Saturday, September 27, 2008

Grahame Green Quote Tom Delmore Poem

Graham Greene realized early in his writing career that if he wrote just 500 words a day, he would have written several million words in just a few decades. So he developed a routine of writing for exactly two hours every day, and he was so strict about stopping after exactly two hours that he often stopped writing in the middle of a sentence. And at that pace, he managed to publish 26 novels, as well as numerous short stories, plays, screenplays, memoirs, and travel books. He said, "We are all of us resigned to death: it's life we aren't resigned to."


The Smell and Taste of Test

This morning has
The smell and taste
Of a math test.
The one you know
You already failed.
The air holds no empathy
Only Mr. Fortier who knows
Long before you entered
You flunked. Compassion
Is a wind that never rested
On my weary shoulders
But drones as a hornet
Outside the rain spattered
Window.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Chosen


Back in July I went on a PRH Retreat in Port Townsend Washington. We were asked to go out and be chosen by a tree. I had a hard time with this because I am good at choosing beautiful trees, but one that would choose me? I followed no path and saw many trees that I liked. As I approached one a branch nudged my shoulder. I kept walking but then decided to turn around. It was amazing! If I could have climbed inside of it I would have. We talked, hugged and had a wonderful time. Yesterday I was walking my dog in a ravine by my apartment. About a third of the way through I saw a huge bird take off in front of me on the trail I thought it was a hawk. It landed in a low tree not far from me. It was a Barred Owl, in all its splendor! I had 3 minutes to chat sound and praise the universe for being chosen again. The bird considered me in a way that i could not ignore.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Quote: Naruda Poem: Tom Delmore

Naruda:" All paths lead to the same goal: to convey to others what we are."



Radio Jesus

Out on the coast
Christian radio stations
Come in loud and clear.
Modulating
Over several waves
As if
Walking on agitated water-
Held up by hymn and verve
Could save.

A savior among static.
The smell of salt
Rotting vegetation.
He says: Come rest in me
Broken crab, razor clams
Shattered sand dollar.
Listen
For the word
So wet to bring them
That much closer
To the undertow of salvation.
Amen.