with an emphasis on beverages, foods, and music.[5] The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican descent, much like St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, or Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German, and Chinese descent, respectively. As a result, the holiday is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origins, particularly in cities and states where there is a large population of Mexican origin. Although it is no more an officially-recognized holiday than St. Patrick's Day, many cities with large populations of Mexican origin honor the day as a symbolic representation of Mexican pride and as a representation of a culture that blends both Mexican and American roots. Celebrations tend to draw both from traditional Mexican symbols, such as the Virgin de Guadalupe, as well as prominent figures of Mexican descent in the United States, such as César Chávez.

Into the air, Junior Birdmen!!

May 2, 2007, 5:11 pm

Bush: ‘I’m the Commander Guy’

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg

WASHINGTON, May 2–And you thought he was still “the decider.”

President Bush coined a new nickname for himself — ‘’the commander guy” — on Wednesday, as he criticized Congressional Democrats in a speech to the annual gathering of the Associated General Contractors of America, a construction industry trade group.

The man who last year proclaimed “I’m the decider,’’ in response to a question about whether he would fire Donald Rumsfeld as defense secretary, came up with this latest moniker in explaining why he vetoed an Iraq war spending bill that dictated a timeline for troops to withdraw from Iraq.

“The question is, ‘Who ought to make that decision, the Congress or the commanders?,’’ Mr. Bush said. “As you know, my position is clear – I’m the commander guy.”

For the rest: clicky

Hattip to Renee ♥s

Happy Third Birthday, Tanner!!

The garden's full of Forgetmenots today!

A funny story

This morning, reading one of my favorite blogs (see link next story down), I checked the comments, which led me to the closing of Utah's Republican convention (where I suspect my youngest brother was present). I decided to post the excerpt below. Then went looking for an illustration. I googled "crazy elephants" and on the first page, the picture from the book Why Mommy is a Democrat came up. Which wouldn't be unusual, except that it was the picture Julie had used for her blog entry. And had nothing to do with the comment I followed. Her entry was about her library training. . . .

Some days, the Universe is a very odd place to be. . . . Can anyone say "synchronicity"?

Some days, you're just glad you left the place while you were still young. . .

Sunday, April 29, 2007
Convention ends with Satan and immigrants

---

CALEB WARNOCK - Daily Herald

Utah County Republicans ended their convention on Saturday by debating Satan's influence on illegal immigrants. The group was unable to take official action because not enough members stuck around long enough to vote, despite the pleadings of party officials. The convention was held at Canyon View Junior High School. Don Larsen, chairman of legislative District 65 for the Utah County Republican Party, had submitted a resolution warning that Satan's minions want to eliminate national borders and do away with sovereignty. In a speech at the convention, Larsen told those gathered that illegal immigrants "hate American people" and "are determined to destroy this country, and there is nothing they won't do." Illegal aliens are in control of the media, and working in tandem with Democrats, are trying to "destroy Christian America" and replace it with "a godless new world order -- and that is not extremism, that is fact," Larsen said. At the end of his speech, Larsen began to cry, saying illegal immigrants were trying to bring about the destruction of the U.S. "by self invasion." Republican officials then allowed speakers to defend and refute the resolution. One speaker, who was identified as "Joe," said illegal immigrants were Marxist and under the influence of the devil. Another, who declined to give her name to the Daily Herald, said illegal immigrants should not be allowed because "they are not going to become Republicans and stop flying the flag upside down. ... If they want to be Americans, they should learn to speak English and fly their flag like we do." Senator Howard Stephenson, R-Draper, spoke against the resolution, saying Larsen, whom he called a "true patriot and a close friend," was embarrassing the Republican Party.

Read the rest here.

Hattip to Julie's blog.

This gives me hope, kiddles!

Even in the land of the reddest of the red, the littles are rebelling. . . .

Hat tip to Monica ♥

http://www.victoriantraditions.com/