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Adventurer in life's bewilderness

Saturday, February 16, 2013

In loving memory of Irene Nancy Nelson
Reflections on The Garden of Evening Mists
      by Tan Twan Eng

I have entered the garden of evening mists
The quiet between memory and forgetfulness.
Outside the grayscale world
       announces a frigid, socked-in sunrise
What of the Yup'ik words for snow
       describes every surface laden -
The deck overlooking our grey
       and white ribboned Chilkat at low tide
The railing and Adirondack chairs freshly cushioned,
        abandoned for the season
Sentries of Sitka spruce
        bowing ever so slightly to the south

We hunker down inside, trying to keep warm
Planning for spring, growing our own food
Harvesting sea weed, subsistence fishing
Smoking wild salmon,
        putting up the fruits of our labor,
The bounty of this great land

I wonder how anyone can fail to see
The magnificence of Nature's gifts
Squander her resources
For a temporary wealth
Power lives beyond recognition

Is this the fading that drives us to sunset?

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