Red lights, dinner to
finish cooking,
grocery shopping.
Some things are unavoidable.
But if you’re thinking
about something you want to
do in a while
and you can do it now
without a lot of uproar
to your schedule–get it
“off your mind” & do it now.
You can’t live in the present
by thinking about the future.
So impressionable
we are.
Sensitive,
Vulnerable beings
of light.
Of darkness, too.
Old baggage
carried without
preference one way
or the other,
that our bags
have not been
unpacked.
The air is fresh.
Our clothing
need airing–
it’s been a long
trip,
and we’ve
outgrown
many of them.
I asked for guidance and this is what came:
Be easy on yourself. Don’t think you should
be doing more than you did or do.
IF you had the energy, you’d do
more. Just take the next step-
one thing at a time. and you’ll
get through the day, the week and
you will have moved from here
to there.
If everything came all at once,
I couldn’t handle it.
But it doesn’t. It comes, for the
most part, one at a time.
So that is manageable.
I want to live
not far out
in time
but here,
now.
In physical reality
things progress
one at a time
pretty much.
In mind space
it can come
all at once.
Fog is cool to run in.
No one can see you
unless they’re close
enough to say
hello.
Sounds of geese
take on a sudden
importance.
All of my energy
went to my
other senses.
The sun, determined
to break my spell
of euphoria
finally succeeded.
Just slow down. What’s the big
problem? If you fill your life
to overflowing, bursting at
the seams with activity, you won’t
even get to know who you are–
become acquainted with
yourself.
What you like, what you really
feel, and believe.
I shouldn’t try to make
life so complicated. It’s
simple. It’s in the moment,
not in my mind which
is usually not in the
moment.
Enjoying the simple
pleasures of life–such
a trite phrase, but you
need go no further than
that and have things
turn out just fine.
No regrets–
if you’re there
when it’s there.
I wish there was someone
to lay with
now that I’m ready…
Why didn’t I think
of friendship before?
now that I’m 3 qts. low
on the essential oil
for smooth performance
and to keep my vehicle
from self-incinerating.
Such a steamy passion
envelops my being.
I come with a body
the spirit takes care
of itself normally
the body has to
seek out its needs
and make them
known to another
in love and embrace
cuddle until two
become one
being going
with the flow
of love and
passion.
Photography © Dennis Frates Photography http://www.fratesphoto.com/
The days are like steps
leading upward
mostly
strengthening
invigorating
discovering.
I could also
burrow
and find just
as much adventure
probably
but they seem to
lead up.
I’m giving up
trying to predict
or in any sense
control any outcome
I may wish.
Sure, I want some
things, but not
rigidly.
So, I know I’ll
only find what’s
there when I get
there.
Fall colored aspen leaf and rose hip. Montana
Photography © Dennis Frates Photography http://www.fratesphoto.com/
In third grade you
start wondering:
how far can you go?
They heard about
other dimensions.
How do we get there?
Are they really there?
What about time
travel?
It’s not just the
thing of movies
anymore, a
fantasy. They
want to build a
time machine
if that’s what it
takes to get out
of third grade
or their neighborhood.
This isn’t on the
curriculum, but
I try to answer
their questions
and at least
get them thinking.
I can only be myself.
There is no other way to go, to figure
out a better way to live.
Whatever I’m feeling in the
moment
is what is “true” for me at that
instant.
And from there I proceed.
Sometimes I really lose my way.
Confused & helpless, I don’t
know what I want to do
even next.
I muddle through those
days & hours
without a vision of what
I thought was still possible.
They’re only times to go through.
Passing through a storm
lasts until the storm stops.
Eventually it does.
It will come again, don’t worry.
But for now the skies are
clearing & a new day is
dawning.
Wood Duck in pond at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Gardens. Oregon
Photography © Dennis Frates Photography http://www.fratesphoto.com/
