The coming of spring

Our cat Roger likes to watch the sun come up
















and looks back at me with those dreamy eyes of his.
















I stepped out on the deck to admire our goldfinches, who are acquiring their spring coats of brilliant yellow,
















watched the rising sun illuminate the new flowers of a sugar maple
















and then stepped out the front door to inspect the buds on our Japanese Cherry tree, which is about ready to burst into flower.
















On my way home at night, I see that our neighborhood is growing more beautiful by the day.
















This neighbor has planted a patch of phlox in his front yard,

















and this one has a redbud tree in full bloom.
















My little patch of phlox around our mailbox is in bloom,




















and our cherry tree will explode into bright pastel within just a few weeks.

No sushi for me

I love working in downtown Nashville, which is a very walkable city. Five minutes' walk in one direction takes me to Bicentennial Mall,













and five minutes in the other direction takes me downtown.















Yesterday was a brilliant spring day, perfect for a walk downtown to Sam's, our favorite place for sushi.

We started out along James Robertson Parkway heading toward downtown,





















Took a look back at our building,
















passed by the Municipal Auditorium,
















which appeared on Bob Dylan's album, "Nashville Skyline" (look closely in the lower right corner for the domed structure),

















then turned onto 4th Avenue and passsed by the Arcade,
















gazed up at a new residential tower under construction,
















then at the Suntrust building





















and the US Bank building.





















We finally arrived at Sam's, on the corner of Church and Printer's Alley.
















His prices are terrific, and the food is fresh and delicious (if you like sushi).
















But, much to our dismay, everyone else in the city had the same idea. He only has space for about ten people, and it was full by 11:25 a.m.

So we headed back, and on the way entered the Arcade (which is over 100 years old, the oldest enclosed arcard in the US),





















where I entered the Peanut Shop, one of Nashville's oldest businesses.
















I browsed the shelves,
















enjoyed the colorful signage and bought my sweetie a little surprise.
















Then headed back out the Arcade toward 4th Avenue,





















passed by the Auditorium once again,
















crossed Gay Street (yes, that's right - GAY Street)
















and returned to the office, where I heated up my consolation lunch.

















And so I enjoyed a delightful walk, even though there was no shushi in it for me that day.

I am

I am



















a particular manifestation of the earth's contemplation of itself.





















I came to be from dust,





















and to dust shall I return.














I sculpt time and space awhile,





















leave my mark














and my seed





















and then am gone





















in the blink of an eye.
















I am a recycling machine,












a borrower of elements















that pass through me,





























































constantly becoming,





















always flowing.
















I am the river that flows through me














and through time.















I am my ancestors incarnate.






















































I am a tube within a tube,














swimming through time,
















always becoming

who I am.