FootprintsintheWind.com

Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2267

Surely we need each day one of us to point us to something larger. The family of humankind to be first sure. The family of all living things to be second sure. And the something from afar to be wholly sure.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2266

Retire is a strange word. Does it mean tired again? Re-tread? Is it choice or something suffered? Or is it what’s common in our era: pulling away from things to benefit others, from activities of worth? This latter perhaps most raises my ire. I have moved from things which were valuable enough for pay, to things with which I am making my greatest contribution. Different direction, more worth.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2265

—Age—
Proof of decrepancy
Or Badge of worth?

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2264

What is my thesis that has lasting value? That Life is Conversation and is of the most important sector of living activity. Within that, there are ways to do it more profoundly. Profoundly means belonging to one another and to all living.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2263

Such a rich life we have! Those leaves—how many on that tree? Can I even count the trees? And the clouds and their particles? The many paths of the winds?

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2262

All living beings must be great approximators of their worlds. To live they must stretch their approximations by imagining and conversation. It’s tests and error, error, error, all the way up. Without error you are not stretching, a/k/a learning, a/k/a building a larger world. Conversation is the world of stretching, approximating, and erroring to stretch that world.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2261

Never mind—a curious phrase
does it direct you to lose your mind
or question if you ever had one?

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2260

I look out the window with my unlensed eyes. Up there, the maple buds, not yet burst, all deep red-orange-brown, are waving lazy fingers in front of each other, making patterns of caresses. Now the light slides in and the brilliance of that deep red-orange-brown shocks my eyes, I blink. The little white cloud behind lights these buds, and now these, a lover’s close examination. Lower, the green stained white of a pear tree receives the gentle cool sun. The pond is still, waiting for the reflection to arrive. Full sun lingers and I’d have missed it if I had only looked now.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2259

We cannot understand one another. But we can tickle something in each other.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2258

Two things seem apart from my life
one I haven’t figured out how to do
the other is cacophony to my ears
and yet these two fascinate and pull me
moving to the music we dance
making music ones together make jazz
two things somehow a part of my life

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2257

Conversation wants to be free and complete, to have all tensions and all contentment, to be free to be what’s necessary now with this person: prophet, confessor, playmate.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2256

Let us so grasp each other’s words we have them inside us. The parts you say that catch me up short: Let me write these down. Let me repeat them to you to make sure I got them right. Let me memorize them and give them back to you tomorrow. Let me repeat them to myself beyond memorizing, so that inside my head I find you.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2255

Why do I write of water and streams? Didn’t I realize water is symbolic of life?

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2254

O friend, my friend
I forgot how much I crave
wandering times with you, even intimate
your woods and waters, tiny, gentle, savage critters
you stalk and scurry and soothe: O touch! O breathe!

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2253

After cataract surgery I wonder often what other people see.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2252

If
the thing
you read
is clear
you do
not under
stand

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2250

Consider
when you close your eyes
what the babies may think to be true
the page in front of you and all the words
disappear
in equal measure
when the person in front of you blinks
you disappear
and the whole world with you
and this goes on all day long
pop goes the weasel!

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2249

A conversation is a sabbath in our lives.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2248

That ancient dream
that dream
you start to run
you need to run
your legs are heavy
and in slowest motion
that dream is telling
that you are a thing of moving
your nature is to quickly fly
the daily parts you use
cannot carry you
as poetry
as your imagination

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2247

I’m not good at opposing, at standing firm. What then? I am at least better at collaborating. So let’s work on this together, shall we?

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2246

A baby learning his toes
fingers them tastes them
bends them this way that
O could we flex so
learning our play!

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2245

Something’s not right. We all feel it. Something’s not right with the world. With a world where people get shot for ringing the wrong doorbell. With a world where people are afraid of one another. Something’s not right. Nevertheless. Be fiercely kind.

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Footprints in the Wind^sm # 2244

Preparing hostilities they are
trees planted in this forest floor
choosing friend and foe
defending and grabbing territory
loudly shouting “War!” into the wind!

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