Saturday, September 27, 2014

Nothing


is

worth

this

?

Friday, September 26, 2014

what do you see?


The Jewish man explained the beginning.

In Hebrew the word בְּרֵאשִׁית, Bereʾšyt, is translated as “In the beginning”.  

He was impassioned and eloquent.

The group of us listened.

Then it was time to return to their cells, lock in, wait for count, then lunch.

I walked through eleven doors, seven of them secure and locked.

We wished each other”shana tova,” eyes unlocked.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

If we return to source, where does source return to?


Panta the cat climbs to nestling spot on steel shelving.

Rokpa the dog will be up on sofa by now.

I sneeze twice.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Rosh Hashanah, Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה‎


Remembering

Returning

Rejoicing

Teshuvah


Carrying and stacking old wood in new place by barn and kitchen.

Rowing harbor.

Sitting zazen and reading Thich Nhat Hanh.

The day goes on.

Returning and returning.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

autumn


a

fall

from

summer

Monday, September 22, 2014

i’m twice as strong wearing gloves and boots


The inmate once said you can tell about a man by the condition of his work gloves and boots.
Work Boots: Still Life 
work boots dry in the sun.
Salt lines map the leather
and laces drool
like the arms of a new-hire
waiting to punch out.
The shoe hangs open like the sigh
of someone too tired to speak
a mouth that can almost breathe.
A tear in the leather reveals
a shiny steel toe
a glimpse of the promise of safety
the promise of steel and the years to come. 
(--Poem by Jim Daniels)
Them, and the willingness to laugh.

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Original word: repositioning ‘autos’ and ‘allos’, a student makes his mark

A student writes:
Original word: 
“Autodidallocism” - the educational process of self-teaching through interaction with others.  
Mr. Halpin favored an autodidallic method of teaching in which his students entered into dialogue with one another and educated each other via their contributions.  
(Otto-dye-DAllo-sizm; Otto-dye-DAllick) 
Happy Frindling!  
-Justin
To Mr. Snow, my response did go:
Well composed; well played! 
Compliments
(I had to look up Frindling. Of course, then, having to order Andrew Clements’ book Frindle.)