Savoring Farmers, Art, and Carrion

page 9 On The Journey (artwork Sharon Kraybill)

"I thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." ~Cummings







On The Journey - Our page for pondering today, includes the above artwork and words: "It's not much that satisfies the soul, but the savoring of a little."

I reflected on the 'muchness' that doesn't satisfy. Maybe I will begin a new daily list including not only what I am savoring, but what is not satisfying.

Savoring -
1. Aroma of cedar.
2. Watching a buck with broken antler chasing a doe around.
3. Listening to carrion. Finding a dead cardinal, pondering sired summer eggs, raised young, signs of resurrection.
4. The way my grandchildren arrive at our house, diving out of car seats, grinning, leaping into my arms.
5. My husband standing up to watch tv last night to keep himself awake so he wouldn't wake me up at 3am this morning to start his day. We both slept until 6am - totally savoring!!

Unsatisfying -
1. Too much interest in news, and Facebook feeds. Scrolling when I'm bored.
2. The jealousy that arises when seeing so many vacation pics, discouragement from reading too many comments on too many posts.
3. Black Friday sales pitches
4. Not listening to carrion. (see following poem)
5. Not expecting the end of the world. (see following poem) Sometimes I get all righteous and think I (we) should overwork, become overwrought in order to prevent it. Forgetting how all things cycle through birth, life, death.


Continuing our reflections, the farmer mentioned how walking the land satisfies him, as does music. Last Saturday, we enjoyed a live concert of bluegrass music: Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. We went with siblings and their spouses. My farmer loves bluegrass; music I don't seek out. But, I did enjoy it, and was happy to be with family.

Here is the reflection invitation from page 9, On The Journey page:
Pause where you are, for a moment, and remember all the human, animal, plant and earth energies that provide you with comfort or nourishment this day.

What a beautiful invitation for around the Thanksgiving table. Imagine all the farmers, growers, producers, gatherers, sellers, buyers, cooks, feast-ers...and give thanks for all.


In the midst of our unsettled post election world, surprising things are bringing me comfort. The following poem is one. So, I'll leave you with a photo and the poem, while tipping my hat to all fellow Mad Farmers.

Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

(second half)

Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.
Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.

Listen to carrion -- put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn't go.
Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

~ Wendell Berry ~