Celestial Symphony

all this talk about bird song last week reminded me that back in 2002, while we were traveling the country in our motorhome, i wrote a little poem about just that topic. i included it in my first ever nomadic notebook show.   for me the really cool thing about poetry is that it has a way of transporting me right back to the exact place and time that i was when i was thinking about it and writing it.  when the heart is involved, there is such a strong emotional pull!

in this case, it was high atop mt. lemmon, outside of tucson.  it was april and there was an early heat wave happening, so we felt a little stuck up there, waiting for the temperatures to cool down a bit.  as i wandered around, with no particular agenda or responsibility, i started listening and thinking about bird song and this was the result.

 Celestial Symphony 4/12/02

Though the sweet strains of music can alter my mood,

Even set my forlorn spirit free

There’s a sound that conveys greater eloquence still –

At least this is true for me

The song of the bird with its innocent twill

Holds a true celebration of life,

A potent reminder to cherish the moment

In spite of dissension and strife

No regular rhythm or harmonic training,

No disciplined practice took place –

Yet what violin or what woodwind concerto

Possesses such pure tones of grace?

So next time the bird sings and you’re within earshot

Savor the celestial sound

Let those pure bursts of melodious rapture

Lift your soul’s feet off the ground!

(The photos are scans of negatives and the originals from the show - taken from the same trip at Roper Lake in AZ.  Not very good quality, but true originals!)

For Dad

you might think it odd that i'm choosing to write about my dad on mother's day. the fact is, that with a may 9th birthday, he often had to share his special day with the focus on motherhood.

frankly, it kind of amazed me that i was able to get up and speak at his funeral just 3 and a half years ago. i hadn't been ready for that at my mom's service. i can still remember pretty much exactly what i said. i mentioned 3 important life lessons that i had learned, by example, from living with this man:

when you say you're going to do something, do it

when you start something, finish it

when you buy something, pay for it

(i could have added as a fourth:)

share what you have with others

 simple, yet so powerful, and so seemingly lost in much of today's culture

so today, dad, i honor you.

for your integrity

your sacrifice and service to your country

your unfailing commitment to family

your far-reaching generosity

and your relentless optimism

it all seems like pretty serious stuff, but in his later years, we had the opportunity to be entertained by stories of the mischievous escapades which typified his youth. he did live a full live and even found new love and happiness after my mom passed on.

so dad, i love you and i miss you ( no one else ever calls me doll, sugar and sweets).

Something Completely Different

“help us to be ever faithful gardeners of the spirit, who know that without darkness nothing comes to birth, and without light nothing flowers”

 may sarton

i love this quote by may sarton as well as most of the books she has written. it reminds me that this saturday i will be embarking on a brand new journey – something where i will encounter both darkness and light, something i have been wanting to do for a while, but finally the scheduling is going to work. i will be starting my training as a hospice volunteer.

i have long been interested in end-of-life issues and have read a lot of books on this topic. i have spent quite a bit of time in retirement communities and assisted living facilities since that’s where i normally present my nomadic notebook shows.

yet this does feel completely different. i like that it will be stretching me in new directions. am i a little apprehensive? absolutely, but it’s ok. i'm up for a challenge and i know it will be a learning experience like none other that i have had.

What If??

what if everyone on the planet

spent the first five waking moments

of each and every day

 listening to the birds sing??

i mean really listening

with no distractions

no talking, no thinking, no planning,

no rehashing, no rehearsing the day

but just listening

and letting those sweet sounds

melt into their hearts

i'm convinced that that one small act

would make it a very different world.

because when you give attention

 to something in this way

you don't forget it....

it comes back to you

when you need it

and we could all use a little more birdsong

in our lives....