Lost in thought…perhaps across the Atlantic

I wait for the holiday crowd to clear the beach
before stepping onto the first wave.

Soon I am walking across the Atlantic
thinking about Spain,
checking for whales, waterspouts.
I feel the water holding up my shifting weight.
Tonight I will sleep on its rocking surface.

But for now I try to imagine what
this must look like to the fish below,
the bottoms of my feet appearing, disappearing.

-Billy Collins

Changing the world involves some insanity, red wine, and a prophet

“Let us pray,” intoned the whiskered senior pastor, in precise, undiluted Spanish that belied his street-gang roots.

“Oh LORD, we pray for our sister Evenshine, as she goes forth into the land of her fathers. She has been among us for some time now, and we give you thanks for her work here.”

(Congregants nodding, some raising hands in silent “amen”s).

“We ask that You mightily bless her. We thank you for her role in Your work, and ask that You continue to lead her in Your paths.”

(Hard to hear those capital “Y”s, but they’re there.)

“We know that you will be with her. She will be the mother of many.”

(Evenshine raises her bent head and forms a silent Wha-huh?)

“We know that you will give her many sons, and they will be the strength of her arm and the comfort of her old age.”

(Whatever, buddy. You offering to carry them? Comfort is spelled c-h-i-a-n-t-i in my house).

“We know, Lord, that you will give her those many strong sons. But…yes, Lord, we know you will give her one daughter. ONE daughter who will be her heart’s delight. A daughter who will be more beautiful than the cedars of Lebanon, whose beauty will be as your voice throughout the nations.”

(Evenshine wonders if the pastor’s been indulging in the communion wine.)

“And so be with her in the trials and tribulations of the future. Accompany her and bless her, even as you have promised.”

(Did I miss the part where they handed out the Kool-aid? Is this where we start fainting and convulsing? BeGONE, foul spirit!).

And yet, some months later…

Maybe not cedars, but a flower nonetheless

Friday Foto

Futuro Futbolista

Futuro Futbolista

yes

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
wich is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

e.e.cummings

illimitably earth

(My photo- Peruvian highlands)

Luck o’the Latinos

I know it’s a day after, but my daycare provider sent this photographic evidence of the cruel and unusual tactics she uses with my 11-month-old.

Kiss me I'm...not Irish.