the edge of spring

The big wet snow falls all day
And all night and all the next day
A storm on the edge of spring
Heavy lifting work to clear a path.

The cold is in my bones now
Three months deep into the season
Tree branches break under the weight
This winter storm is punishing.

In three days we will fly to the tropics
Sweltering in ninety degree heat
Seeking any shade from the sun overhead
Delighting in an evening cooling breeze.

Here I am twenty-two miles from you
And snowbound for two days.
There we will be together every day
Thawing out and enjoying life.

scallops for dinner

You like scallops.
This was your favorite when you were a child.
Now I am preparing them for our Friday evening meal.
You are coming to visit for the weekend.

I like scallops, too.
That’s why I have them here
From before you came into my life
Liking so many things the same as you.

I enjoy making a meal for two.
For you I make sure to use plenty of garlic.
I think we’re going to have our usual good time together
But I am in for a big surprise.

You’ve been careful in this relationship,
Making sure it’s not too good to be true,
Making sure we don’t get out ahead of ourselves.
I’ve adjusted to this. I’m happy with it. I don’t push.

Today after lunch you reach out your hand to me
And ask if there’s anything I want to talk about.
Me? Nothing is bothering me. How about you?
Yes, you want to talk about us living together.

Wow! I did not expect this conversation yet.
How do I feel about it? Absolutely yes!
But where? We will find a place that works
For both of us, we have time to figure it out.

It won’t be until next fall.
I ask you again, is this about me,
You want to live with me?
Yes, you say, let me tell you the reasons why.

two weeks from now

Two weeks from now we will be driving to Blanchiseusse
On the left side of the road to where the coastal road ends.
I’ve never been to Trinidad.
I am so excited to go there with you.

I am imagining us hiking the north shore path towards Matelot
Exploring the Paria River waterfalls,
Stopping for a picnic lunch by some coastal cove beach,
Being there together in our version of paradise.

I am imagining us driving through the rain forest,
Up the switchback corners to the mountaintop preserve,
Stopping along the way amazed by the birds we see,
Amazed by the plant and tree diversity.

We have a list of places to go while we are there
Longer than we will do in one week.
All of them will be more special to me
Seeing them for the first time with you.

Today I begin packing my bag.
Shorts and sandals and swimsuit go in,
Trinidad bird books and binoculars.
I am so ready for our vacation trip.

Albert Thomas Ayling woodworking

hollow spiral lamp black walnut

1. The cylinder has been turned and is being drilled out to a pattern on the drill press. When drilled over 1/2 way through it is hollow.	2. Drilled out blank waiting to be cut in quarters - numbers (other end) in order to be re-assembled.
3. The spirals waiting to be carved.	4. Carving the spiral - using many different tools in a chuck on the end of a flexible cable. The other end (for power) is attached to a chuck in my wood lathe, which has variable speed capabilities.
5. The four sections re-assembled and glued with epoxy - held together with rubber bands and the a long piece of coated wire. Epoxy instead of wood glue (titebond etc.) was used because of a longer set-up time.	6. Turning the base for the lamp - being sanded.
7. The three parts waiting to be finished. The top and bottom are attached to the middle with 3/8" lamp tubing - electrical wire installed.	8. The lamp with one of the soaking coats waiting to be wiped dry.

snow day

orion

Late winter night evening walk looking up
Anywhere north of the fortieth parallel,
The hunter stands out bright in the southeastern sky,
The companion of those who watch stars.

The constellations are seasonal markers.
I know only a few. The rest are names.
I cannot see the drama of the zodiac
Circling the horizon like a carousel.

Anthony knew them all and would teach me
If I had the fortitude to stand in the cold night
And learn the ancient way of seeing.
He learned them standing watch out at sea.

For me there is the memory of other winter nights
Alone in the cold, the snow reflecting the dim light,
The young man eager to take life by the horns,
Following Orion moving across the celestial sphere.

Another winter’s end is approaching.
As a boy I knew only the three sisters stars of the belt.
When my first child was born I had learned to see his body.
Now my last child is grown and I see the pattern.

We learn these things if we are paying attention.
Orion was there before anyone named him.
Someone named him before words were written.
He remains a huge animate figure in the mind.

We have learned so much since then of the universe
And yet the primitive imagination is no less real,
Any more than Copernicus made sundials tell time wrong.
The sun and stars do move across our sky, don’t you see?

Something there is in Orion that speaks to me.
I think of those who looked on him so long ago
I think of those who will look on him far in the future.
I am connected by this vision passed through us.

context

Do you feel it?

All the fish swimming in the sea,
All the birds flying in the sky,
All the creatures and plants here on earth:
Our common ancestry joins us together.

How do you feel about it?

Imagine the depth of the universe
Far beyond as far as we can see.
Imagine time without beginning or end
Far past any duration we can grasp.

What do you do about it?

Imagine the infinitesimal microscopic world,
Dynamically changing moment by moment.
Imagine this transitory speck of human life
That’s here and gone before you blink twice.

Who is a good person?

What we give to others is who we are.
How we can make things better defines us.
Teach what you know, change what you can.
Create music, song and art to inspire us.