Category Archives: Poetry

To the Young Ravens The young ravens in the nest are nearly grown.They are dull black with patches of gray and white.They flex their wing muscles intermittently,but they know not yet what the wings are for. Their pink, fish-like mouths … Continue reading →

Cultivating Stillness A shallow mind is never still.A compulsive needfor constant stimulationensures a stateof constant agitation. By understanding and cultivating stillness,a deep mindis heavy enough to master itself.Stillness is the master of agitation. For the shallow mind,the world is heavy;it … Continue reading →

The Logic of Athletics He challenged the ice in canyons silvergreen.He challenged the heat, one hundred plus, to chasethe best of men. He challenged the raving rain,thunderously applauding. The gladness of the racewas always there, but those who saw his … Continue reading →

[tanka] she is the windshe cares for nothing…he is the grass;he cannot movewithout her

Layoffs Coming Next Week Everyone knows.Layoffs are coming and rumor has itnext week is the big reveal.The managers assure usthe best people will keep their jobs,that retention will be based on merit. The old timers have heard this before.Don’t believe … Continue reading →

Shock and Awe Reports that say that something hasn’t happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to … Continue reading →

The Hills of the Central Coast Under a raspberry haze, row after rowof the smooth-sanded hills of the Coast Rangecompress into a flat two-dimensional view.Except for the accidental live oak hereand there, bare grassland is all I see.Telescoped ridgelines are … Continue reading →

Oneonta Hills Dad was a ham radio hobbyistearning his first license at 14.It was a happy time for me when Dad drove upthe winding dirt roadinto the Oneonta Hills in his ’51 Ford V8where he did his radio checksfrom the … Continue reading →

[tanka] double-clickingthe Events folderour first kissremembering your touchand the tilt of your face

Murph, the Butcher One of the Ms at the M&M Marketon Huntington Drivein the early 1950swas Murph, the butcher.Dad was a meat and potatoes kind of guy,and Mother was an excellent cookof beef, pork and lamb.It helps to havethe best … Continue reading →

Dorm Room Bull Session Romans 6:1-11 “Where sin increases, grace abounds all the more,”said Paul to his roommate, the sophomore philosophy majorwho offered this devil’s-advocate wager.“I propose to you: the more we sin, the more God’s grace shall abound. Thus, … Continue reading →

Hap A lost transcript was the beginningof a life-altering event when I hoped to goto the University of Oregon.I enrolled instead at a smaller school in Idaho.Little did I know this course correctionwould mean so much. I took a summer … Continue reading →

Thomas the Apostle John 20:19-31 Faith is trust in the things you cannot see.Love is service to the least who are plain to see. Faith without love is life without compassion.Love without faith is life without a mission. You honor … Continue reading →