We moved here 17 years ago. The Bears walked an old path through the front of the land. I was anxious for my dogs. I placed quartz stones on the corners of the property. And asked them to find another path. For the most part, they have. I respect them; I think they know.
This poem is my last in this series. Brian will finsh tomorrow. We will appreciate the way your Great Blue Heron photograph lit up our collaboration.🌱💙🌎
These comments cover everything I would have said and did it better. As a lifelong carpenter, 512 is an awkward number of square feet. 576 square feet would be 24'x24'😉
You tell this lived experience story of the dispassionate power broker in juxtaposition to the reverence you have for the land and its inhabitants. “scraps of paper” and its meanings is very powerful. One woman, like so many before you living in reciprocity with nature gives me great hope. Wonderful work here my friend.
How much encouragement you provide to my way of living in reciprocity with nature, which is your way as well! I am grateful.
I dream that you will inhabit Substack with your landscape ideas. We need to have tea with you on this platform! Your knowledge base is deep and your care for Earth is vast.
sending love from moi, and the Black Fox at my side.🩵🦋🌱🌿
…such beautiful poetry Katherine — The love from your heart and the work through your hands will percolate through every leaf, grain and pebble underfoot. It will nourish your land. May our needful earth and every creature found there welcome you to your new place. And love you back.
It took two months to get the bank to approve the refinance, another month to get the capable, kind septic guy here because Helene delivered a landslide. A month later we are still waiting for the county approve digging a septic system. And yet, it's going to take the rest of my life to thank the creatures and the soil for making a home for me, my dogs, and my words. So much gratitude for your presence here.🌱🩵
I feel your love for place, Katharine—fierce and defiant—abraded by the harsh rasp of the lawyers. They never stop talking to listen to the Truth.
Place is important to you and me. And so many.
Someday, we'll walk a forest together. I appreciate your presence here. 🌱💙🌿🦋
Beautiful poem, Katharine. I like the two themes of Truth and Respect. I especially like the final lines of: "Respect for her lineage
and her well worn path."
Neil, that means so much.
Black Bears truly own this mountain.
We moved here 17 years ago. The Bears walked an old path through the front of the land. I was anxious for my dogs. I placed quartz stones on the corners of the property. And asked them to find another path. For the most part, they have. I respect them; I think they know.
This poem is my last in this series. Brian will finsh tomorrow. We will appreciate the way your Great Blue Heron photograph lit up our collaboration.🌱💙🌎
I love this so much. The profound respect for the creatures of the land, and the way you use language to express it 💚
um. speechless. that's what i say about your work.
bowing, katharine
💚💚
"Truth be told,
this interrogation
leaks sadness into the soil."
i love you and thank you so much for this
thank you for stewarding this poem into being,
a decade of care, Kin.
i love you
No words. Just marvel, wonder, awe. Keep shining ✨
That means so much for my work. You mean so much to me, dear Kateri🌱💫
Likewise my resilient friend ♥️
These comments cover everything I would have said and did it better. As a lifelong carpenter, 512 is an awkward number of square feet. 576 square feet would be 24'x24'😉
You’re right. The tiny house is 504 square feet with the possibility of going a bit larger.
Thanks for your presence here.🌱💙🌎
You tell this lived experience story of the dispassionate power broker in juxtaposition to the reverence you have for the land and its inhabitants. “scraps of paper” and its meanings is very powerful. One woman, like so many before you living in reciprocity with nature gives me great hope. Wonderful work here my friend.
How much encouragement you provide to my way of living in reciprocity with nature, which is your way as well! I am grateful.
I dream that you will inhabit Substack with your landscape ideas. We need to have tea with you on this platform! Your knowledge base is deep and your care for Earth is vast.
sending love from moi, and the Black Fox at my side.🩵🦋🌱🌿
…such beautiful poetry Katherine — The love from your heart and the work through your hands will percolate through every leaf, grain and pebble underfoot. It will nourish your land. May our needful earth and every creature found there welcome you to your new place. And love you back.
Mark, that is beautiful. I feel that..."every leaf, grain and pebble underfoot."
I am grateful that we are connected🌱. Blessings on Janisse Ray!🤍🌱
Loving these.
Those words from you, Jack.
That's a big deal to me.
I can see you and Brian collaborating on an Exchange.
You write with the ease of someone who inherited a direct line to the gods of good language and story.🌱💙🌿
In a world which takes without asking, these are powerful and wise words, Katharine.
"I must ask the Field Mice,
the Squirrels who own the acorns of this land
and the Carolina Wrens—
will you loan me these 512 square feet of earth
to seed my words again?"
Troy, you selected my favorite lines.
It took two months to get the bank to approve the refinance, another month to get the capable, kind septic guy here because Helene delivered a landslide. A month later we are still waiting for the county approve digging a septic system. And yet, it's going to take the rest of my life to thank the creatures and the soil for making a home for me, my dogs, and my words. So much gratitude for your presence here.🌱🩵
Another beautiful entry. The ending is so fitting:
Respect.
Respect for her lineage
and her well worn path.
Much appreciation, Nathan. Truly.🌱