Vesper Vision

Vesper Vision

The Sunset is such a ballet of color on this night that otherwise
lacks any special distinction.
Beginning, a brilliant, soft blue above a gray curtain on the horizon
Is a triumphant overture to this common, pallid evening.

I was drawn from my room by an invitation of bright light
Only to be made dizzy rotating my head seeing all these facets
As they changed with such graceful movement
into other, even more indescribable colors,
For whatever reason, more poignant
than so many Sunsets I have witnessed.

Possibly this very contrast of import is what
inspires the feeling that this seeing is so special.
There is a numinous sense that this flair of hues
is brighter, more spectacular than the sum of its parts
Which are so numerous. Covering 150 degrees,
Universe in front of me is a concave array of showing
how all life is so special when endowed
with the capacity to appreciate this display as fine art.

Even the clouds behind, the eastern festival,
Evince a special significance with a dense, fluffy gray
and dark blue blending of forces,
Altogether an uncommon spectacle
that stands in stark contrast to my life where
Doing laundry was the most exciting event here on Earth.

This wet and wintry valley is a pallet of frenetic colors
Set to music as the puffy yellow cumulus layer dances overhead.
Fully half the sky is a golden cotton connecting the
Magical blue extremes just described.


As I look at these clouds repeating their harmonies
reflecting off the puddles that adorn the nearby fields
I am feeling free and relieved of so many needs.
I am sensing the capacity in myself to be content
in moments like this. There is an urge to analyze

But I wonder not how I feel so enthralled,
but why in such a particularly sensitive and intense way?
Is this sober euphoria what it feels like to understand my Soul?

As the scene changes the next movement is somehow more
breathtaking than what has past.
The delicate pinks and roses have begun to emerge,
first infecting the cirrus lines in the West
with a flamboyant and lusty gesture
Then this vermilion passion paints the bottoms of the thick front
with a taunting tango of evocative movement
convincing the weather it is too high to dampen my spirits.
To understand this blessing I only need to relax and enjoy.

As the music in the air goes quiet to also pay its homage
there is a wash of red-orange over the whole
center of this scene. This must have happened before?
I don’t recall being so emotionally charmed,
nor so receptive and invigorated by this captivating reverie.

Too soon the blushing passion of translucent purple
advances across the sky-scape blending with the gray
and sounding a melancholy harmony.
Gratefully I am feeling somehow sanctified, forgiven, mellow
embraced by a natural, simple world;
Free from the clumsy yearning for friendship but
Open to whomever might choose to share this vision.
~
I.J. Hall
February 2, 2004

Accent photo

Isn't this just a cute little car. I actually fit inside because there is plenty of space.

New car for Irv.

As a retirement gift to myself, I took advantage of the cash for clunkers Federal government purchase incentive, to sell my Ford 150 pickup (purchased in 2003 for $3,000) for $4,500 discount, and bought a new Accent, Hyundai, three door, stick shift, (silver coyote we call it because we saw one on the way to Lewiston to make the selection/purchase.) Photos are easily available on the Internet, besides I left my camera in Park City so I can't do picture downloads conveniently.

Still alive and well

In spite of the fact that I haven't posted any stories, poetry or pictures on this blog since January, I have actually done a lot of other stuff. For example, in February we went to Florida, I visited the Zoo near Orlando, rode a power boat over the Everglades lake, took a tour of Kennedy Space Center, saw some crocodiles etc. On the way back I went to Atlanta to visit Powell, Ben and Audra. We went to the Zoo there too, lots of handsome snakes and frogs.
I have been leading the Buddhist Sangha meetings at the UUchurch in Moscow, ID with a few people coming each week, and this has been a chance to exchange ideas and experiences about Buddhism. This will begin again in September. I have completed the Buddhist Lesson Book, available on line! upon request; and I am working on another discussion book about identifying "Higher Truth."
In March I went to Oregon to work on our house there and get new renters. Always a pleasant task to return to The Pond although the house work can be a dreary task.
In April I went to Thailand to visit Kat and Ky for their respective birthdays, and see KenBaba and Paritha and their families. I traveled on two "pilgrimages" with Paritha's father as his guest, one near the border of Cambodia, and another along the Mekong River alongside Laos. Libby came in May and we went to Cambodia, Angkor Wat and traveled by bus South through the country to the Beach, Syonoukville?, which was very enjoyable. We have some interesting stories to tell.
In June I drove to Park City UT to pick up Libby on her way back from Texas. I did some work there, helped supervise the three granddaughters, painted walls and played with the three girls.
In July we went to Greece, Naxos Island, and met Jo O. and Ron S. and did tourism. I spent four days in Athens, and did a good review of archeology there. Then to Thessaloniki to meet Libby and stay in Sarti for three days before going to England. We visited Libby's brothers and mother and enjoyed that. We saw two shows, one in London, "Billy Elliot", and "As you Like it" in Stratford Upon Avon. Very cultural. In both Athens and in Stratford upon Avon I stayed in Youth Hostels; reminded me of when I was a youth not so long ago. I stopped again in Atlanta on the return from England and Powell was so much bigger and actively moving around the house. I was a nanny for a few days when Audra went to her emergency room training (MD school.)
We visited Lolo MT several times during the last few months, including a three day stay in August. It is so peaceful and serene there, even though I spend some of my time repairing or improving this or that.