Somewhere Time and Being - Paradise, Montana

"...Because in afternoon sunshine, time's there...
So when it's taken, with our words and seeing,
Let these words stand: now that was time and being.”

--From "Always Somewhere" by David Rothman

Somewhere Everywhere - Paradise, Montana

"...Somewhere always is an everywhere
Where the mountains and the snow grow down
In time, until, in winter's deep sleep, time
Grows balanced, and in quiet you can climb
A mountain and the snow no one can own..."

--From "Always Somewhere" by David Rothman

Somewhere Snow - Paradise, Montana

"...Always somewhere in the air is snow
Of every kind, light, drifted, melting, deep
Especially, its liquid energy
Released come spring stored temporarily
Upon the mountains as through time they keep
Faith with cold nights where the foxes bark and roam.”

--From "Always Somewhere" by David Rothman

Somewhere Mountains - Paradise, Montana

"Somewhere in the dark is always mountains,

Years in mountains, mountains silent, standing

Inscrutable, big, rocky, piercing, sheer,

And hills, wrinkled and rippling, calling clear

Across their time, symbolic, real, and branding

Reality as cities boast a downtown....”

--From "Always Somewhere" by David Rothman

Easter Wings, Missoula, Montana

Easter Wings

By George Herbert 1593–1633

Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store,

      Though foolishly he lost the same,

            Decaying more and more,

                  Till he became

                        Most poore:

                        With thee

                  O let me rise

            As larks, harmoniously,

      And sing this day thy victories:

Then shall the fall further the flight in me.

My tender age in sorrow did beginne

      And still with sicknesses and shame.

            Thou didst so punish sinne,

                  That I became

                        Most thinne.

                        With thee

                  Let me combine,

            And feel thy victorie:

         For, if I imp my wing on thine,

Affliction shall advance the flight in me.

(Note: Be sure to read the archaic definition of "imp", as relates to falconry.
And check out the cool old manuscripts and discussion at the link in the poem title.)

Red Poppy Full Bloom, Hamilton, Montana

Happiness, By Carl Sandburg, 1878-1967
I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though I was trying to fool with them.
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along the Desplaines River.
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with their women and children and a keg of beer and an accordian.