Category: Death and dying

“Blurtso sits under a tree”

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I love the smell of wood in autumn, and the sound of dry leaves. This is a very nice log. I wonder which tree it came from? I suppose it was like any other tree, growing slowly, drinking minerals, seeking sun. I suppose birds built nests in its branches, and squirrels chased up and down. I suppose it was at the center of a universe of sights and sounds, never thinking it would fall, and be hollowed out. I guess the shell always outlasts the heart, and the forest is strewn with empty armor. And every living thing is immortal… until it dies.

“Blurtso considers where he’s standing”

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I suppose I am a temporary thing, thought Blurtso. The day will come when I am gone and forgotten. As if I never existed. As before I existed. In the meanwhile I’m here, standing between two oblivions, pausing to enjoy a snack, and sending a mouthful of grass… to its next oblivion.

“Blurtso sings with friends”

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 Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson

Blowing Away – Linda Ronstadt

Bookends – Paul Simon

America – Paul Simon

Brushfire Fairytales – Jack Johnson

Bubble Toes – Jack Johnson

Buckets of Rain – Bob Dylan

Don’ t Mess Around With Jim – Jim Croce

Fall Line – Jack Johnson

Feeling Groovy – Paul Simon

Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon

Forever – Ben Harper

F- Stop Blues – Jack Johnson

Gone – Jack Johnson

Homeward Bound – Paul Simon

I’d Rather Hurt Myself – Roger Miller

Leaving On A Jet Plane – John Denver

I Know Where I’m Going – Traditional

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye – Traditional

Kathy’s Song – Paul Simon

Landslide – Fleetwood Mac

My Own Two Hands – Ben Harper

No Other Way – Jack Johnson

Girl From The North Country – Bob Dylan

One More Cup Of Coffee – Bob Dylan

Posters – Jack Johnson

Sara – Bob Dylan

Scarborough Fair – Traditional

Shelter From The Storm – Bob Dylan

Shenandoah – Traditional

Tenderness – Paul Simon

The Least You Could Do – Ben Harper

Times Like These – Jack Johnson

Traffic In The Sky – Jack Johnson

We Had It All – B.W. Stevenson

Better Together – Jack Johnson

You Can Close Your Eyes – James Taylor

Your Loving Arms – Hank Williams

Song For The Asking – Paul Simon

Congratulations – Paul Simon

Sarah Maria – James Taylor

Believe In Your Dreams – Rudolph and Clarice

“Morton’s Pond” (XXVI)

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“Sights” – Stillness of sky. Stillness of lake. Joined in reflection. Clouds blown together, clouds blown apart. Spider, fly, eater and eaten, diner and dinner, survivor and snack… joined in reflection.

“Blurtso hears a whisper” (XI)

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Harlan? said Blurtso. Yes? said Harlan. Do you ever get frightened? Frightened? said Harlan. Yes, said Blurtso. Sometimes, said Harlan. Why? said Blurtso. Well, said Harlan, when you consider how fragile things are–life, love, happiness–and how they’re certain to vanish, and the nothingness that follows, it’s natural to be frightened… but you can still be optimistic. You can? said Blurtso. Sure, said Harlan, we still have a tin of chocolate, and plenty of whipped cream.

“Frank visits Concord” (V)

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Crows are messengers of the dead? said Ditto. Yes, said Virginia, that’s what my uncle said. Dead humans or dead donkeys? said Ditto. Dead humans, said Virginia. Hmm, said Ditto, I wonder which animals are messengers of dead crows?

“Blurtso finds a cave”

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Hey, what’s this?

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I wonder where it leads?

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Maybe it leads to the center of the earth…

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…and maybe I’ll learn something I could never learn
in the light of day, something without words
and without appearance….

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something… that embraces and erases…

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… me