I bow to the surprise and wonder…. a tribute
Just re-reading Red’s book of poems that his daughter gave us after he passed away. I will forever remember the silence that surrounded him. We used to visit him many times first in his house in the blue mountains and later in the nursing home playing the guitar for him. I even made a sketch of him.
I especially love this poem….
Forgive me, Lord, if I do not
bow down before you.
The pine, spruce, and fir
stand upright,
pointing at the stars.
In reverence, I stand below them
Looking upward.
The moon, planets, stars move silently and I understand them not.
Must I fall to my knees in fear and awe?
bow down before you.
The pine, spruce, and fir
stand upright,
pointing at the stars.
In reverence, I stand below them
Looking upward.
The moon, planets, stars move silently and I understand them not.
Must I fall to my knees in fear and awe?
Forgive me, Lord, if I do
bow down before you.
I am only watching the crickets among the grass
How with six legs they run and jump.
I bow down in surprise and wonder,
but not in fear of you, my Lord.
But forgive me, Lord, if I walk in your presence
and see you not.
The clouds float by
and are lost in dreams.
And the birds sing much too sweetly.
People laugh
and the sun shines warm.
Arthur Lyon “Red” Mitchell
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