xx. wandering, originally uploaded by sparrowsfall.

What is the difference between assent and denial?
What is the difference between beautiful and ugly?
What is the difference between fearsome and afraid?

The people are merry as if at a magnificent party
Or playing in the park at springtime,
But I am tranquil and wandering,
Like a newborn before it learns to smile,
Alone, with no true home.

The people have enough and to spare,
Where I have nothing,
And my heart is foolish,
Muddled and cloudy.

The people are bright and certain,
Where I am dim and confused;
The people are clever and wise,
Where I am dull and ignorant;
Aimless as a wave drifting over the sea,
Attached to nothing.

The people are busy with purpose,
Where I am impractical and rough;
I do not share the peoples’ cares
But I am fed at nature’s breast.

xvii. rulers, originally uploaded by sparrowsfall.

The best rulers are scarcely known by their subjects;
The next best are loved and praised;
The next are feared;
The next despised:
They have no faith in their people,
And their people become unfaithful to them.

When the best rulers achieve their purpose
Their subjects claim the achievement as their own.

landing is mine again, originally uploaded by sparrowsfall.

scott kindly brought me an autographed copy of barbara tuchman’s a distant mirror: the calamitous 14th century. always a favorite book of mine–i can’t guess how many times i’ve read it before–i’ll be reading it again very shortly now.

a curious sort of ‘congratulations on your new daughter’s birth!’ sort of gift, which he pointed out. but considering, i think it’s apt.

de coucy the dog was named after enguerrend de coucy vii, whose career tuchman followed in this book.

Mere’ Beamer 11802, originally uploaded by sparrowsfall.

it seems a lifetime ago now.

garage work bench, originally uploaded by sparrowsfall.

reflections on life

living with liver cancer