December 11

Cherry blossoms
warm evenings
violet lilacs


purple lilacs
after a shower
perfume

December 10

A red rose
regal and stately
thorns protect her

Melting snow
carrying away
a harsh winter
reveals a crocus

Smell of smoke
an ax dividing a stump
snow falling

December 2

I was wondering how many "hands" there are for all of us, not just birds.  For example, Linus has his security blanket. I have my workout in the morning.  Some mothers might feel more comfortable knowing that their child carries a cell phone and can be reached at any time.  I can think of other crutches that make us feel safe. 

I often need the tacit approval of friends and family to validate my feelings.  Abraham Maslow wrote that the need for security and approval was a basic need that all other foundations of life are built - like nest on a branch.

December 1

A violin
in the corner
longing to play

She played the violin
like it was her soul
crying

Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

Within every work of art, there's a piece of the artist.  I believe this is because every artist strives to be unique.  I mean that I can copy another artist's work, but the work isn't mine.  I think that every true artist wants to differentiate their work and to do so requires that the artist make his or her work unique.  Since everyone is different, it makes sense to me that Charles Schultz wanted to make his comic strip unique.  I believe he consciously personified Charlie Brown's feeling in the Christmas tree that he buys in the Charlie Brown Christmas special.

Here is my reasoning.  Charlie Brown seeks medical help from Lucy.  As the treating psychiatrist, She recommends directing the Christmas play.  To complete the set for the play, Charlie buys a Christmas tree that no one wants.  He feels a kinship, a connection to the tree.  I believe that Charles Schultz meant the tree to be an extension of Charlie Brown.

Here's some of my reasoning:

1.  While Charlie Brown is directing the play, Schroeder plays the piano, and the neighborhood children are laughing, dancing, and singing.  Charlie is ignored.  When Charlie Brown finds the tree in the lot, that tree stands forgotten and ignored among the flashier trees offered for sale.

2.  Charlie buys the tree because he feels sorry for it.  Charlie is directing the play because Lucy thinks it will do him good.

3.  Charlie sees potential in the tree if only someone would pay attention to it.  Charlie has potential too.  He's the pitcher for the sandlot baseball team.  Other neighborhood children must believe that Charlie has potential to lead.

4.  Christmas trees are a symbol of joy.  Would anyone really have cut down that tree and think they could sell it?  Charlie Brown is drab and shaded a neutral "brown" because he's meant to be boring and ignored.  Is it a coincidence that both the tree was chosen for the play and Charlie Brown was directing the play? 

The cartoon ends with the real reason there's Christmas - to celebrate the birth of Christ and goodwill to men.  The kindness that the other children show Charlie by decorating his tree shows that goodwill towards men (and women) wasn't just words in the play.  But, in my opinion, the tree was a metaphor for Charlie Brown's inner ego.

February 20

sitting on the dock
spring breeze at their back
old men reminiscing

a goose landing onto
the pond as silent
as a cloud passing over

spring thaw
children's laughter as the
melting snow runs away

April breeze
sleeping grass begins
to stretch

autumn's
oak leaf
matted and black
swept away by spring

a rain barrel
filled with April rain
collecting the stars

on a hard city street
softly walking
a young woman

Mesa in San Il Defonso Pueblo

The mesas are awe inspiring.  Here's a pastel sketch of a rock formation.