[This poem is based upon a wood block print by the great"poet of rain" Hiroshige - 1797-1858]
Foxes waiting under a moonlit tree to become human
have only parcels of land and the domed shadows of trees.
Do you know this as despair?
We all learned that the West was the frontier.
As the sprawl goes, the waters go and as the waters go
so goes the rest.
My mother never knew shamans.
Her friends played cards and Mah Jong
while I talked enough about Jacque Cousteau
they thought he was my friend.
I wish I knew him and the prairie dogs,
and the thunder herds of buffalo.
Will the young know enough to turn things around?
Which ever way it spins, we’ll be passing it down.
If all goes right, the foxes’ paws will sink into the soil
until the dampness wakes them from the woodblock dream;
when they will move out of the shadows into their night.
I wouldn’t wait to be human.
Knowing without knowing, they still have their freedom.
Check out the Kindle version of Conversations with Nic at
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
The AT and the Sea
I’m writing a book for some time now. It’s about the intersection of grief, resilience and coastal environmental concerns. During the last year while working very slowly or just absorbing information for the chapter I’ve been on, it seemed I needed to know why I was doing this, to even justify my writing and find a good rationale for all of it. It was not new for me to need to explain my place in time and space to myself. But what came along, and here’s the short version, was a great gift. I had been watching a documentary on the Appalachian Trail. I really had rented it for my partner.
But as I was watching it I was so taken by many themes. The whole idea of the Trail or as some call it, the AT, is amazing. A nearly total volunteer effort, it started out as an idea and was embodied by those that wanted to create one of the world’s longest, continuous footpaths. It is a journey to go from one end to other, whether you travel Georgia to Maine or go from the north to the south. Whether you only hike a small part of the trail you are in an amazing place that crosses so many states and holds throughout a sense of pilgrimage, solitude as well as communion and community. I was taken by the people that work the trail so that others can use it. How some do their quiet work on the trail and most hikers, whether through hikers or day hikers will most likely never know their name. But these volunteers work the trail and feel a sense of kinship with it and all that pass through it. They feel a sense of connection to the whole trail even if they’re just clearing a small patch near their home that’s not too far from the trail. They feel this connection even if they don’t ever hike much of the trail other than their special place.
I’ll probably be writing this book for quite a while yet. Some things take time. This documentary came along and suddenly, for whatever reason that I needed to understand why I’m writing my book, or why I write at all, I found what was for me, a deep and full body understanding as well as a metaphor that provided a key to my own work. I’m writing my small piece of the trail. This is something I’m a part of – my creative work and my hopes for it in the world– the trail and this writing and even sharing here is about being on the trail.
I understand that in my writing I’m a part of something that also goes through many states and mountains; and is essentially without a border. How can you put a border on love and spirit? As my book takes on a life of its own I also hope that it is becoming a record of how our lives are interconnected with nature; not just the living requirements of air and water and food but our emotional needs and experiences, including our grief and resilience both personal and environmental. These experiences in our lives intersect with all around us. Our personal grief, our concern for the world we live in, are all connected. There is no hierarchy of soul, just soul connections. There is nothing more direct in our lives than our relationship with nature, even if we do not recognize that. We are a part of nature. It is not complicated. It is right there.
We gain when others share their stopping points and how different ideas and metaphors have moved them through barriers or even places where they were steeping in other riches and strengths. We also gain when we learn about what acted as a green light, or even, a green fuse for us. There is plenty good in steeping; and it also feels good to move again. I came to understand that the AT allows me to feel a part of a wide and delicious group of artists, in all mediums, that want their work to express their love for the world. This is such an amazing beautiful planet and it is such a good thing to know that the joys I find in writing and dwelling in my writing are connected to wanting to be a part of the people on the trail, all who love this place, and want to make a difference.
But as I was watching it I was so taken by many themes. The whole idea of the Trail or as some call it, the AT, is amazing. A nearly total volunteer effort, it started out as an idea and was embodied by those that wanted to create one of the world’s longest, continuous footpaths. It is a journey to go from one end to other, whether you travel Georgia to Maine or go from the north to the south. Whether you only hike a small part of the trail you are in an amazing place that crosses so many states and holds throughout a sense of pilgrimage, solitude as well as communion and community. I was taken by the people that work the trail so that others can use it. How some do their quiet work on the trail and most hikers, whether through hikers or day hikers will most likely never know their name. But these volunteers work the trail and feel a sense of kinship with it and all that pass through it. They feel a sense of connection to the whole trail even if they’re just clearing a small patch near their home that’s not too far from the trail. They feel this connection even if they don’t ever hike much of the trail other than their special place.
I’ll probably be writing this book for quite a while yet. Some things take time. This documentary came along and suddenly, for whatever reason that I needed to understand why I’m writing my book, or why I write at all, I found what was for me, a deep and full body understanding as well as a metaphor that provided a key to my own work. I’m writing my small piece of the trail. This is something I’m a part of – my creative work and my hopes for it in the world– the trail and this writing and even sharing here is about being on the trail.
I understand that in my writing I’m a part of something that also goes through many states and mountains; and is essentially without a border. How can you put a border on love and spirit? As my book takes on a life of its own I also hope that it is becoming a record of how our lives are interconnected with nature; not just the living requirements of air and water and food but our emotional needs and experiences, including our grief and resilience both personal and environmental. These experiences in our lives intersect with all around us. Our personal grief, our concern for the world we live in, are all connected. There is no hierarchy of soul, just soul connections. There is nothing more direct in our lives than our relationship with nature, even if we do not recognize that. We are a part of nature. It is not complicated. It is right there.
We gain when others share their stopping points and how different ideas and metaphors have moved them through barriers or even places where they were steeping in other riches and strengths. We also gain when we learn about what acted as a green light, or even, a green fuse for us. There is plenty good in steeping; and it also feels good to move again. I came to understand that the AT allows me to feel a part of a wide and delicious group of artists, in all mediums, that want their work to express their love for the world. This is such an amazing beautiful planet and it is such a good thing to know that the joys I find in writing and dwelling in my writing are connected to wanting to be a part of the people on the trail, all who love this place, and want to make a difference.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Peace, as in Peace Pilgrim, is back in town
Any movement for peace seems to be an open door to a future I’d like to enter. There are people throughout our lives and before that have made a cause their cause and entered an arena that was larger than them. This is what happened to Mildred Norman Ryder. She transformed into Peace Pilgrim, a woman representing the ideas of peace and taking her talks on peace from place to place, back and forth across North America, on foot, to remind those she met that a better way to live is possible.
It might seem off topic but I just learned that today is the birthday of the man that created Dr. Seuss. Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss created one of the most well-loved stories and set of characters through his creative works. We know Dr. Seuss and not so much Theodor Geisel. It’s funny in a way, that someone that brought such sweet humor to us was named “Theodor.” This comes from the root words which in essence means ‘beloved of god’.
Humor is a way to the heart. But humor like all good things, can only exist because peace is present. It is the road toward all good things. It is a road that Mildred took and somewhere along the road she became Peace Pilgrim transforming not only her life but the lives of many she met. Peace is always about transformation and it always begins with one person. It is a movement from one to many. It is always a good idea. I know how fortunate I am. War has always been at a distance for me. Yet I want peace in this world because I am in this world and of it; because it matters most and because the politics and the machinery of war touches all of us as people, degrades the environment wherever it takes place and leaves us vulnerable to more destruction.
As far as I can tell there are no serious negative repercussions from peace. In fact, democracy seems to flourish, as do the ecosystems and children when peace includes them. You may not have heard of Mildred. And Peace Pilgrim may also be new to you and your family. She cannot sit in your living room or church and talk to you about her dream any longer but “her talk against hate” can be a part of your lives through Peace Pilgrim by Merry Brennan. And I think it should be every bit as much as the cat in the hat. And I’ll celebrate every day that peace is born and welcome it at my door.
I highly recommend and wish you check out http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00B2PB7QS .
It might seem off topic but I just learned that today is the birthday of the man that created Dr. Seuss. Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss created one of the most well-loved stories and set of characters through his creative works. We know Dr. Seuss and not so much Theodor Geisel. It’s funny in a way, that someone that brought such sweet humor to us was named “Theodor.” This comes from the root words which in essence means ‘beloved of god’.
Humor is a way to the heart. But humor like all good things, can only exist because peace is present. It is the road toward all good things. It is a road that Mildred took and somewhere along the road she became Peace Pilgrim transforming not only her life but the lives of many she met. Peace is always about transformation and it always begins with one person. It is a movement from one to many. It is always a good idea. I know how fortunate I am. War has always been at a distance for me. Yet I want peace in this world because I am in this world and of it; because it matters most and because the politics and the machinery of war touches all of us as people, degrades the environment wherever it takes place and leaves us vulnerable to more destruction.
As far as I can tell there are no serious negative repercussions from peace. In fact, democracy seems to flourish, as do the ecosystems and children when peace includes them. You may not have heard of Mildred. And Peace Pilgrim may also be new to you and your family. She cannot sit in your living room or church and talk to you about her dream any longer but “her talk against hate” can be a part of your lives through Peace Pilgrim by Merry Brennan. And I think it should be every bit as much as the cat in the hat. And I’ll celebrate every day that peace is born and welcome it at my door.
I highly recommend and wish you check out http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00B2PB7QS .
Monday, July 15, 2013
Dreamers dare
Dare I dream that Conversations with Nic is finally out loud and available to read? I do. It is – http://amzn.to/14jUNUs. There’s more to come. Including the book version of The Wild blue. When the voice that is quiet is given sound, the world changes. My world just changed and this time I’m owning it and taking all the responsibility. If you want to see what I’m talking about, please do and remember, in my neck of the woods, there’s the mudflats and wetlands, there’s the wild blues and the daily neurotic. So wear your marsh boots and bring along a snack and something hot to drink in a thermos. You’re about to go off the web and on a journey.
It’s spring and the host of proven winners have blossomed. The question that came to me was: dare I dream? The question came because of something good. It could be that the winds have an ally in our voices. It could be that there’s no place to turn except in or out. And that this go round it was time to turn the voice that held my dreams out. I don’t know because instructions didn’t come with this part of my life and I’m playing it be ear.
The question about dreaming is a good one. Last night I dreamt that someone or some bird, probably a heron, caught a fish. I can’t recall if it was a human or bird or even some other kind of animal. I suppose I could have a variation on that dream again. The question about if I dare to dream or not comes from a place within that’s not used to being out. It’s kind of like a fish out of water.
You may not be used to dancing your dance, singing your song or embracing your spirit and moving on. There are many around you that might yell or quietly insinuate that you should stop. But the thing is, there’s one life spinning in you that can’t. It’s weaving your dream into every fabric of your being. There’s always something spinning in you and if you don’t let it out it will knot up and you’ll have a heck of a time unraveling that ball of yarn. The weaver wants the work to be seen. It’s time to dress up, step out and move beyond the dream into the living you want and deserve to be doing. This is the time for the validation of the out loud. That’s come round just in time when everyone that needed a voice or visual connection to the outside world could find it if they had access to the World Wide Web. The web of communications that has become the life of the conversations we’re all having a heck of time keeping up with. The web has spun you into being. Live the dream and dare to be what you wanted to become.
When the voice that is quiet is given sound, the world changes. Thanks for sharing this dream with me.
It’s spring and the host of proven winners have blossomed. The question that came to me was: dare I dream? The question came because of something good. It could be that the winds have an ally in our voices. It could be that there’s no place to turn except in or out. And that this go round it was time to turn the voice that held my dreams out. I don’t know because instructions didn’t come with this part of my life and I’m playing it be ear.
The question about dreaming is a good one. Last night I dreamt that someone or some bird, probably a heron, caught a fish. I can’t recall if it was a human or bird or even some other kind of animal. I suppose I could have a variation on that dream again. The question about if I dare to dream or not comes from a place within that’s not used to being out. It’s kind of like a fish out of water.
You may not be used to dancing your dance, singing your song or embracing your spirit and moving on. There are many around you that might yell or quietly insinuate that you should stop. But the thing is, there’s one life spinning in you that can’t. It’s weaving your dream into every fabric of your being. There’s always something spinning in you and if you don’t let it out it will knot up and you’ll have a heck of a time unraveling that ball of yarn. The weaver wants the work to be seen. It’s time to dress up, step out and move beyond the dream into the living you want and deserve to be doing. This is the time for the validation of the out loud. That’s come round just in time when everyone that needed a voice or visual connection to the outside world could find it if they had access to the World Wide Web. The web of communications that has become the life of the conversations we’re all having a heck of time keeping up with. The web has spun you into being. Live the dream and dare to be what you wanted to become.
When the voice that is quiet is given sound, the world changes. Thanks for sharing this dream with me.
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