Sunday, July 25, 2021

pride


If I claim I was a terrible, horrible,
Evil no-good person,
It would be a lie, and it would be
Wanting always to be the best or the worst.
So now I'm destined to wander,
My bag full of pride a lot lighter,
And if I say I am done
With whatever ails me,
That would also be a lie.
I am not done, will never be done
Till the day I die,
But I am content to be human,
Naked and shaking with love
At the moment, and the next moment,
I just can't say.




Noelle Kocot
Photo: Peter Bowers





Wednesday, July 7, 2021

next time


Next time what I'd do is look at 
the earth before saying anything. I'd stop
just before going into a house
and be an emperor for a minute
and listen better to the wind
  or to the air being still.

When anyone talked to me, whether
blame or praise or just passing time,
I'd watch the face, how the mouth
had to work, and see any strain, any
sign of what lifted the voice.

And for all, I'd know more - the earth
bracing itself and soaring, the air 
finding every leaf and feather over
forest and water, and for every person
the body glowing inside the clothes
  like a light. 





William Stafford
Photo:  Peter Bowers





Friday, July 2, 2021

practice


The world you see is just a movie in your mind.
Rocks don't see it.
Bless and sit down.
Forgive and forget.
Practice kindness all day to everybody
and you will realize you're already 
in heaven now.
That's the story.
That's the message.
Nobody understands it,
nobody listens, they're
all running around like chickens with heads cut
off.  I will try to teach it but it will 
be in vain, s'why I'll 
end up in a shack
praying and being
cool and singing 
by my woodstove
making pancakes.





Jack Kerouac
Photo: Peter Bowers