Greetings Neighbors and Strangers, Loosed from summer’s twiggy anchor, Oak Leaf blows to rest on snow white ground. Ruddy-brown, many-pointed. Hand of tree. Glossy crown of these hardwood hills. Past midwinter, Sun finds any dark point on the blank canvas of ground and pours warmth there. Into fallen pine needles. Into wind-broken twigs. Into this single Oak Leaf. Paper-thin Sun catcher. Many-pointed snow-melter. More than a fingernail deep by the time I come along some number of sunny days later. And nearly perfect. Straight sided. Like a handprint into wet concrete, minus the request for permanence. We were here, together. Today. I saw your beauty. I will remember you.
A beautiful morning meditation that I will forward to two grandchildren. It is my belief that they will understand and carry your thoughts with them into the days before them.
Had to look up the etymology of consume: "from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + sumere "to take," from sub- "under" (see sub-) + emere "to buy, take" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute")." Like pulling out the rug, it puts us off balance.
This is pure gold, Adam. You are a muse for our times, and I'm so grateful for your wisdom.
Beauty captured in careful language. I am moved by the appreciation shown here for the land, the people who share food, and the wisdom of the elders.
A beautiful morning meditation that I will forward to two grandchildren. It is my belief that they will understand and carry your thoughts with them into the days before them.
Had to look up the etymology of consume: "from assimilated form of com-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see com-), + sumere "to take," from sub- "under" (see sub-) + emere "to buy, take" (from PIE root *em- "to take, distribute")." Like pulling out the rug, it puts us off balance.
Crying now. As so often, on the face of what you write.
Kx