Butternut


Listen: hushed wind in wispy reeds

Trace graceful wings on low horizon flight

Stretch long and slow to sunrise calling

Watch solitary fisher’s lazy navigation ripple

Read Waugh by headlamp under stars

Photograph leaves afloat on morning waves

Walk barefoot amid green velvet grasses

Lean back for best cloud views from this shade tree

Nod to Buddha admiring white lilies full blooming

Sip wine by candlelight in good company conversing

Return boat safe in harbour before light evening rain

Yes, alright, I’ll hope to be back soon this way again.

Carry

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In that moment you have a choice

There’s always a choice.

Someone free said that once.

Afterward.

In that moment when you’re convinced

you’ve heard the crack of bone

your leaking heart losing faith

dissonant grace

felt it, felt yourself

F

a

l

l

You know with certainty something has broken

What comes next?

Even if you don’t know yet if there’s anything there

worth groping for, worth saving—

Can you hear the music through the roar and rumble

Can you still hum some favourite tune

a few bars to hold onto

some sorrowful blues maybe

some cowboy gush of lonely bravado

some whimsical ditty

to carry you through?