I was watching the CADFAEL series again, from PBS some years ago. CADFAEL is set in the times of the war between King Steven and Empress Maud over the succession to the English throne after the death of William the Conqueror. Cadfael, played by Derek Jacobi, is a brother in the abbey of Shrewsbury who …
Author Archives: Ciel
Just Sayin’…
The colonial powers paved the surface and built on shallow foundations, trying to negate and overcome the Earth. They have plowed down a few inches, they have shaved off the forests, they have killed off what they found troublesome and inconvenient. They believed they needed nothing and no one but themselves to prosper, never looking …
Aotearoa
SilverThe ferns, of coursebut too the skythe clouds and air betweenSun on misty rains:Silver gracedwith rainbows…silver-bright the sun,the sharp-cut shadesedges of treesagainst the blue, grey, white…Silver the starsSouthern Cross and Milky Wayon deepest night…Silverthe moon in all its phasesdashing across the waters,inviting path…Silver the watersday or night–moving, gleaming, glittering…Black swans flyingover the satin moireSilver reflecting …
Tolkien Tribute: Suddenly, You
In the shadowof the forestlost,and hiding,runningfrom the echoinganguish.chaosclashingof armies embattledbesieging my mind…suddenly–sunderedall of it…! O Nightingale!You–singing,dancing in the gladein gladnessdraw mefrom war’s clamour,it’s darknessit’s despair…The whole of my worldthey werebut suddenly–Youare there! Dancing like down,upon the air,upon the melodyof the Nightingale,in moonlight–casting shadow out,making roomin my heartto hold the wonderthe mysterythe magicof your music,of your danceandYou.All …
Self Portrait: Inside Out
I am not who you seewalking about smiling or not… This surface is not who I amIt is barely mineat all in the mirror…You do not know meif you never ask:whatever you surmise,you cannot see the essencewithout the deepestclearest looking…I dance, I laugh, I singand joy is in my every line and move! Lithe and …
Hunter’s Moon
a paleolithic winter’s tale Wind rises, the sun is pale;Leaves go brilliant and finally pall;Wise creatures burrow deepseeking the peace and safety of sleepand the snow begins to fall… The People see the summer failand gather closer to the fire;Meat is smoked against the dayswhen going to hunt no longer pays:The blue smoke rises ever …
Journal: Al Franken Speaks
Al Franken last night, at the Paramount Theater in Seattle… Not only heartening to hear a political speaker making sense, but to see the enthusiasm for him and the size of his audience was also very encouraging. I particularly like his suggestion that they should give Trump the nuclear codes–but change them, first. Then after …
JOURNAL: 4th of July 2019
This was what I wrote this past July 4th, usually a day of proud celebrations and a night of brilliant fireworks commemorating the birth of the United States of America in 1776. It bears repeating now, three months later, as tides are turning… I have mixed feelings this Fourth. You who read me here, you …
Violetta 15 Years My Friend
It is not you my sweet friendI lay to rest upon a bed of flowers,cover over with petals of pink and yellow and whiteand all the gentle colors of the rose…because I could not simply consignyour empty body to the earth, lying on, surrounded by unlovely dirt. It is not you there in the gardenunder the cairn …
Tolkien Tribute: Erebor
Born of fire, the Mountain rose, alone amid the plain,and stood there steaming for an age, cooling in the rainthat fell and gathered in stream and pool and marshes, fen and pond until a lake lay at its feet, and stretched over the lands beyond. Came a hearty race of wandering folk that sheltered there …
LOOSELY SPEAKING... 