<span style="font-size:x-small;">Once there were but secrets whispered and carried on the wind. But do we think or wonder about Now? How much longer have we, or the planet? And what of our kids, our future adults? Will any breath remain? Our kids are poisoned by lead paint on imported toys. Do we question what is in the dye of T-shirts and jeans made in other lands?

Childhood dieases of olde have been conquered, some leaving serious side effects when a vaccine contains mercury. Statistics show kids today are the sickest children yet, with allergy and chemical sensitivities causing all manner of diseases once reserved for olde bodies. Besides poisons in the atmosphere and genetically modifed foods, we are bombarded constantly by deadly rays we cannot see, tho' they may see us in the form of nano-cameras carried by a speck of dust on the motion of the air, the corrupted wind.

And those who are responsible? Like the fellow in Scripture who stockpiled his resources, not realizing his number of days was done. As my Grandfather would say, "Tempus fugit."

Meanwhile, we go about, as in the days of Noah, planting trees and uprooting homes, blissfully unaware that the earth village has flattened out, and 'falling off' is not a question but a certainty. Immortality is waiting. Treasure each day as the first of your life, and prepare as if it may be the last. Kyrie Eleison. Yes, mercy is given. Who will accept it ~ as in the days of Noah?

With Peace to all
Rev.`Eriu

8-)

Long ago, in downtown Newport, my grandmother bred canaries, beautiful little yellow singers, but I would like to tell you about 'my' birds. I have owls and roosters in my house in various forms and designs. The owl represents the wisdom I seek, that which the Bible says is the most important and which is never denied. The roosters remind me that if I do not take care, when the rooster crows, I can easily be full of bird dung.

I don't have any seagulls in my house, but I do have some of their feathers on an Indian rain stick. Like a row of clothespins, seagulls sit on my roof. Upon a long ago, they called out, waking me to go to the beach where we would walk. Or I would walk while they flittered alongsicde me. Day by day, I got to know them - the babies, the teens, the old ones - or was that my imagination? We'd go down to the far end of 'my' beach, and laugh at the sand pipers running after the receding water, then turning to run back to the sand as the wave was renewed. Once I saw a piper in the group with one leg, not slowed down one bit by that. Watch them as I might, I never saw a piper catch anything to eat. It was just that frenzied, repetitious running to and fro, playing with the tide.

Where I lived for nearly 20 years, growing up my kids, families of cardinals would line up along the top bar of the open fence of our deck. We'd have a grand view out the kitchen and playroom windows at the gorgeous male and his pale wife whom he fed faithfully. Then as her eggs hatched, the little ones would sit on that railing in a long row, 4 or 5 per 'litter' with Papa cardinals dashing to bring home enough bacon for their families, and Mama always fed first. One year, we had 5 families camping on the deck! Cardinals are gorgeous. And then there was the prego robin. I wrote a silly song about her for my then 6 year old daughter. (I've since added a verse about dolphins! I don't know when a land animal will inspire me.)

In the last millenium when I was a toddler, my baffled mother watched in awe, so I was told, when I would put out my hand for a sparrow to light upon my fingers while I would sing whatever toddlers sing. I think my Mama watched in frozen horror, as she was terrified even of our little parakeet!

I have a stamp collection of birds from all over the world that a dear friend left to me. His last name was Finch. I wish I knew where to these stamps belong.

And then last, the one that was always first - the dove that is a symbol of the grace of God, the Spirit of life that inspires us, lifts us up, and gives us the strength to stay sane and sober.

It's time again for me to fly off too the land of Nod with Winkin and Blinkin because I missed their sailboat and only slept a little last night. But before I go, I wonder if you know that the name Huss means goose in Czech. My ancestors of the Czech quarter hailed from Husinec, "Goosetown," and they were gooseherders, but one was a singing priest, like I.

Yet remember, for all all these birds we need trees. Imagine what I indignantly said to the man outside my window, caught with a chain saw in his hands and half a tree at his feet - "Arborcide!" Living in a condo is not for the birds, when one's shade and trade of O2 for CO2 matter not. Pray we will save the trees, and God will save our planet.

Think GREEN,
Rev. `Eriu

Mr. Moon when he’s not
has black sheets cold as steel
that will freeze the deep
till it chokes up chunks of glacier.

Lady Earth spins and tilts
the tides, rolling evermore,
swallowing waiting shores
beyond the high water mark.

Miss Crescent swings aloft
above the nighted earth
as her cradle sends a beam
in search of lonely soul,

A mountain holds the beam
like a lighthouse on the sea,
or like Jake’s ladder to the sky,
we have a way, a pathway home.

Mr. Moon can turn away,
spill darkness on the land
but Miss Crescent’s slender finger
beckons to us, come live on high.

© 2007 JDT Huss. All rights reserved.

Better mooned than marooned!
Blessings,
Rev `Eriu

"Love her as in childhood
Though feeble old and grey,
For you'll never miss a mother's love
Till she's buried beneath the clay."

~from Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt