Mirror, mirror . . .

In Tew’s day’s mailbox . . .

… the river still flows

from wherever it comes from

to where it has been told to go. – Mary Oliver

Today in 1994, Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first democratically elected president.

Billy Joel was born on this date in 1949 Bronx, N.Y.

Today would be the 85th birthday of Charles Simic. The poet was born on this date in 1938 Belgrade, Yugoslavia, which is now Serbia. He died this past January at his home in Dover, New Hamphsire.

What is important is to get beyond the pattern of mental concepts which we have formed. One must learn to be a skillful scientist … Everything must be seen through one’s own microscope and one has to reach one’s own conclusions in one’s own way. Until we do that, there is no savior, no guru, no blessings, and no guidance that could be of any help. – Chögyam Trungpa

Unemployed Mirrors at Just Before Dawn

– after Charles Simic

You must come to them sideways;

Sneak a view of their emptiness

Without them catching

A glimpse of you in return.

We have become our own Narcissus Mirror.-- Sophie Strand

Reflection in Stone

– for Sophie

Narcissus was not enamoured with a mirrored

image of his separated self. He was, rather,

astonished by the deep, clear Way of the water –

the very slow movement of the plants

beneath the surface. the fish barely moving,

reminded him how still his breath had become

epiphanies, joining the connectedness

with the sparkling stones below

reflecting the stars above him.