Nordri, Sudri, Austri and Vestri

Jumped right off of the castle tapestry

Lithely they run to the cardinals post haste

And cannot regroup or the dragons they’ve chased



Would hem in the map again, like long ago

When the world’s termination at mount, cliff, or snow

Would imprison folks fearful of fathoms in fright

And torture the thoughts of the children at night




Our heroes hold up the corners of sky

They've all said hello, and politely, goodbye

To a remnant who seek to look outside their square

Compelled by their heartbeats and chilled foreign air



There may be dragons outside of this dome,

But we shall slay them! And leave hearth and home

To illumine the darkness and know our own worth

To fulfill what's been destined for all since our birth.

The beat-down
    disciple
        knows

Someday she'll
    ...have
         new clothes

And the
    bitter
        God-transmitter
        
Having taped
    two thousand
        shows

Laying hands
    on all,
        he rose,

Had his coffee,
    spoke his
        prose,

Tuned his ear;
    thumbed
        his nose.

The sweet, sweet
    smell of
        spring,

Ah, the crisp
    olfactory
        ping,

And the
    honey-
        jar of money

Takes away
    the winter's
        sting

We're never
    happy
        with what
            we’ve got

We can
    pretend
        that we are
            but we’re not

Our narcissism
    knows
        no
            bound

And Echo
    follows
        every
            sound
...        ...        ...        ...        ..­.       ...        ...
(The sound of  glass shattering...
followed by footsteps padding along the forest floor...)
[Narcissus is running with the fairest Echo giving chase. She catches him...]

"But you always did such good!"
        Only 'cause I knew I should

"But you always gaze so lovingly at me!"
         Because in you, myself I see

"But you give to the needy, twenty-four seven!"
        I'm simply storing up my
        treasures in heaven

"And all of those spiritual teachings you mention?"
        That's just so I am the center of
        attention
...        ...        ...        ...        ..­.        ...        ...

We gather together in Your name
To give thanks

We place kernels of Indian corn into a small clay bowl; one kernel for each thing we are thankful for.

The bowl is filled to overflowing
...despite the harshness of this year's trials

Mike prayed for an Angel
And got two

"Brother Son"
"And Sister Mother"

Jeff and Otis in a loving embrace
Both of them with reddening faces

Dad's voiceless prayers
Gesturing, crying,
And the love of him in Mom's eyes

I love this group, truly

We give thanks
We give praise