Love Is?

The way to know life is to love many things.

Van Gogh

I’d say that love has no edges, and still there are the 100 Grasses – every things, to love.

This quote was lifted from a recent comment. Thanks

In Memory Of Mothers

Salmon_Berry_with_message.jpg

Walking in the woods the other day I saw this berry, a Salmon Berry I think. I was tempted to pick and eat it, but didn’t. A woman who has recently died came to mind and decided to leave it there, in her memory. So here it is, for all to see. This could be a berry, an offering, for every mom. We all have one and whatever the relationship was/is like, the quality of nurturing for example, one can at the very least be grateful for being born into this world.

For Jack and family.

Just – Not In Sight

I’m kneeling.
Not thought of kneeling before
my laptop.
Have to. The table is low.
It’s a stool actually, not a table.
An ant. A very busy ant.
Runs up the screen, climbs up
the mountain of Jade Mountains
then off across the top of the screen.
Again.

Viewing in profile. Now down
the side of the screen. So active.
I start to wonder if it’s looking
for something. Or is it on a mission
of some kind. Perhaps it’s one of those
scout ants I’ve been told about.
WATCH OUT for the scout ant!
Beware! Be aware.

There will be a marching army
behind it. If it’s worth their while
to march this way. But I know better,
now,
not to give them any cause at all.
A whiff of something sweet, something
of anything. An invitation?
Will bring on an invasion.

Thinking about ants. Talking about ants. Using military words. Invasion. Marching. Mission. But who am I to know what they are up to. They are simply making a living. Best way they can. Arn’t we all.

….uh! There it is again making
a decent south to the task bar!
Across the rocky key pads and….
down my sleeve! Or
into the headphone jack?

Yes, kneeling before my laptop, as I still am, seems to help. With? With connecting ‘with’. Which is just about what my writing for Jade Mountains is all about.

I don’t like to think about it however
I think that ant is now down
at my foot. So perhaps it is time
to get up and take a walk in
those wonderful woods. Where I walk
with those four Bull Elk.
Not that I’ve caught sight of them.
Yet.
However. They are non the less there.
Just not in sight.
Like you.

….uh! There goes that ant again
heading for the rocks.
Over the mountains. Deft climber.
Now. Down behind the screen.
Again.
Where you all are!
Sitting.
Still.
Always still.

Staying Put – Moving On

I’ll be here in rural Washington for five more days and hope to have some space in my days to write here more. I have been resting which has been much needed and now I’m more up and about and enjoying the woodland walks. Photographs, if this slow Internet connection will allow.

I am very much looking forward to seeing a long time fellow monastic in Joseph. Her temple web site will give you a sense of the place. It will be a long day of driving on the 5th, eight hours or more, however it promises to be great scenery. And on the 7th the drive up out of the cradle of the Wallowa valley where the temple is into Washington again is said to be….well, amazing.