Árvores de Luz (Trees of Light)

Minha terra tem montanhas

Com árvores de luz

As folhas, como brilham,

Tensão no ar reduz

Sobre manta de brancura

Amarelo resplendor

Cada haste cintilante

Pra um gigante, uma flor

E, à noite, se desligam

Deixando os ramos nus

E quando volta a alvorada

Alerto, o monte reluz

Meu céu está cinzento

Uma nuvem meu capuz

Se meu pensar se turva

E para a névoa conduz

Esperanças se despertam

Das árvores de luz

Inverno infiel

Um vento vil produz

Mas sempre que eu vejo

O mundo eu não dispus

Minha montanha continua

Com as árvores de luz

(Translation:

My land has mountains

With trees of light

The leaves, how they shine,

Tension in the air reduces

Upon blanket of whiteness

Yellow radiance

Each stem scintillating

To a giant, a flower

And at night, they turn off

Leaving bare the branches

And when the dawn returns

Alert, the mountain glitters

My sky is ashen

A cloud, my hood

If my thinking grows dim

And leads itself to haze

Hopes awaken

From the trees of light

Unfaithful winter

Produces a vile wind

But whenever I see

The world I have not made out

My mountain continues

With trees of light)

The Heavens Like a Painted Wall

The heavens like a painted wall
Kept me by the yellow trees
Leaves carry in the sightless breeze
But I am kept in place

My squinting cannot see the blue
Not all the blue, not all the clouds
Nor can my ears hear the sounds
Of all of what's above

My heart beats downward
My lungs can't keep
My ears strain
My eyes shut

At last I sit, uneven earth
Contrasts the polished sky
I lean my back—a silent sigh—
Humbly cradled by an aspen

To my surprise my sigh was heard
And then was kindly answered
The leaves chimed in with laughter
With the words: "You're fine to stay."

The wonder caused my eyes to open
And looking, seeing—rich, green incline
The lighted trees gladly shine
But do not burn my eyes

And, catching my attention,
I slowly opened my ears
The yellows begged for me to hear
"Let go and listen. Listen!"

"Listen to my green sons the leaves!
Listen to the black soil my husband!
Listen to my golden daughters and me
Let go and listen. Listen!"

Ode to Ben

I cannot let another blog post go by without giving a hurrah to the fact that I know Ben.

Ben is one of the highlights of my life right now.  He is one of the highlights of all of our lives, whether we now know it or not.  Ben came into existence October 7, 1988, four short days before women were allowed to study at Magdalene College, Cambridge, for the first time.  Ben's existence has since continued to influence considerable strides in all areas of mankind:  education, public policy, the arts.

I met Ben two months ago, when he made the life decision to live in Apartment 85 at Glenwood.  We had a vacancy, and Justin had requested a roommate that spoke Spanish.  I will ever be grateful that this one wish of Justin's was not granted.  I am confident that Justin would concur.

Ben left his mark on our hearts from the warm nature of his first "hello," and continues to leave a lasting impression through his tireless cleaning of our apartment, his passionately graceful piano-playing on the Casio keyboard in our living room that he got for his birthday, and his saying "yes" every time I invite him to do something.

Ben is a champion of goodness, an emblem of virtue, a master of gentility, a sower of cheer, and a friend.  Life has not yet been lived until one has experienced for himself the gentle firmness of his handshake and felt the warmth of his smile.

I thank the heavens that I ever knew him.  I cringe at the unworthiness I feel of living beside him.  Yet I need him.  We all need him.  I promise you, with the depth of sincerity found in the deepest crevice of a weary heart, that when your life feels the prick of incompleteness, Ben is the solution you seek.  Go to him, and let your life be swallowed in the serenity.

Justin's Discovery

Justin Oldroyd, one of the greatest individuals of all time, had a remarkable discovery this morning.  He was searching for himself on Google and he discovered that he had created a blog years ago that he had completely forgotten about.  The title of the blog is "I Love Life."  When he shared that with me, it was no longer his remarkable discovery only, but mine as well.  Listening to younger Justin was a great experience.  He only wrote a few small entries, yet they were filled with richness.  I recommend that all listen to younger Justin.  The link is here: Click.

I just realized that I can do all sorts of things in this blog, like put links that go to my email.  Want to send me an email?  Click.  That makes it so easy for you.  Plus, I love receiving emails.  I also love receiving letters.  Click.  Blogs make everything so much easier, and better.

I love life.