missing my peeps

poem by Pablo Neruda

Keeping Quiet
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still
for once on the face of the earth,
let’s not speak in any language;
let’s stop for a second,
and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would not look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victories with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

 

 

Well we are certainly facing a different world than just a month ago. People worldwide are sharing, each in our own way, how we fight the threat of the corona virus.  From the people  on the front lines at grocery stores (thank you Jan for what you and your team do at the the Viroqua Food Coop to keep us safe), the USPS, all of our hard working medical people and each of us in our ability to self isolate to protect ourselves and those around us , we share a common goal…worldwide.  When has that ever happened?  So far that is the only plus side that I see.  Oh and the respite we are giving the earth, minus our carbon emissions is pretty cool too.

With our second Monday fiber gathering missing in action we have been sharing via email what is keeping us sane and some of us are even managing to be be productive.  I and many others have been feeling unfocused and just swept up in the drama of the daily barrage of sad news.  It is getting a little better for me and I’ve managed to work a bit on my looms, but I feel that it is a time to cut myself some slack and do what feels like good self care.  So far that has meant that carbs and whatever sweet treat I can find is fair game. On a healthier note I also get to watch the eaglet in a nest across from my deck, and play with my crazy puppy outside, who thinks that if she jumps high enough she can catch a bird. And for whatever reason i am finding a lot of joy in clouds.

Here is a link that Olga shared about renowned photagrahers and images they are capturing in isolation:

The World’s Great Photographers, Many Stuck Inside, Have Snapped

I hope you all are discovering ways to find your joy and staying safe and healthy.