Monday, January 28, 2013

Small Stone: January 28, 2013



Today: I saw a lovely child exploring her world out the bus window. It made me think of the excitement of discovery. I saw a gorgeous young couple. It made me aware of youthful vitality. I saw a fast-striding businessman and I connected with the thrill of success. I saw a white-haired woman carefully choosing oranges and thought of how age allows us to be selective.

Sweet child. Sexy youth. Successful exec. Serenity in aging.

Do any of those have anything to do with the individual at that particular moment? What was their actual experience? Even close to my immediate perception?

As I reflect on the day, I am aware that all of those observations were tinged with a judgment on my part, not wholly in the moment and formed somewhere in my past.




The photo is a first leaf daring to break out of winter against a south-facing wall around the corner.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Small Stone: January 27, 2013




Somewhere in life, I learned
how to make a civil smile.

Yesterday, I exchanged
friendly, reserved, very polite smiles
with a pleasant woman
as we passed on my street.

Then, down the block a child hit me
with an unlearned smile.




The photo is of my great-grand nephew, Luke, on 
another wonderful occasion. His bright, fresh smile─
spontaneous in most children.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Small Stone: January 26, 2013



Tonight is Wolf Moon.
A search on the web tells me
to emulate my ancestors and take refuge
in my home…stay close to the fire on this dark
winter night as the winds and the wolves
howl outside.

OK!


Friday, January 25, 2013

Small Stone: January 25, 2013



Mid-winter: a time of recollection
or even collection, perhaps.
Evaluate, keep or discard.
Not Spring cleaning…
more a letting go.
Once joyful affections,
memories, beliefs
dusty with lack of care,
just fall away.

Winter, by the calendar,
is one-third over. The days
are warm here, some say
a false-Spring. It seems real.


 The photo is just a mood shot...seemed about right for today.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Small Stone: January 24, 2013



A question for the prickly pear.
What protects?

Little impedimenta,
limiting life, achieving
neither security,
nor freedom
from petty fear.

It is a time 
to remove
the spines,
one by one.


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Small Stone: January 23, 2013



Looking out, or light coming in.
I am unsure. Even the light seems
at odd angles.

Little things alter my focus,
skewing much larger values,
questioning some long-held beliefs.
Aging and letting go? Perhaps.

With some sadness:
relevance and meaning
may well be the issue.

Window in the chapel at the Mission San Francisco Solano in Sonoma, CA--the very last mission built at the end of El Camino Real.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Small Stone: January 22, 2013



The delicate fragrance brought me to a stop as I walked down my busy street this evening....could not imagine where it was wafting from…it came from the same scraggly magnolia that caused me to laugh at its impertinence the other day…blooming on the edge of winter....reflected in the amber street lamp…a waxing gibbous moon in the distance. First seeing, now experiencing the fragrance of this street tree is the message: this is my environment. And, I have a new friend.



(Japanese Kobushi--the mountain magnolia)