The Gift of Poetry

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
and though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday.

--Khalil Gibran

Many years ago, I befriended a geologist at Wayne State University. He gave The Prophet by Khalil Gibran to me as a gift. Every once in awhile, I turn to this book of poetry and find something new, or read something again with new eyes.

His words have soothed my soul and provoked my thoughts. I am grateful to the man who introduced me to this poet, and now, so many years later, wonder what compelled him to give this gift to me.

Definitely, Maybe

In the fall, I wrote about something a priest said that bothered me. Many months later, I stand my ground.

I guess he never saw the love story of Will and April.

Betta Mating Endeavours

Tonight I took Benjamin to four stores in search of a female betta fish. Finally, the last pet store had one lone, remaining female and in minutes she was whisked home as a companion for Zen, the male betta.

Between stores, Benjamin educated me on the successful pairing of the male and female betta, along with detailed description of their reproductive habits. I wish them well in their mating endeavours, although I was informed she may be killed by Zen during the mating process.

It doesn't sound very Zen-like to me.

Sissy Groundhog

Happy Groundhog Day! I can never remember what it means if the groundhog sees his shadow. However, today I learned if he sees his shadow it scares him, he goes back into the ground and the prediction is we will endure six more weeks of winter.

I was told he is a sissy.

The groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, Phil: sissy.
The groundhog at the Howell Nature Center in Michigan, Woody: not a sissy.

I wonder who ever came up with the idea?

What a Great Idea

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it."

- Groucho Marx

Crazier

I think I found my wings.

Time Stops

Tonight I looked up and saw the moon. The sky was so clear, the moon was almost half full with a halo around it. A bright star twinkled.

I shivered from the cold, but I just had to look at the moon for a few more minutes.