ray bradbury

They have not seen the stars,
Not one, not one
Of all the creatures on this world
In all the ages since the sands
First touched the wind,
Not one, not one,
No beast of all the beasts has stood
On meadowland or plain or hill
And known the thrill of looking at those fires.
Our soul admires what they,
Oh, they, have never known.
Five billion years have flown
In turnings of the spheres,
But not once in all those years
Has lion, dog, or bird that sweeps the air
Looked there, oh, look. Looked there.
Ah, God, the stars. Oh, look, there!

It is as if all time had never been,
Nor Universe or Sun or Moon
Or simple morning light.
Those beasts, their tragedy was mute and blind,
And so remains. Our sight?
Yes, ours? to know now what we are.

But think of it, then choose. Now, which?
Born to raw Earth, inhabiting a scene,
And all of it no sooner viewed, erased,
As if these miracles had never been?
Vast circlings of sounding fire and frost,
And all when focused, what? as quickly lost?

Or us, in fragile flesh, with God's new eyes
That lift and comprehend and search the skies?
We watch the seasons drifting in the lunar tide
And know the years, remembering what's died.

--
Ray Bradbury

short lists.

there are two big things i was really hoping for this week and both of them fell through. hope is such a funny thing because it can leave room for us to set up our own harm, or it can leave room for wonderful things to inspire us and keep us going. this i know and have known for a long time.

aside from that, i have re-discovered that family and friends are really good things. it's nice that when you explain that you just got news that made you feel extremely deflated, that someone will walk over to your apartment with a tray of cookies (and by tray, i literally mean the baking sheet... they were THAT fresh) and enjoy tea with you while you debrief. or that your mom will tell you the most mom like thing and you know she's a touch bias but it still feels really nice to hear that she, if not others, is so completely in your corner. or when your super awesome husband buys you something he knows you want and hands it to you saying "happy bad day" and the gift + the ridiculous statement makes you laugh again.

these are really good things.

lastly... here, enjoy this photo.