quote of the day - excellence

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotelis

grow

grow big and tall
fed by the proximity
of other beings
all ready to teach.
do learn to stay still
when you need peace;
and do learn to storm
when you need to run;
do learn to dance
with your hands up
in the free air above;
learn to stay clean
no matter how dark
the waters in which
you were thrown to swim.
when you come out
you will know
you have grown big and tall
kind and all
you need to be
for your own
but also for others felicity.

summer

come down south
where the summers are long
and the ground is low,
where the fish are jumping
in the afternoon heat.
where the air is steamy
and the crabs are swift,
while the lazy gators
are first to cross the street.

drive your car slow
watch out when you turn
alligator mama is crossing
and going to town
her hips are swinging
with pride when she does
put her best feet forward.
give thanks for this day
to bask the sun.

come down low
where the summers are long
let the pace get slow
can't avoid the sweat
but can cool it off
when the breeze comes in
let it pass under your chin;
let the lazy gators
be first to cross the street

my library

my books are moving
eternally between
my house and a larger one
a well organized one - downtown.
the focal point
of the city for me
has been its library
family friendly
and mostly free.
i have met friends
some live between
cardboard covers,
and some behind desks.
the books come and go
and they have many stories
to tell if you listen to them.
they teach you, they tease you
sadden or amuse you.
they bring to your home
sometime a dusty smell,
sometime the one of fresh ink.
whatever they bring
you might well grow
to be wiser because
of them - just think.

summer day

blue from blueberries,
red from raspberries
and white from cream
put them together to decorate
a beautiful cake.
after you eat
rest on the lawn
look at the stars
till sparkles start
to spring right up.
then in excitement
jump on your feet
do make some noise
to show your joy
the band may be tired by now
but we can still stand up tall
the street's in smoke
after all the firework
now go to bed
to rest and dream
in many colors
you used to trim
this summer day.

parable

source: http://joomla.wildlife.org

you have launched yourself
dangeroulsy but think for a while
know what you do
and what cannot be undone.
if you fall you must
gather your strength
so you can spring back
from murky waters
let hope reborn itself
onto your wings
batting the air moderately
forget the greed,
you do not need all this
(just to feed).
now launch yourself
beautifully.

step

for once let us take a step
out of the ordinary reality,
let us think that we are as young
as necessary to be able to fly freely,
as rich as necessary to not really need
anything but a dream
a chance to pursue it
and see how we feel.
and what else would we need,
dear?

dance

think light
think lightness
think joy
cause everyday
we share
you and I
is a gift,
an exercise
in being kind,
a new move
in an old dance,
where we strive
for harmony
only

flow

flow like the water
down the valleys
and high up in the hills
ride the waves on oceans of dreams.

roar with the storms
and hush with mild winds
stay still if you can
like hot air on a summer day.

play all sorts of music
on all your four strings
enduring the heat and the chills
as if they were games for some kids.

flow like the water
fresh when it's close to the springs
getting smart when quick turns are called for
wisely open to change - smooth and calm as you grow.

word

one winter day
the word got wings
and the freedom to fly
over the city.
from there it has not been hard
to fly between cities
and it has been heard
that it even tried
to cross borders.
let the word fly!

summer

she has caught the firs firefly
of the summer
he has thrown in the back of the closet
his shoes
the day has started to shift its schedule
apparently
according to their moods
you can hear in your left ear the call
of the seagulls
the roar of the ocean being tamed
by the sun
you can feel the sand burning the soles
of your feet
and all because free days of the summer
vacation and you
have come to meet

give

you were given life one day
the same day you gave back
hope and incredible joy
to those around you;
how precious you were
that day, how precious you stay!

you have been given life
for a while, borrowed time
in the spinning cycle of all beings
it is your chance to make life
better with your touches
for all who are within reach.

it is your chance to rejoice in learning
the ways of the world,
to receive the revelation of understanding,
to do all the singing, drawing, and running
or simply sitting down and admiring
what other do with their lives


today again is you turn
to give this day a chance
no matter how hard it started,
use your time wisely since
you might have been give some limited time
divide it judiciously, and enjoy the gift

moody rose

when I look at your hand
and you show me splinter
I see a rose growing
from the tip of your finger;
as we both look in wonder
your thumb grows a johnny jump up
your ring finger a daisy
and your pinky - first green with envy
turns into a blue chicory.
I pulled out the thorn
did it hurt?
you tear says "perhaps",
your smile "not as much"
but why hide your eyes
under a funny mexican hat?

beautiful

if the rain could wash, wash, wash
all dirty things from the face of earth
if it would work all night
would the morning shine bright?

if the rain could wash, wash, wash
the dark small roads forgotten by the world
along with wider highways that belong to no one,
would they not shine bright?

if the rain could wash, wash wash
all trace of poverty, aggression and greed
all nasty thoughts and deviant desires
would it not be good

but who would decide
what is good and should stay
what is bad and should be washed away
who dares take the reins in their hand today?

the storm without thoughts
works heard by my windows today
the frogs by the creek croak a small gossip
the rest of the creatures seem to sleep

the earth will be beautiful when you wake up
my baby, don't worry now
when you grow up you should try however
to turn it around, wash it well

the rain may still help your hard working hand
the sun should be bright
and beautiful if you help your earth
and its people tomorrow

children

son of his mother
he's got some of her faults, most of her talents
and then some more;
her father's daughter
she's got the same looks
and the same seed of fire burning in her eyes;
he's like the water
smoothly flowing over the fields,
she's setting fire wherever her fast feet
touch the ground.
and still you can see them
when they walk hand in hand
every morning in peace
ready to catch he same bus
to the same school
where they learn how to grow
amongst us

grace

Be grateful for the quiet nights
when rest is peaceful
and the sleep is deep,
there's so much grace in the world,
just sleep!
the moonlight beam and the clouds
alone do travel
on the fluttering wings
of the wind;
but our streets are silent
to let babies sleep,
the waves of their dreams
like those of an ocean at rest
lulling;

listen for the sound of babies
who grow in their sleep,
for the the sound of tree roots
getting down deep,
for the twinkling star
who says that tomorrow
if full of hope and not far,
listen for the sky
unfolding this wonderful night
...and then sleep


give grace for what you've got
for the night so quiet and deep,
for the fact
that nothing out of the ordinary
will happen tonight
while we sleep

spring trip

it is time that you put
in front of you one foot
and then the other to step out
of the routine you have set up

spring is here and songs abound
robins, chickadees and kids
they all know what fresh breeze is
time to start anew your life

take a trip or make a craft
learn new music, learn new moves
give a hug without a reason
knit your words again with warmth

take a trip around the garden
take a trip around the city
if the world to you seems far
you have friends near and today is pretty

tutak

Tutak was small but he knew
he did not lack importance
he just knew he could do it
he tried really hard and he proved it

as long as he was not losing faith
and he could keep his rhythm
little Tutak was still full of spirit
he tried really hard and he proved it

he climbed the steepest high mountain
one little step at the time
where his bigger friends were afraid and backed up
he tried really hard and he proved it

no matter how small you may seem
do never doubt you can reach your goal
just keep your rhythm and faith, Tutak
he tried really hard and he proved it

water and sun

all we need is some water and sun
and spring has truly begun
blooming in white and in pink
the trees sing, sing sing

the soil is generously moist
the seeds are still waiting in pots
but once out in the garden
they will sprout and shoot to their best

the kids feet run faster these days
their legs jump farther over the creeks
their voices, stronger and bolder
fill the street with the happiest noise.

transitioning among years

he is a man of the past
no matter how beautiful this past was
is just was
there is nothing left anyway
for today
the man whom he has become
is different now
so do not search in vain
to find again in him
who he was
only the mandolin
can sing the same song twice
while the voice of the singer
changes and roughens
a bit every winter
he still comes to sing
at my door his carols;
the eyes of the mind search
through the misty air
for the truth and the value;
i know his wishes are true
so I give him my coin,
he moves on to a different home
followed by a cheerful crowd
of young carolers