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He often spoke of our little brother,

he wondered what his life

would have been like if he had lived.

He was the only son of a proud Scottish family.

It carried a large burden on his shoulders,

when his Father became ill …

Time carried the loss with him until he was an old man.

He would ride his black Harley and stand by the tombstone.

Always by himself, he would diligently stay on his knees,

clearing the leaves as though it cleared the pain of loss.

He would place flowers , and later say they would end up missing.

So, he would return to place them again and again.

Now the little brother’s grave will grow silent,

the leaves will start to gather, as no one will be there.

The old man has passed on and will not return.

One would hope, they are walking and talking ,

catching up on the past of eternity of all they have missed.

Now, he is at peace, as he has found his brother and

his brother has found him.

A New Year, I sit quietly before the day begins.

The fire flickers and the full moon is on its way down.

I think of the troubles around me with loved ones.

I acknowledge the blessings and quietly say a prayer.

I question if God gets tired of my constant requests.

However, I figure he has an unmeasurable amount of angels listening.

I shall touch an empty glass

to remember those past.

Happy New Year

Tying my troubles with each shoe string,

I grab my sheep’s wool cover coat.

Stepping into a black early morning

of cold winds and silent surroundings.

I pick up the pace listening to

the quiet of the darkness and

the prayers within my consciousness.

I spend time paying attention to

the Christmas colorful lights flickering on

porches and roof tops, and lawns.

I continue to push myself,

checking my watch, and mileage.

My goal is soon to be complete ,

when I start to anticipate returning

back to a warm car.

All the while the darkness leaves

the dew of the morning on my shoulders.

CMM 2024

What are your feelings about eating meat?

I don’t …

However , I do not sit in judgement of anyone who does.

Waking to a full moon,

hung in the darkened sky.

crisp wind swings softly ,

as I gaze toward the silver eye.

Hues of silver cast in sight,

shadows of clouds pass by.

I stop, sit on cool green grass,

and gaze back upon the sky.

2023. CMM.

Music Perfomance, (all instruments ) Prof. Brian Kip Haaheim

Vocalist, Jon Matteson

Lyrics, Christine McNeill-Matteson

Original Score, Daniel Myer

“Joy’s Song”

“Joy’s Song”

I am happy …

What things give you energy?

In the still darkness

Of early morning fog

My faithful tree keeps me company

I listen for the subtle distant cricket

Crescendo breaking silence

The greenness calls me

Prayer and meditation

I will run and then my day.

If you had to give up one word that you use regularly, what would it be?

F@#*k

       Running early in the morning just before dawn I was crossing over a familiar crosswalk.

                  I had just crossed the street where the white building is and the corner of the chapel 

              where my dear friend sally played piano.

                  I guess I startled it, as I approached it, this large furry animal had gone a quarter up 

               the tree after a squirrel 

                  It was huge.  It slid down the tree and growled loud.

                  I froze, and yelled, “Go away, go away,” loudly. Many years in Alaska with 

             bears common place, you are taught, do not run and scream as loudly as possible.

            It took off across the street and I stood there for a moment frozen, before I started  

             on.   The squirrel had gone all the way up the tree. 

           So, I slowly started to continue down the walk toward 12 th brick the old prison when I  

           heard something again.

          I turned around and the animal had crossed back over, and I thought omg what if he is  

          coming after me.

                  I stood there watching him in the distance, he paused and went into the weeds and  

         brush and down the hill near toward the railroad tracks.

                  They have turned the lights off early and making the streets dark as the days get  

         shorter.  

         We looked them up, and yes, they roam more at dusk and dawn and go after small  

         rodents 

                  And the one thing they said was DO NOT RUN.

                  I did not, but GOD I WAS SCARED.

                  His growl was something I will not forget for a while.  A sound is hard to describe.

              I have encountered many wild animals running in Panama and as far north as 

              Alaska, but none so threatening as I felt with this one.  I was glad it was so dark, 

             I do not think I would want to remember the way it looked.  The sound was enough.