And what, you ask, does writing teach us?

First and foremost, it reminds us that we are alive
and that it is a gift and a privilege, not a right.
We must earn life once it has been awarded us.
Life asks for rewards back because it has favored us with animation.

Ray Bradbury
preface, Zen in the Art of Writing - essays on Creativity,
Capra Press,1990

XLI

Coyoté saw the paper blowing down the wash.
He marveled at how the wind plays with paper.
Turning it, tumbling, over and over on the sand.
Then flinging it into the air to whirl and dance.

Awesome!

A poet badger had past through once
and did that with sounds floating on the wind.
The badger stood before them
and Coyoté could almost see the words dancing away.

Awesome!

Flinging rocks kicks up dust.
But floating words
bring wonder
and
composure.

Vibrant, yes,
but stilled,
bottled,
focused
energy

aiming
toward
the sky,

the heart.

All at once
dawn
lifts
across the desert.

Coyoté calls his poem
across the wonderful,
brilliant blue sky.