keeping quiet

Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the earth,
let’s not speak in any language;
let’s stop for a second,
and not move our arms too much.

It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Fisherman in the cold sea
would not harm the whales
and the man gathering salt
would not hurt his hands.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victories with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.

Life is what it is about…

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems to be dead
in winter and later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.

~ Pablo Neruda

treasure yarn

My favorite of all the gifts Naiya received for her birthday was this beautiful wool treasure yarn.
As it is unwound, tiny, magical gifts are revealed...

This one came from her dear friends and held shells, beads and little clay and glass figures.  The tiniest beads were held inside on mini safety pins.  

I imagine that finding the little treasures is supposed to inspire the child to knit or crochet in order to bring forth more of the goodies, but Naiya said she would get to that later and just wanted to unwind the whole ball at once.
Being pretty excited myself, I let her unravel the entire thing.

At the heart of the ball was a sweet little heart.

The perfect, simple, useful gift to inspire hours of focused handwork, play and creativity.

my favorite things

I love fully punctuated text messages.