HAIKU THE ENCHANTMENT OF REALITY
by
EDRIE JEFFERSON
(copyright c 1978)
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tHESE HAIKU ARE TO THOSE WHO LOOK AT THE FAMILIAR
AND
SEE ENCHANTMENT.
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SPRING
i WORK FOR AWHILE
IN AN UNEASY SILENCE.
aT LAST, A BIRD SINGS.
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THERE IS THAT CROCUS
INSISTING NOW IS THE TIME...
WHILE PUSHING UP SNOW.
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EVEN AN EARTHWORM
MUST FORGIVE CULTIVATION
SPRING HAS COME AT LAST
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I PULL THE WEEDS OUT
TO MAKE THE GARDEN TIDY
CAN'T FIND THE SEEDLINGS.
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WHERE MY HANDS HAD PRESSED
SEEDS INTO SMALL MOON CRATERS
THERE ARE STRANGE STAGE CRAFT
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THE VALLEY SHIMMERS
WITH A PALE PINK RADIANCE
OH...THIS FIRST BLOSSOM!
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WIND AND PEACH PETALS
WHIRLING TOGETHER IN PLAY
TURN THE GARDEN PINK
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WHEN I LOOK AGAIN
THE OLD NEGLECTED PEACH TREE
IS NOW A PINK CLOUD
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FROST ON THE BLOSSOMS
ONCE AGAIN THERE'LL BE NO FRUIT
OH TREE...I'M SORRY!
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A SNOW MELTING SUN...
EAVE GUTTERS DRIP STEADILY:
SILVER WATER VEILS
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MISTY MORNING FOG
SOFTENS THE SHARPNESS OF ROCKS
AND THE RIVER'S DIN
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TV ANTENNAS
DEFY THE ONCOMING MIST
LOST, BUT NOT SILENT
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RAINDROPS TRY TO WARN...
BUT FOR ME TO MORE...IT TAKES
A LOUD THUNDERCLAP
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AN EXPECTED RAIN
CAUGHT IN IT, I ARRIVE SOAKED!
BUT I KNEW I WOULD
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IT HAS RAINED TWO DAYS
NOW THE NEW ROCKS DO NOT LOOK
FORLORN STRANGERS
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BRIGHT SUNSTRUCK JEWELS
CLING FAST TO THIS LEAFLESS BRANCH
UNTIL A BIRD LANDS
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A HAZY MOON SWIMS
UNDER LEAVES AND TWIGS
IN THIS DUSK DARK POOL
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THE BREEZE BRINGS A SCENT
NOT OFTEN SOUND AROUND HERE:
THE SMELL OF MOWED GRASS
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SUMMER
MY NEIGHBOR'S ROOSTER
SINGS UP THE NEW MORNING SUN
oH THAT ALARM CLOCK!
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ANCIENT CAMPFIRE STONES
ONCE AGAIN A PLUME OF SMOKE
SPEAKS TO THE MOUNTAIN
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MY WILLFUL SHADOW
WALKS WITH THE CLIFF LINE OF TREES
INSTEAD OFD WITH ME
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I CROSS THE RIVER
WITH NO FEAR OF THE TORRENT
HA! HA! DRY RIVER BED
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THE PINES ARCH ABOVE
BRILLIANT SUNSSHAFTS BURN THEIR WAY
TO ANCIENT BLEACHED ROCKS
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THE MOVING BRANCHES
SPOTLIGHT THE SHADOWED PAGE
OF MY OLD JOURNAL
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HOW LONG DID I DREAM?
WHITE PETALS ON MY SHOULDER...
AND A BUTTERFLY!___________________________
THE BUTTERFLY DARES
TO REST ON THE LITTLE SKUNK
UNAWARE AND SAFE
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THE WHOLE DAY IN TOWN
THE GARDEN, LEFT TO ITSELF,
SULKS BEHIND NEW WEEDS
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A HOSTILE HORNET
WITH ITS ENGINE WIDE OPEN
COMES IN FOR A KILL
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THIS ROSE IF PERFECT!
IS THAT WHY I DANNOT FIND
MY KNIFE NOR SCISSORS?
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PIANO PLAYING...
A SINGER DROWNS OUT ITS SOUND:
A CICADA'S SCREECH
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HERBAL FRAGRANT WINDS,
TIRED OF PUSHING FLEEZY CLOUDS,
PLAY WITH WIND CHIMES
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A SMASHING RAINFALL...
OH WHAT HEAVY DOOM LADEN
HEAD HANGING FLOWERS
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LEAVING THE GARDEN
I BRING THE SUNSET IN THE
CIRCLE OF MY ARMS
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THE FLOWER'S COLOR
FLIES TO THE VIVID SUNSET
TO PROLONG THE SHOW
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OH THAT AROMA!
HOW CAN THIS LEAF-BURNING SMOKE
MAKE MY MOUTH WATER?
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DISHES YET TO DO.
THE VALLEY, QUIET AT LAST
MOON WASHED RIVER ROCKS
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WITH CLOUD COVER GONE
A SHOOTING STAR IN THE SKY
JOINS DARTING FIREFLIES
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THE PLANE HIGH ABOVE
THE NIGHT BIRD'S SOFT LONELY CRY
THE PEACE OF THIS PLACE
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AUTUMN
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STRANGE SATISFACTION
TO PULL VINES OUT THE THE GARDEN
AFTER MONTHS OF CARE
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OH, TIME'S CEASELESS CHANGE...
WIND, SWEEPING THE GARDEN CLEAN
SWEEPS BACK THE SAME LEAVES
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GREETINGS, ONCE AGAIN!
YOU WERE HERE LAST YEAR, APPLE
I THOUGHT I ATE YOU.
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THE SNAIL PAINTS SLOWLY
WITH EVERY SILVER BRUSH STROKE
HE WRITES HIS LIFE STYLE
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GRASSES DRYLY NOD
BUT DO NOT DARE TO BEND FAR
TO THE OLD SQUIRE WIND
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THIS HOUSE TALKS ONLY
DURING A CLAMOROUS STORM
AND THEN IT COMPLAINS
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THE SUN FOLLOWS ME
UP THE PATH, THROUGH THE WINDOW
AND INTO THE ROSE
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THERE IS NO TEMPLE
BO BELLS GONG AT EVENTIDE
BUT SMALL WIND CHIMES TRY
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F IRE IN THE RIVER
BURNING IN ITS MURKY DEPTHS...
UNTIL THE SUN SETS
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THE SUN LINGERED LONG
HOLDING BACK THE FULL MOON'S SHOW
THIS QUIET COOLNESS
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THE MOUNTAIN OF STONE
CROUCHING UNDER THE SKY VAULT
MUST BE GOD'S PET ROCK
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MAGESTIC MOUNTAINS
ARE REDUCED TO DARK PHANTOMS
BY THE RISING MOON
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MY HARD PROBLEM SOLVED
THE INSECTS RESUME THEIR TALK
IN THE SOFT MOONLIGHT
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LAPPING AGAINST STONE
THE INSISTENT RIVER CALLS
TO THE DARK SILENCE
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THE NOSY MOON FLOATS
BETWEEN THE WHISPERING PINES
IN HOPE OF GOSSIP
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THE OWL ON THE BRANCH
DOESN'T HE KNOW THAT THE FULL MOON
HOLDS HIM IN ITS LIGHT?
THE OWL FLIES AWAY
THE THE GREY CLOUD SHADOWED MOON
LEAVING ME THE NIGHT
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SOME ORANGE AUTUMN LIGHTS
SHINING IN OUR SMALL VALLEY
HAVE PUMPKIN FACES
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THE NIGHT BANKED EMBERS
GLOW WARMLY IN THE DARKNESS
OF THIS EMPTY ROOM
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COSMIC THEATER...
THE DARK SKY FILLED WITH DRAMA
EACH STAR WITH A ROLE
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WINTER
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FREEZING COLD LIES
SHIVERING ON THE BARE FIELD
WITH NO SNOW COVER
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MANY SILVER CHIMES
STRIKE ON THE WROUGHT IRON DECK RAIL...
LITTLE BELLS OF HAIL
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ALL WORK IS DONE
HOW SILENT AFTEER THE RAIN
OF COURSE! IT'S SNOWING
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THROUGH THE TALL WINDOWS
THE DISTANT SNOWY MOUNTAINS
SNEAK INTO THE ROOM
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ONLY THE FIRST SNOW
CAN GET ME UP SO EARLY
EVEN BREAKFAST WAITS
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WINTER SECLUSION
AT LAST THE JOY OF CHOOSING
TO DO ANYTHING
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A GIFT OF SILENCE
LAID AT THE DOOR THIS MORNING...
A SOFT SNOWY WORLD
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THE MORNING'S QUIET
WHITE AND SOFT IS BROKEN BY
ONE BIRD'S DEFIANCE
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TODAY YOUR LETTER
ANDD THE SNOWFALL YOU DESCRIB ED
ARRIVED TOGETHER
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THIS TINY SNOWFLAKE
LANDING ON MY GARDEN GLOVE
IS A BIG WARNING
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ONE DOG STARTS BARKING
THEN ONE MORE...THEN ANOTHER
A SNOWFLAKE DRIFTS BY
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THE WHITE HORIZON
IS AT THE EDGE OF THE FENCE...
AND COMING CLOSER
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SMOKE SPIRALING UP...
MIUST FLOATING IN LONG STREAMERS...
BOTH WASHED DOWN BY SNOW
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WHAT A FAIRYLAND!
WHERE DID LAST NIGHT'S HEAVY SNOW
HIDE THE GARDEN PATH?
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THE LONGER I WALK
THE MORE I BECOME A PART
OF THE SNOW I WATCH
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DOUBLING WAY FORWARD
I PUSH AGAINST THE SNOWSTORM
NEITHER OF US FALLS
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TRUDGING BACK, I STOP
TO SHAKE THE SNOW LADEN TREE
OH! SNOW DOWN MY NECK
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THE SNOW ERASES
PARTS OF MY NEIGHBOR'S CABIN
AND THE WORDS SHE CALLS
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PEOPLE PASSING BY
STARING AHEAD IN THE SNOW
DON'T SEE ME WAVING
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SNOW BRINGS MIXED FEELINGS:
SOFT BRETHAKING LOVELINESS
TRAVELER'S HAZARD
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THOUGH SNOWING OUTSIDE...
THE FRAGRANCE OF PEACH BLOSSOMS
FLOWS AS I PAINT THEM
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LONG BLACK FEATHER
FLOATS ON BITTER WHITE SNBOW
NEAR BERRY BUSH
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THE DESIGNING SNOW
FASHION THE TREES INTO A
HOLIDAY GARLAND
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ONE BY ONE THE STARS
ARE JOSTLED OUT OF THE SKY
BY USHY SNOWFLAKES
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CANDLES ARE BURNING
HONORING THE GREAT SNOW KINE
ELECTRIC LINES DOWN
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THE MOUNTAIN VILLATE
THANKFULLY NESTLES UNDER
SOFT BLANKETS OF SNOW
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MOONLIGHT ON THE SNOW
SOUL DISTURBING SHADOWS MOVE
ON ITS PURITY
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FLUTTERING BROWN BIRDS
CLUSTER ON AN EARTH ISLAND
SURROUNDED BY SNOW
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THE SUN CHASES DOWN
ITS HIDING TREMBLING VICTIM...
THAT LAST CLUMP OF SNOW
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EXILED BY THE SUN
TATTERED SHREDS OF SHADOWED SNOW
UNRAVEL THEMSELVES
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CLOVES AND CINNAMON
AND RED RIBBON CANDY CANES...
THAT'S HOW PINE TREES SMELL
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SHINING RED BERRIES
ON A SNOW COV ERED BROWN BUSH...
NATURE'S CHRISTMAS CARD
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TANGLED GOLD TINSEL
SAVED IN A BROWN PAPER BAG...
AH...PATIENCE, PATIENCE
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THE CHRISTMAS TREE SHINES
WITH BALLS REFLECTING THE P AST
ALL THOSE MEMORIES!
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CAT FULL OF TRICKS
A WORLD FULL OF SWIRLING SNOW
AND ME FULL OF SMILES
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ONE PERFECT BRUSHY STROKE
AND ONE FAULTLESS BLACK PAW PRING
IMMORTALIZED CAT
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THE STARTLED MAD CAT
TUMBLES INTO THE BLANKET
THEN TRIES TO SWIM OUT
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STALKING JUNGLE CAT
POUNCES AND CAPTURES MY FEET
THEN SNARLS SLEEPILY
_______________________
HAVING CHEWED MY HAND
TO HER FULL SATISFACTION
SHE GENTLY LICKS IT
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THE CAT SITS STIFFENED
BY A SOUND ONLY SHE HEARS
ROUND EYES STRAIGHT AHEAD
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TIRING OF THE CHASE
THE TRICKY CAT HIDES FROM ME
ALL EXCEPT HER TAIL
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THE CAT TURNS AWAY
WITH EYES IN THE BACK OF HER HEAD
WHEN THE DOG WALKS BY
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THE HERBS ARE MASHED DOWN
INTO A SMALL SHAPELESS NEST
HOW SWEET THE CAT SMELLS
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IN ONE FLOWING LEAP
THE CAT BEATS ME TO THE DOOR
THEN CHANGES TO STONE
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WHAT A MYSTERY!
NOT ONE BROKEN ORNAMENT...
THE CAT WEARS TINSEL
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OH WHAT HAVE I DONE?
NOW CONSTANTLY UNDERFOOT
THIS DEMANDING CAT
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REALIY
________________
AT THE FOREST EDDGE
BRANCHES REACH FROM THE DARKNESS
ONCE UPON A TIME...
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I AM THE ONLY
REALITY HEERE IN THIS
ENCHANTED VALLEY
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WILL SNOW MELT FASTER
IF I CHANT THESE ANCIENT RUNES:
IXORA! CROCUS!
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DO MY STUMBLING FEET
SET OFF A WARNING SYSTEM?
THE GARDEN...SO STILL!
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DO GARDEN FAIRIES
LIKE EXCLUSIVE OWNERSHIP
IN THE SNOW GARDEN?
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ENOUGH FOR NEIGHBORS...
MORE RIPE GRAPES THAN I CAN USE
PRETTY FOXY, HUH!
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BALES OF STRAW FOR MULCH
TIRED AFTER A DAY OF WORK
I SPIN GOLDEN DREAMS
_____________________
I WILL AWAKEN
TO VIEWS NO MORE BEAUTIFUL
WHEN I LEAVE THIS WORLD
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PRAY WITH OPEN EYES
AS ANSWERS ARE EVERYWHERE
IN THE SKY AND EARTH
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PRAY BY A RIVER
AND KNOW THAT TIME FLOWS FORRWARD
IN ETERNAL CHANGE
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PRAY UNDER A CLIFF
FEEL IN GOD'S STRONG PROTECTION
THE GIFT OF COURAGE
________________
LOOK INWARD AS WELL
IN THE THUNDER OF OUR HEARTS
HEAR THE LOVE OF GOD
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