The US Senate Cabinet Hearings.

The Iowa Quarter's tribute to education, Wood's Frozen Hill
sits on a ridge down across Buffalo Creek
bones collected for fertilizer by pioneers
who built another school nearby where the beasts had fallen through ice
nearby where I fell through the ice, skating too late in spring.
My brother plunging through coming to my rescue,
for looking to the horizon of Young Corn familiar sloughs
lead down to the Buffalo ponds. Grant Wood lives in me.
As does a view of a hole in the ice from below
A brother coming to my aid a story as familiar as every veteran's
tale of jungle or desert comrade fallen; a long dark wall, classmates, later.
For that day was bright, and looking up and seeing a proverbial light in pond water tunnel,
feeling bottom I "jumped" at the chance to end my war
and laying on the edge of my hole on the still thin ice
rejoiced as my brother broke his way to shore.
Both soon home by hearth; my wish for all like me
forever stuck with tunnel vision. Jump.

Phil Specht  31 January 2013

Ally is six!!!!!!

We are celebrating by mommy and daddy being home sick, and Grammy and Grampa  thankfully taking Ally for most of the day, so we can rest. Ally's morning Kindergarten was cancelled because of the icy conditions as well. Fun times!

Over the weekend Ally started to get "goopy eyes". She also said her ear hurt, and when she laid down for bed, she said she was dizzy. We were hoping it would pass quickly, but she was not any better on Monday. So, we called up her pediatrician and got her in that night...double ear infection! They were not so bad that she needed antibiotics, but with her surgery on Friday, the doctor gave them to us; so Ally will be good to go. The doctor also prescribed some eye drops (although she did not really think Ally had pink eye) to clear those up for the surgery as well. Ally is doing well with the meds, although she hates the "pink stuff" (I did too, when I was little). Her energy is as high as ever, and she is super excited about her birthday. (She is a little bummbed school was cancelled this morning.)

We are all set for port removal on Friday.

Happy Birthday to our little miracle!

 

Very lovely photo from crazycritch on fickr.

♡ Awesome Ally had CLEAR SCANS today!!! ♡
This means she has been in remission for three years! ☆☆☆
Ally was diagnosed 5 years ago next month with the rare and aggressive neuroblastoma.

She will turn 6 years old on January 30th. :-D

May she live a long and happy, cancer-free life!

Her family is ever thankful for your prayers during this long and surprising journey.
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❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ Happy Dance Time! ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

Jakeof

Who would vote for this man?

It's written all over his face!

In media res. . .

 

In media res

Always, our arrival
Just as the downstairs maid
pours the boiled water
over the tea leaves
in cup bottom

The sky explorer
crosses the international
dateline

Mare nickers
to foal

Damselfly leaves
her leaf
launches into oxygen

Dung beetle approaches
prize

And us. Here.
Now.
Begging for attention.

jjl
6 Octobre 2012

 

There Is No Beginning No End

There Is No Beginning No End

 

 

light turns a corner

no longer in sight

silence call dropped

into the night

ashes shared with ocean

with mountain

voice on the other end

mid sentence

finished as all conversations are

by the hearer

continued as all lives are

by the still living

 

Phil Specht

October 5, 2012

Aspens

Air interrupted
Startle of light
Leafing sculpture
Not marble
Not bronze
Breathing leaves
Array of gold
Yellow, green,
Scarlet, dangling
Each leaf a hand
As real as sun
Clouds, rain
Waving, blessing
Speaking in whispers
Rhythm of breezes
Falling in clusters
Embroidering the road
Winter harbinger
Season’s refrain
Beauty indelible.

Pat Maslowski
October 2, 2012

First snow in Minnesota.

 

 

Five Words

The TV image was of a man and his one year old son
home after a twelve month tour

empty boots and bayonet off in the background
in the cheering gym.

no

I'm not going to tell that story.

babies delight in their feet
hold them
love it when you nuzzle them with your nose
peal with laughter when you tickle them

then we confine them in shoes(bronzed on a mantle)
and that soldier missed that first step

no

I'm not going to tell that story

hold the coffee table
come to mommy
bump

up
step
bump

so when the host of As It Happens
talked of six words
Hemingway saying his most powerful line
was six words
For Sale. Baby shoes. Never used.
bump
I sat down
(though driving a car already seated)
up
bump
I pulled over

damn, those six words had just stopped a moving car

but the image that popped into my head
weren't the shoes but those boots
I won't talk about

and five words

We regret to inform you

~~ Phil Specht  26 September, 2012

Fall for 2012 begins in the Northern Hemisphere on September 22, 10:49 A.M. EDT

bryerpatch (clicky)