The young seeds

With Kit, Age 7, at the Beach

We would climb the highest dune,
from there to gaze and come down:
the ocean was performing;
we contributed our climb.

Waves leapfrogged and came
straight out of the storm.
What should our gaze mean?
Kit waited for me to decide.

Standing on such a hill,
what would you tell your child?
That was an absolute vista.
Those waves raced far, and cold.

“How far could you swim, Daddy,
in such a storm?”
“As far as was needed,” I said,
and as I talked, I swam.

William Stafford

I might not have actually used the word “love” when talking to the fifth and sixth graders as we walked around Windgrove this past Thursday with their teachers Heidi and Nadine, but “love” and a solid heart commitment to these children’s future was at the forefront of my every articulation of speech and actions that overcast, drizzly day.

The Subject Tonight Is Love

The subject tonight is Love
And for tomorrow night as well,
As a matter of fact
I know of no better topic
For us to discuss
Until we all
Die!

Hafiz

The kids were specially selected from several Hobart primary schools to attend a five day course spread over as many weeks where the subject matter would be to “Map a Dream of the Future”.

Ostensibly, I talked about art and the environment, climate change, Leonardo da Vinci, patience, the learning of skills to make visible one’s imaginings, tree planting and the careful, thoughtful watering of one’s inner garden.

But beneath the external verbiage, lay a pondering that always gets stirred whenever children come visit. The question is: “How to anoint and bless these children so they can strive out into the world confident enough to get through — not around — the many challenges that will inevitable storm into their lives in the years to come, if not already.”

My home is a quiet, personal sanctuary where I seek refuge “far from the maddening crowd” and the raging of the world. Not generally open to the public. Yet, purposely, I brought these children in as a symbolic gesture of how one can invite the stranger into one’s more intimate, private life and be blessed enough with the exchange to, therefore, want to reciprocate; both them and myself. Learning flexible boundaries is learning how to live with the demands of love.

These children are the guardians of the future. When it is time for them to replace today’s elders may they have wise hearts and a steadfast ferocity of spirit to undertake the challenges to bring happiness to all beings on this planet.

The Guardians of Earth’s Beauty

We are the guardians of Earth’s Beauty.

We are the protectors
Of the Sun.

There is only one reason
We have come into this world:

To encourage laughter, freedom, dance
And love.

Let a noble cry inside of you speak to me
Saying,

“Hafiz,
Don’t just sit there on the moon tonight
Doing nothing —

Help unfurl my heart into the Friend’s Mind,
Help, Old Man, to heal my wounded wings!”

We are the companions of Earth’s Beauty.
We are the guardians
Of Truth.

Every man, plant and creature in Existence,
Every woman, child, vein and note
Is the servant of our Beloved Earth —

A harbinger of joy,
The harbinger of
Light.

Hafiz, (slightly changed)