I realize it's been a while since my last post- work and a two-year old keep me pretty busy, but that's life for you- would not trade it, to paraphrase Shakespeare, for heaven's worth. In terms of current reading, not too much, I'm afraid, though a couple recommendations would be The Da Vinci Code (A little pop fiction now and then is cherished by the wisest men), The Teachings of the Buddha, by Thich Nhat Hanh, and that old perennial favorite, John Donne. The Da Vinci Code is interesting so far, if for no other reason than to point out the historical inaccuracies- being raised in a family with more than a few witches in the family tree leads one to some interesting areas of research- the Malleus Maleficarum was a real book, but not officialy sanctioned by the Church- the people that reviewed it were, if I recall correctly, horrified by it. The signatures were forged. There were no real "burning times", as that's understood by most of us, although many people, witches and not, were unjustly put to death. In my (somewhat) learned opinion, putting anyone to death for their ideology is a stain to a good name. Surely an intelligent dialouge is possible? But I digress- here's today's little opus, I hope you enjoy. Another free- verse offering, but I'm working on developing ideas in both the Japanese and English fixed-meter forms. I find this disciplines one a great deal more, as you have to choose your words much more carefully, and not waste excess syllables. Good wishes, and enjoy-

Anthem
(inspired by Psalm 8)

However hard I stare at
the tree bent in the wind, it
does not straighten
Eyes on the clock face, no
time will march faster for me
Under the passage of years
Breath in is all I take
Breath out is all I give
Strike the water, it
leaves no mark, I
write my name, ripples moving
outwards to
touch the far shore,
Dare I step from the temporal
to the brave new world? My
shadow surrounds me, this
should not surprise me as I
now know evidence of light is close at hand.
I look up at the stars-why
did You trouble with me?

As this is the first entry I'm making, I'll give a little introduction. The first literary "experience" I has was reading the Rubayaat of Omar Khayyam as a boy. I found the use of words and images wonderful, and it opened up a world of expression for both myself and others I had never dreamed of. I'd say that there were three main literary influences- Vachel Lindsey, a poet I happened across in the library, who writes with a very fixed rhyme structure, and almost like a song or chant. Also Walt Whitman, with his rich self-analysis and acceptance, and good old Henry David Thoreau- I read my last copy of Walden to tatters. And so it came to be that I, born and raised here in New England, drew my inspiration from its cities and rural areas. I hope you enjoy this, maybe find it inspiring. If you don't like it, well, that's all right too. I'd rather you felt strongly one way or another than not be moved at all. Enjoy, and please feel free to comment or email me- share a verse or a thought. Thanks for reading!

Young Man Comes to the River
Seeking inspiration, I
Come to the bridge, water
rushing below, dark and cold, bent on
errands of its own- to my back I hear the
roar of traffic, cars moving towards the ends of their drivers
And I am driven to
Plunge into the river, see the
Depths of its mystery, I
Run to the banks, seeking answers
Hearing only now the soft sigh of moving timeless waters
Evening approaches as the sun sets on the water