Birch Bark Canoe~Flash (circa 1988)

for daniel


The birch bark canoe was placed upside down, alongside the back of the house, nose pointed upstream, since the end of October. Now, at the beginning of December, it is the time when winter makes her self perfectly clear.


Our beloved two person canoe, Canna would have to wait until late April to be dropped into the nearest lake or river, for a wind biting, chilly
as hell canoe trip. The banks of the Susquehanah River would still be covered in snow, and sculpted for our delight- in faery ice formations,
sparkling in the faint April sun.

By Mid December, we experienced the depths of a deep winter freeze! We would spend more time lazing around--like bears, hibernating in long johns
by the wood stove. We understood the fine art of staying warm--with bottomless mugs of sweet hot whiskey drinks, and classic bear hugs at the hearth of our home.

We gave each other the gifts of mutuality: the love of music, and the music of loving! We would improvise on keys and strings--in the spirit of
yogis, without past or future tenses--remaining forever in the present tense of bliss!


Now, at dawn..we are presently plucking atonal ragas towards sunrise--- softly warming a mostly frozen stream.