All Discussions Tagged 'ellenberg' - Zoobird2024-03-29T11:09:36Zhttps://www.zoobird.com/group/poetryzoo/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=ellenberg&feed=yes&xn_auth=noSome Things Are Happening Heretag:www.zoobird.com,2010-07-03:2129360:Topic:264452010-07-03T21:13:14.216ZMichael Levinhttps://www.zoobird.com/profile/MichaelLevin
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelevin/2353283726/" title="My garden benefactor, Sh'mal by mlevin77, on Flickr"><img alt="My garden benefactor, Sh'mal" height="640" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2353283726_a6e416f2e9_o.jpg" width="480"></img></a> <br></br>
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<a href="http://www.zoobird.com/profile/ShmalEllenberg">Sh'mal</a> asked me to post this for him. Some of you know him as a social worker, others for his help with the homeless in Gainesville, FL. He managed the McRorie Community Garden for some time. I met him there. I wound up with my patch because he gave his to me. He was moving to Seattle to be…
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelevin/2353283726/" title="My garden benefactor, Sh'mal by mlevin77, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/2353283726_a6e416f2e9_o.jpg" alt="My garden benefactor, Sh'mal" height="640" width="480"/></a><br/>
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<a href="http://www.zoobird.com/profile/ShmalEllenberg">Sh'mal</a> asked me to post this for him. Some of you know him as a social worker, others for his help with the homeless in Gainesville, FL. He managed the McRorie Community Garden for some time. I met him there. I wound up with my patch because he gave his to me. He was moving to Seattle to be closer to his grandson. I hope this doesn't sound like a eulogy! It's more like an awakening. <a href="http://www.zoobird.com/profile/lindasolomon">Batina</a> is Linda Solomon, here on Zoobird. This is a song of joy, as Sh'mal shares with us his happiness in the northwest. He also misses his friends in the Swamp. Be sure and drop him a note here to say hi. He's published lots of short stories on Zoobird. Some are published here for the first time. I'm an avid reader and his stuff is among my favorites. Just do a search for "shmal". Enjoy.<br/><br/><br/>
<p class="MsoNormal">SOMETHINGS ARE HAPPENING HERE</p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Clear Seattle Day.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We’re on a roll here;</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Three days in a row.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Warmish too: 70s.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But to be honest, I must be a bit crazed, but,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I do long for the long, hot, humid, summer days in Gainesville.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Getting dirty and sweaty in</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">the</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">McRorie Community Garden.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love of life comes in different ways.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Listen.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Puget Sound</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Golden Gardens Park</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Far apart, white cumulus clouds,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Floating lazily suspended by the unseen.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Evaporating water particles unseen</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From the Sound,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rise up before me.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That is majestic.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gentle winds; an unseen energy.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So much is unseen.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There is, it’s true,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">More around us unseen than seen.<span> </span></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The beauty of this day is felt so peacefully.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Batina paints on 5 x 7 cards,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I write,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The same view</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Different Way.<span> </span></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We sit 30 feet from the waters edge,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A large boulder barrier between the water and comfort for humans….and dogs. Every other person walks<br/>
with at least one dog on the asphalt path between the water and us.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Seattle with a high level of dog love.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And coffee.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">More coffee and dogs per capita than where, what?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Those boulders, larger than man can move,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Moved into place by machines?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pyramids, A Great Wall, built by humans;</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">With unseen help? Did they have help?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All slaves?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mega-creations</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Does anyone volunteer this work?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Batina and I enjoying this day.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I declared it a vacation day.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A stress reduction process.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To the beach we go,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But we can’t just be.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We doodle our crafts.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eyes take in what fills the space.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Something moves something else. Inside.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All Muse. Not us.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Allow for creative energies to flow.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A love of life.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Two days ago there were hundreds of teens here.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gathering in groups.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That was the first of this three day</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Run of sun.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Must have been a school is over event.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On that day I sat in my van with a man not much older than me,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Stroked to be a partially disabled man.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A 24 hour shift, for me, 9 a.m. to 9 a.m.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Getting paid for sleep.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hmmm, not like moving boulders.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Only my third time with him. Getting to know him. He me. But still, “a stranger in my apartment.”</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How would anyone think or feel about this when</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A someone just shows up?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sent by an agency?<span> </span></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Just to be clear here:</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He was informed by his power of attorney.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But still, cognition impaired by a stroke.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Language, movement will never be</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As it was.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He seemed to love just being by the water</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Responded immediately</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To my suggestion.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He doesn’t communicate well.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">May not want to.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Uses a walker easily.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But didn’t need or want to get out of my van.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">90 minutes comfortably watching the water, boats and those many passing by</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our van window view.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">He talked a bit, to my questions: Today told me he was a mountain climber,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Electrical engineer a photographer,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Had a motor boat.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No children.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Batina and I:Words and paint expressing something</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That inhabits our beings.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is there credit due someplace?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To Whom? To What?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A hand holds a brush.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A hand a pen.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From where?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To our hands.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Miracles of time, space,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Industrial transportation.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We’ve no clue, no inquiry,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Except where we buy,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What we need.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Water ripples, breath flows.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Slow and easy</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As we</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Absorb the natural world,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Become it</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As feet move on asphalt.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Her fingers hold a brush.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What are the bristles made of?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Where did they come from?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Everything is in place.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some sails down, engines on,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Some sails filled with that</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Unseen energy, engines off.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She here, me here.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She who? Me who?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For how long???</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Any, anytime,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It will change. I know and</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We won’t be here or anyplace.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then, just being.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Or</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Still doing. A higher work.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We will abide in Love. A Gift to cherish to,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Take with us.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The brush squiggles</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Held in deft, delicate, God Fingers.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paint from some where,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Onto paper from another where,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Re-Creating water, sky, grass, sail boats,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On paper that</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Was a tree.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Imagine that.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Now a few days later, still working on this piece peace and I <i>have</i></span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">to interject,<br/>
that I just picked cherries from our backyard tree. Fuckin cherries.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A total first.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Three cherrie, cherry, trees in this rented space.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The largest, 30 feet, maybe more,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They are ripening, the other two, ten feet, still a way to go for ripening.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maybe another variety.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Amazing.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cherries.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It makes me happy to have this.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And be alive to it.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I thought there would be a tug of war between me</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And the black birds, that nested in this tree and birthed chickies.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Maybe they’re getting the higher ones.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A fair trade.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For me.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">From tree to mouth.)</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For an eye-sense. That</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sends a message,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Deep inside being, to a place,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Unseen, but knowable,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Becoming a Soul Experience.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Her hand</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A Hand</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dips the paint,</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Moves the brush.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What is that Force behind the action?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Samples, samples, of the beauty seen.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Where does pride enter as we do and be?</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What we do and be, but<span> </span></span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Soon we won’t be or do.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Time moves faster than our blinking eye</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And we don’t know.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When or How.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She holds the brush,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I a pen</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Paper lent</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love lent</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Body lent</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">All a Souls mission to experience,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To know.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Memories of parents.<span> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Forgotten how they held us</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When we were their gift from</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Who knows?</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Two day later another near Seattle beach.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My 13 month old granddaughter,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our first excursion out of their house,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My son Gabriel, girl friend, Megan, their son, Vaden,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Into my van, she enjoying,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Understands what I am preparing for us.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But not my struggle with the car seat straps.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cries, is uncomfortable. Me too.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But all settled, now smiling, knowing Grandpa Bob’s words about</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Car, go, good time.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m impressed with this babe,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">How cool she is.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We are getting to know each other.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I’m came here 2 years ago, for</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Grandson Vaden, and then</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">God blesses us with a female angel too.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We meet Batina at the beach, she was attending a</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Art meeting as her reputation is slowly expanding</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Having a show here and there.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Baby girl Clover, a smiling angel,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">No discernable words, no stand up walking,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A good crawler.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Love — Love brings us into</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Being in Life together.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A Passage to Eternity.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Could not have imagined that,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">But I see who I see.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Yes this is real.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I point out the boats, a train goes by,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The water the sand the grass.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A stroller. Thanks Megan for remembering.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My first stroll with a stroller in many decades.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On the asphalt, onto a peer, Clover keeps a well balanced demeanor.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We drive home.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I reach over and touch her feet as I did going. We smile at each other in the rear view mirror.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">A charge of love emotion fills me.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">She dozes.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We arrive at Gabe’s house. I wonder</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">If Clover coming out of a soft sleep will</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Do a crying bit —</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Ah, perfect equanimity.<span> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I love so many aspects of life. Thankful. Gracious.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">HashemAllah Hu<span> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Not a vacation day today,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Even better: a blessed day with</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Clover.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">OTHER SACRED MOMENTS</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The love of life manifesting in so many ways,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">As I thin small lettuces from my</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Seattle front Yard garden,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Propagated from seeds saved two years ago from lettuces in the</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">McRorie Community Garden Gainesville plot I helped attend.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">These tiny, some tiny, tiny, baby lettuces,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Thin-ed from between two inch high Romaine.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That hopefully will grow full size,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Allowing two or three to “go to seed,”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So I can again save seeds.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I couldn’t throw the leaves aside.</span></p>
<br/>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I know they contain energies I don’t understand.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cut their thin rootlets,<span> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Rest the rootlets near the larger plants,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To again become earth.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Gather the lettuces leaves,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So carefully in my palm.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Into the kitchen,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Many rinses</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To get off</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tiny soil particles,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lightly clinging to tender leaves.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That soil<span> </span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Helped bring forth.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So close to the ground they were.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I include these leaves in the salad</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Of the day</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Appreciating their young energies.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Never knowing what is eaten from the</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Organic gardens will have</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Special Energies that will do for our beings what</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We need to be</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Physically whole.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">After all,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">What is eaten from ones garden, that is carefully nurtured,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Sweated upon, personally energized, honored and prayed upon,</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Is in return a taste of ones own self. </span></p>
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<br/><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikelevin/2512684264/" title="Super Zuccini's by mlevin77, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2512684264_0478ca72d3_o.jpg" alt="Super Zuccini's" height="640" width="480"/></a><br/><br/><br/>