If …

 

Even if you are a speck of dust in the deepest, darkest reaches of space and time …

Even if no light shines form any knowable sun and all the points of light are so far away the universe looks like one dimly lit speck barely noticeable in a vast sea of blackness …

Even if  the distance to anything like you is so far that time itself does not exist and seems void…You are not the forgotten edge of nothing … 

But the leading edge of everything …

! …

Another round please …

I just came inside after being outside looking in as I looked out … The stars were beautiful and I wondered how far my soul will really go when I am done here … I am not planning to leave any time soon but then you just never know … It’s a one way ticket you know … Even if it all comes around again and again it gets tweaked each time with a butterfly sneezing a little differently each time and it’s so vast the odds of it being the same twice are too much to behold except by the totality of itself … but that doesn’t stop me from looking out , not up but out to where my consciousness will expand one bright , sunny, rainy night as a new day dawns somewhere just before midnight and I am amazed I get to behold such wonders and know you in the same breath .

Have a wonderful new day and don’t sweat the small stuff, just enjoy the good now because you can’t keep it where we are going anyway!

The machine in summer clothing

Even as the brown leaves fall a still green machine prowls.

Edges of its coat showing the browns and yellows of the quiet time to come.

It’s prey already slowed and themselves hunting for a winter place.

The machine is patient and knows all come to those who watch and wait.

It’s deadly array of field artillery still sharp, its  eye never closing untill the snow covers its hallow corps.

But sleek line and form for function keep it stealthy to the end and even in still summer clothing it steals the juices of life, not with contempt for the other but preservation of the self.

I looked but did I see

 

This very night I walked to my darkest place, eyes closed as if blind.

I know this spot , I have been there many times, alone.

This night I walked with two friends, a dog and me.

I was determined to see what I might find when I looked from my blind place, the one in the corner.

I walked slowly but sure-footed, listening for the trees, the rocks, all obstacles.

The other animal was sure of his path and thought none the less of me though he was wrong.

I was soon left alone to find what I came for.

No coyotes or deer rustled, no bird, no breeze disturbed my mind.

I tilted my face to a preconceived heaven then opened my eyes to see what I expected, points of light scattered and a feeling of being alone.

I closed my eyes, erased my mind, then looked again to see the face of God in narrow perspective.

I closed them once more to drain my head of such small thoughts and the vanity that I might know the almighty for I knew if it were the face only a thoughts worth could I really see.

I opened them again and let my soul see it’s destiny.

He watches

There are many rocks but old man rock is the wisest of them all.

He watches with a steady gaze through sun and storms.

You may not notice him at first  because he is very stealthy and it might seem he could never know anything .

But he is wise ! Old man rock is son of old man mountain and mother earth so he knows the importance of patience.

While he sits there watching and you think he can only know what his eyes tell him, you are wrong.

The wind brings him smells, he knows of the fire before your news person does and he has survived many of those himself so he knows how hot they can be.

He feels and tastes the rain to see if it is good enough for his brothers and sisters like racoon who he lets live in him and deer, fox and even old trickster coyote.

I myself have seen Coyote go many times and howl in old man rocks ear at night to tell him of a fine meal he has brought to share.

When men lay on him and block the sun his friend Ant chases them off then Mosquito makes sure man remembers his lesson near old man rocks drinking water.

He whistles in the wind and knows the world much deeper than you or I.

He feels the world around him and knows heavy weights on his soul.

He watches.

That wonderful room

There was a time, now gone by for most of us, when you shared a bathroom without a fuss … And then one day along the way a landlord became magnanimous…
Now it seems so funny but think of the cost in money …
An outhouse you know is cheap and dug when it’s sunny.
To have the luxury of indoor plumbing at hand, not down the hall but in your room, how grand !
But some day you may come to rest in another land where sanitation is not the best and then you’ll understand !
You’ll forget the tailor and draper when out back you go to find alas there is no paper.
You will feel so sad, have to go in the woods like old Jake the trapper and you’ll  know just what you had.
That wonderful room with a crapper .

I believe

I believe that if you trust someone leave your defences down

If they hurt you do not become cynical and blame all someones.

Trust again but remember the past and try to make better decisions.

There is only one time around and only a very lucky few will make all the right moves.

Do not regret what you have learned and try to pass on the best things while letting go of the rest, it will die on it’s own.

When you find the things that are worthy defend them to the death but try to be sure they are the right things in the first place.

Being safe is not possible all the time and you will never learn great things unless you try the limit some times.

This Murphy’s laws …

Dog Pond Dog

Dog gone that dog, that dog pond dog. Wondered off again on an adventure to see.

Dog goned dog pond dog , he didn’t take me !

Off he went on an adventure to roam, left me sitting here all alone at home.

I suppose it’s my own darn fault, his tail was wagging, while my lower lip was dragging.

I could have gone, he asked me to.

I fussed about having to put on a shoe.

Dog gone that dog pond dog, out on a run, but if I hurry I might still have some fun!

Pinstripers ball or Artful Dodger

Phil Anthropuss was a pinstriper, he said, by trade . He could do it all, eyes closed, one hand tied, was the boast that he made. But someone threw him a curve, it was a baseball and he almost died. For long pulls were his specialty, he cried, but before he was done he’d reach the other side !!! The bystanders were loaded but so was his dagger, just the right amount of One Shot and swagger. He took from his kit one more brush and a catcher’s mitt. Then with a swish so cunning and bright he floated the thing with a twist and a flip of delight. A brush in one hand and the other in lip, his swaggered daggers flashed as ball fell from above, landing quit nicely in the palm of his glove. The crowd milled round to see how he did, he moved his tip cup out while the ball he kept coyly hid. As coins fully filled the money flagon he bowed when they moaned to see, then produced the sphere he had so artfully played on, while beaming with glee. But alas it was a mess, all goopy and wet, no line could be deciphered, it was a wreck and yet … He claimed the money put in his vase , stuck it in his pocket and scrammed from that place .

Tips on Photography

There have been many books, blogs and how toes written on what you need to do to take great photographs. Some on the functions of every camera ever made I suppose as well.

Here is my take on how to take great shots …

1) Only listen the experts if what they are telling and showing you is what you like !

2) Look at everything, every day and not just from afar, get right down , out or over there to investigate it in detail !

3) protect your camera from damage even at your own peril .

4) And this is the most important one of all …  NEVER GROW UP !!!!!!!!!! 

A  J.Crider photo of the author …