EARTH ~

THE SPRING OR AUTUMN LIGHT HASN'T CHANGED FOR FORTY YEARS

& OUR WANTING TO

RUSH OUT INTO IT AT DAWN, JUST THE SAME








The beautiful light. Before or after the leaves. In the background of this photograph is our old cabin, built by me and rebuilt many times, often each spring. Along the river. After a long winter, and the season was colder back then, and after we had lived in two rooms with books and stovewood and kerosene lamps, I would often knock out one side wall of the cabin and fit in larger windows, all used barn sashes, and it would be primarily to celebrate the return of this glorious light. I noticed the other day the spring light falls onto Sweetheart's hair all the same way.

SAVE YOURSELF





MY MORNING



&


you




in


it








LOOK



It is best to look now

At apple blossoms and

Look all you want



Though when they go



You will feel

You didn’t look

Long enough











LITTLE SECRET



We built the house

We own the house

It is our house



But the mouse

Gnawing inside the wall

Owns us right now








WORK DAY



I like

her

sweater



it used

to be

mine








WITHOUT A MAP



We aren’t fooling anyone —

Particularly ourselves



All the way up the mountain

We cleared the trail



All the way back down

We chattered like birds









ONLY A CHILD



Cookstove choco-

late chip cookies

warm the counter

guarded by

toy-soldiers






SUDDENLY THIS



How beautiful is this spring day?

Working low to the ground

In dusky woodshed

See where a stone slips

Out of the foundation

And beauty streams in on

A pinpoint of sunshine

IN THE GARDEN



for a moment —

my steps

with a toad








ETIQUETTE



no one else does —



so the dog rises

as one enters









THAW



We went out together

To the river as it floods

And the misting and mud

With lantern light you

Held we listened and

Watched at all that

Winter going away









BREEZE



who’s that waving

to me when coming

out the door —



ferns









BACKYARD



I knew I wasn’t alone —

This all day presence of raindrops

On the flat stone step









MIDNIGHT AGAIN



The great kidder —

Moonlight spread over the ground

Having me look twice for snow

WISDOM



Three very large crows swept

Over the trees that day

From beyond the river

And the deeper woods

Where no one lived

And laughed at us —



So we laughed back










WHERE TO FIND ME



That place —

Where the

Sidewalk ends

from Save Yourself, Bob Arnold, Longhouse 2010
for more see here.

photos © bob arnold