Sand

Between the pages in these drawers
lies sprinkled sand from distant shores
where once I lay and felt the sun, heard
laughter, and saw children run. There in
the sand I curled my toes, and when I rose,
some came with me.

Please, take my hand. Let's walk along
the beach while high in the sky, jets chalk
white lines beyond our reach that drift away and
fly like sprinkled sand. Our feet of clay make
footprints that we see turn wet as water fills
them disappearing, yet bare feet and I return
from distant shores to dry.

And in between my finger goes, and finds
the sand there with the toes, brought from
unforgotten ages, sprinkled sand that
spots these pages....

Rojan Zét

Between Thumb and Forefinger

Between Thumb and Forefinger, digital painting by Ron Greenaway, inspired by the poem "Between Thumb and Forefinger", by Manuel Erickson.

Compassion

Compassion is a virtue - one in which the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy for the suffering of others are regarded as a part of love itself, and a cornerstone of greater social interconnectedness and humanism - foundational to the highest principles in philosophy, society, and personhood.

More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering. It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in what manifests in the social context as altruism. In ethical terms, the various expressions down the ages of the so-called Golden Rule embody by implication the principle of compassion: Do to others what you would have them do to you.

Ranked a great virtue in numerous philosophies, compassion is considered in all the major religious traditions as among the greatest of virtues.

.. "may I have some more, please ?... "

Kyle, by Julie Nygaard

Learn more about this photograph and about the photographer, Julie Nygaard, at julie-bybrushandpen.blogspot.com.

Here

I am not silent, as some count silence
waiting for inspiration between moments
breathing a stuttering hand contrived,
I am a rock on the land newly arrived.

I am not alone, as some consider loneliness
lying in wait for visitors knocking at a
closed door, rhyming. I am a clock at
midnight, chiming.

I am not afraid, as some fear death
dreading the end or some survival. I
am alive and glistening within this
awkward listening, awaiting your arrival.

Rojan Zét

Beyond the digital divide

Beyond the digital divide
Painting with light by Ron Greenaway

Ron Greenaway

Face your fears, mixed media by Ron Greenaway Carving © City of Duncan

I am currently the moderator of the Cowichan Valley Arts Café.

If I can be of any assistance, something on the site isn't quite right, please let me know. It's my pleasure.

Some inspired creative posts by me in this Café include:

• A Vision of Love
• Baptism
• Between Thumb and Forefinger
• Beyond the Digital Divide
  
• Clouds
• Individualism
• Innocence Lost
  
• Loss
• Life is not art
• preserving sanity in a broken world
  
• Simple-minded dreck
  
• Slam Dunk
  
• Snype Drumming
  
• Sweet Sorrow
• Vancouver Island Thanksgiving
• Venus Winks
  

Cowichan Camerata Strings Orchestra

Profile of Artists

Turn up your speakers and click "Play" to watch video.

The Cowichan Camerata Strings Orchestra is a group of musicians of all ages, coming together to make music!

The orchestra started 5 years ago under the direction of conductor Garth Williams and has gathered musicians within our community, ages 10-90years. It has been a great inter-generational community group which enjoys playing with each other and playing for the Cowichan area.

We strive to perform music which appeals to all ages, and to make orchestral music accessible to the community. We have performed at the Cowichan District Hospital, Cairnsmore and Wedgewood House. We have played on stage at the Duncan Farmer's Market and at the Station during Duncan Days and Duncan's Christmas lighting.

Our orchestra welcomes new members! Please contact us, or come to a rehearsal and check us out!

A sample of our music from the spring concert, Musical Glimpses of Summer, to scenes of summer on Vancouver Island.

For more information about us and our upcoming performances visit:
www.cowichancamerata.org.

Damned

© 2008, 2010 Manuel Erickson

You are damned.
Viscous gel oozes
from your heart that is blacker
than the blackest diamond
than the blackest coal
than the biggest black hole in the cosmos.
Your sons will disavow and hate you
when they see and understand
the damage you have done
to me, their grandfather:
your stolid silence, your letter
filled with loathing, your decision
not to have anything to do with me—
I, who loved you:
for you will have damaged them.

Are you redeemable? perhaps: if you
see, understand and acknowledge
the bullets you have shot
into my heart and theirs;
perhaps: if nightmares force you
to swim in tears of shame
until your eyes dry out
and become orbs of sandy grit
until you beg forgiveness
on bleeding knees
for your wrongs.

Only then.

Then, in a time not that futuristic,
your children might say to you,
“Thank you, Mum, for giving me
my grandfather.”

Between Thumb and Forefinger

© 2010 Manuel Erickson

She has you between thumb and forefinger,
Like a fly;
She'll squeeze the life out of you
If you so much as whisper rebellion.