all the kindness that you can gather

Francis Newton Souza, Head in a Landscape (1958) 

--

I found the hairbrush 

that my son had left behind 

when he left home that last time 

and we never saw him again 

And in that brush was a bit of his hair 

and there with it a bit of my heart 

I held it to my face for a moment 

and breaking down 

I returned it to the drawer

--

James' recipe for a decent day.

Start with the sunrise, leave it out in the fresh air for as long as you can, to expand and grow rich and delicious on its own, the taste improving with each passing second. Every second counts.

Add a measure of hope, and don't be stingy either, make it a good measure of hope. Stir it in slowly, with even loving circles. Hope counts, too, always.

It's hard to find kindness at times, but kindness absolutely improves this recipe. Look for kindness in people's eyes and in their deeds. Look inside your own heart. Add all the kindness that you can gather.

And a recipe like this calls for some work - good, honest work. Work you would be proud to tell your grandparents about, and do this work responsibly and with good cheer. Be present in your work; put yourself into it.

When everything is mixed, let it slow-bake in the oven of your heart, season it with the squealing laughter of children, some favorite songs, and a kiss from a person you love. 

Now I can offer you the old cliche, but with some meaning; have a nice day.

--

our granddaughter runs

laughing and smiling all day 

joy shines like the sun 

--

a murder of crows spend an hour 

occupying the mulberry tree. 

it is a perfect day 

blue sky   not hot   not cold 

breeze   not wind 

the crows are loud but who knows why 

an hour passes and they move on 

why did they come 

why did they leave 

the rest of the day is quiet 

as I write this   september 2017 

my country has been at war for sixteen years 

pointlessly 

poems by james lee jobe

by Zhaoming Wu, pencil

Time goes from present to past.

Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind 

--

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Mother Teresa 

--

Life in the World is but a big dream; I will not spoil it by any labour or care.

Li Po

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