Dance away your troubles
Garnet Stone bridge
Down the windward way
The Calm of the Midnight Peepers
Night swallows
After attending a dance in celebration of the fox
Timmy, oh Timmy, where have you gone?
Generosity
I was in deep despair
For a thousand reasons
But I went anyway
To a community garden,
In a peaceful pasture
Outstretched to the treeline
Far below the the towering steeples.
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Led by Sister Ana
Who cut me a bouquet
Of brightly colored zinnias
Speckled red and white,
Magenta and yellow
Flaymboyant
Like living paper mache.
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Here, take these purple tomatoes
And these bundles of chard
From this verdant bounty
Of peppers and squash,
Melons, pumpkins, carrots, and dill
Make them into your dinner
To sustain you through the night.
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“Generosity” written by Sandy Ross Bender on August 13, 2010.
The Devil’s Questions (Niles No. 1 A)*
If you don’t answer my questions well,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
I’ll take you off, and I live in hell,
And you the weavering bonty.
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Oh, what is whiter far than milk?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is softer far than silk?
And you the weavering bonty.
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Oh, snow is whiter far than milk
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And down is softer far than silk,
And me the weavering bonty.
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Oh, what is louder than a horn?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is sharper than a thorn?
And you the weavering bonty.
??????????????????????????
Oh, thunder’s louder than a horn,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And death is sharper than a thorn,
And me the weavering bonty.
?????????????????????????????
Oh, what is higher than a tree?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is deeper than the sea?
And you the weavering bonty.
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Oh, heaven’s higher than a tree,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And hell is deeper than the sea,
And me the weavering bonty.
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Oh, what red fruit September grows?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what thing round the whole world goes?
And you the weavering bonty.
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The apple in September grows,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And air around the whole world goes,
And me the weavering bonty.
?????????????????????????????
Oh, what is wicked man’s repay?
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And what is worse than woman’s way?
And you the weavering bonty.
?????????????????????????????
Now, hell is wicked man’s repay,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
And a she-devil’s worse than woman’s way,
And me the weavering bonty.
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Oh, you have answered my questions well,
Sing ninety-nine and ninety,
But, I’ll take you off, ’cause I live in hell,
And you the weavering bonty.
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