Putting on my suit, my tie,remembering the sacrifice, the willthe honor of those who penned the wordsof our Declaration, our Constitutionof the blood, shed for our privilege Our right to vote. A solemn responsibilityclaiming that for which they fought,that for which they died, on battlefields staine...

So sudden, so certainthe heavy wet, back-tiring snowyesterday, today a torrent,melting heavily, quicklythe March sun beating, azure-blue skyuntrammeled by clouds, shimmering insteadalmost too blue to look, drinking in the lighta cascade, heavy rivulets, falling heavyoff the roof, the gutter, little ...

The sky dawnedas if painted by Maxwell Parrishbright rims of the acrylic, daubed clouds,placed on the azure skythe hint of the sunrise, still presentthe light from below the buildings, behind the puffed-cotton cloudsno warmth yet, just the dawningbefore school and the start of the day January 11, 20...

The snow, blowing, driftingstinging my face, the swirlsbringing my throw, shovelful, back at melaughing, smiling to myselfof earlier days, long agowhen this would be for funa fort or just to toss in the airwatch the snow fall as the wind willthe yard now dunes of snowwhite sand, with waves, furrowso...

watching the snow, slowly startingaccumulating snow, first on the lawn, building, gathering on the needlesbroad, small, firs, pineslater on the spines, the bristly needles,the branches of the tall spruces,a study in attachment, in surfaces, in open spaces, the lee of the wind, sheltered, exposed pla...

As the storm grew, the flakes fell,the wind rose, the chill set itchanging snow, always changingfirst light, soft, like confectionary sugar,sifted through an ancient flour sifterthen instant potato flakes, large, angular in the fallingfinally granular sugar, sand, tossed aboutor maybe as fine as woo...

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A crispness to the air, the skythe sounds of leaves underfootof the wheels running on the pavementthe snap of the flag by the bankthe feel of the air in my lungsthe smell of a wood firewarming a house nearbya day before the first snow,a crispness to the world November 30, 2008...

Be Strong in the Lordso said the church’s signby the roadside, many weeks gone byWhat did the drivers thinkas they raced by, busy in their livesDid they think about the scripturethe admonition, the urging to be resolute, not in ourselves;not self-made men, womenBe strong in the Lord alonefor he is...