capturing
that very last second
as the sun slips
over the trees
floating on a boat
laying back
looking up
as day turns to night
soon
sky to stars
hot day to breeze
water lapping
so very slowly
sleep tempting
quiet calling.
—
‘there is absolutely no reason for bring rushed along with the rush.
everybody should be free to go slow.’
-robert frost
—
irish hills, mi, usa, june 2025
after 3 years
my little stick
left untouched
given time and space
has grown into
a baby peony tree
well worth the wait
for its very first bloom.
—
“in early june, the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.”
-john steinbeck
“let your children see you slow down.
read a book, walk in the woods,
sip coffee in the early hours of the morning.
because when they grow up,
they’ll know how to slow down, too.”
-angela anaghost-repke
the old one
takes his time
relaxes and fishes
the young ones row fast
all in a crew
the middle one
yells
from a motor boat
tells them how and what to do.
—
“old age is ready to undertake tasks
that youth shirked because they would take too long.”
-w. somerset maugham
skipping stones, barefoot, wading,
walking on rocks, talking, and resting
on a slow summer day on the river.
—
“how beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterward.”
~spanish proverb
go slow reminder sign
—
with the world spinning by
and the kinders
always moving so fast
(with frequent collateral damage)
we decided
to try slowing things down a bit
so
they painted signs as reminders
practiced spelling and saying it
posted them around the room
first day –
one hit his head
because he
‘decided to jump backwards’
one fell down
while stretching and balancing
on a shaky stool
one banged something
when skipping down the hall.
we’re still working out the details.
=
wisely, and slow. they stumble that run fast.
– william shakespeare
today’s plan has quickly become clear.
—
image credit: the intelligent optimist magazine
as i head into
day 5
still
off the
power grid
the pace of life
has
slowed
days
spent
walking
writing
reading
thinking
bathing by candlelight
catching up with friends
in the coffee shop
on the street
with
neighbors
there is a natural rhythm to it all
waking with the return of the light
sleeping when the dark returns once more
it’s a peaceful and quiet existence
*
until
monday comes
and
i have to
wake up
in the pitch black
to go to school
there’s an art
to applying
makeup
by
flashlight
and
with
only
two hands
luckily
my loyal
carpool partner
has
promised
to alert me
if
my clothes are on backwards
or
anything looks dramatically amiss
and
i find
that
while
i
look
forward to the light
i
am
enjoying the calm
of the dark
—
wisely, and slow. they stumble that run fast.
William Shakespeare
—
image credit: maggielissel.com
I didn't have my glasses on.... 