well thank you for being here and this is a story about silence and I want to
is a story about silence and I want to
is a story about silence and I want to share with you this story this journey
share with you this story this journey
share with you this story this journey of silence in a way that I have never
of silence in a way that I have never
of silence in a way that I have never shared with anyone before so I want to
shared with anyone before so I want to
shared with anyone before so I want to go back to the time it was an oil spill
go back to the time it was an oil spill
go back to the time it was an oil spill that happened I gave up riding in cars
that happened I gave up riding in cars
that happened I gave up riding in cars my parents thought I was crazy and so
my parents thought I was crazy and so
my parents thought I was crazy and so did the people in my community and they
did the people in my community and they
did the people in my community and they thought I was crazy too and the the
thought I was crazy too and the the
thought I was crazy too and the the point of not speaking was to actually
point of not speaking was to actually
point of not speaking was to actually give my community a gift cuz I just kind
give my community a gift cuz I just kind
give my community a gift cuz I just kind of talked so much you know I I spoke a
of talked so much you know I I spoke a
of talked so much you know I I spoke a lot and about things that I didn’t know
lot and about things that I didn’t know
lot and about things that I didn’t know and I just kept talking and talking and
and I just kept talking and talking and
and I just kept talking and talking and I would get into arguments and so I
I would get into arguments and so I
I would get into arguments and so I really wanted to to get out of that
really wanted to to get out of that
really wanted to to get out of that place silence is something that’s not
place silence is something that’s not
place silence is something that’s not unfamiliar to humans it started back in
unfamiliar to humans it started back in
unfamiliar to humans it started back in well i’m sure about before we first
well i’m sure about before we first
well i’m sure about before we first started talking but in the first century
started talking but in the first century
started talking but in the first century AD greek philosopher Apollonius
AD greek philosopher Apollonius
AD greek philosopher Apollonius Apollonius of Tyana was reportedly
Apollonius of Tyana was reportedly
Apollonius of Tyana was reportedly silent for five years and i you know
silent for five years and i you know
silent for five years and i you know what’s so great about that el
what’s so great about that el
what’s so great about that el philosopher who didn’t speak i guess
philosopher who didn’t speak i guess
philosopher who didn’t speak i guess that’s something that’s news and and so
that’s something that’s news and and so
that’s something that’s news and and so he didn’t speak for five years and he
he didn’t speak for five years and he
he didn’t speak for five years and he went around in greece and and he became
went around in greece and and he became
went around in greece and and he became so famous that he could quell riots by
so famous that he could quell riots by
so famous that he could quell riots by just showing up and and and making a nod
just showing up and and and making a nod
just showing up and and and making a nod like you know some people were arguing
like you know some people were arguing
like you know some people were arguing about the way a certain ceremony was
about the way a certain ceremony was
about the way a certain ceremony was being done or a way a certain dance was
being done or a way a certain dance was
being done or a way a certain dance was done and Apollonius would show up and he
done and Apollonius would show up and he
done and Apollonius would show up and he kind of looked at him and they would see
kind of looked at him and they would see
kind of looked at him and they would see the folly of their ways the silliness of
the folly of their ways the silliness of
the folly of their ways the silliness of their of their argument and so they
their of their argument and so they
their of their argument and so they would stop and it’s reported that it
would stop and it’s reported that it
would stop and it’s reported that it even wants he called a food riot where
even wants he called a food riot where
even wants he called a food riot where there were a group of people who are
there were a group of people who are
there were a group of people who are holding
holding
holding on to the food and they were threatening
on to the food and they were threatening
on to the food and they were threatening the town magistrate who was thank God a
the town magistrate who was thank God a
the town magistrate who was thank God a Polonius is here can you do something
Polonius is here can you do something
Polonius is here can you do something can you say something and of course a
can you say something and of course a
can you say something and of course a Polonius didn’t say anything at all
Polonius didn’t say anything at all
Polonius didn’t say anything at all but that was the whole point and pretty
but that was the whole point and pretty
but that was the whole point and pretty soon just because he had showed up the
soon just because he had showed up the
soon just because he had showed up the people who stopped their riot and the
people who stopped their riot and the
people who stopped their riot and the people who were hoarding the food
people who were hoarding the food
people who were hoarding the food started giving it out
started giving it out
started giving it out nothing like that happen for me because
nothing like that happen for me because
nothing like that happen for me because if it did I would be there you know
if it did I would be there you know
if it did I would be there you know there’s a lot of places where we could
there’s a lot of places where we could
there’s a lot of places where we could use some peace but for me what I had to
use some peace but for me what I had to
use some peace but for me what I had to do was on one the first day of the year
do was on one the first day of the year
do was on one the first day of the year I decided I was going to start painting
I decided I was going to start painting
I decided I was going to start painting now I’m still talking and I want to show
now I’m still talking and I want to show
now I’m still talking and I want to show you these paintings no one has seen
you these paintings no one has seen
you these paintings no one has seen these paintings this is from back in
these paintings this is from back in
these paintings this is from back in 1973 the first painting I ever made is a
1973 the first painting I ever made is a
1973 the first painting I ever made is a watercolor don’t laugh but if you are an
watercolor don’t laugh but if you are an
watercolor don’t laugh but if you are an artist and you can look at my painting
artist and you can look at my painting
artist and you can look at my painting you go that it’s got a long ways to go
you go that it’s got a long ways to go
you go that it’s got a long ways to go this is sunrise on Tomales Bay and
this is sunrise on Tomales Bay and
this is sunrise on Tomales Bay and sunrise on Tomales Bay was my first
sunrise on Tomales Bay was my first
sunrise on Tomales Bay was my first major painting I had a the book I use
major painting I had a the book I use
major painting I had a the book I use was it oh it cost 69 cents the paints
was it oh it cost 69 cents the paints
was it oh it cost 69 cents the paints were a 39 cent little roll of paints and
were a 39 cent little roll of paints and
were a 39 cent little roll of paints and I’d gotten this for Christmas and so new
I’d gotten this for Christmas and so new
I’d gotten this for Christmas and so new years of my new year’s resolution was to
years of my new year’s resolution was to
years of my new year’s resolution was to paint every day and so this was my first
paint every day and so this was my first
paint every day and so this was my first painting my second painting well keeping
painting my second painting well keeping
painting my second painting well keeping a journal is a really good thing because
a journal is a really good thing because
a journal is a really good thing because you get to see where you were before and
you get to see where you were before and
you get to see where you were before and say these are artifacts from many years
say these are artifacts from many years
say these are artifacts from many years ago and I get to see I get to look at
ago and I get to see I get to look at
ago and I get to see I get to look at where I was before now how I used these
where I was before now how I used these
where I was before now how I used these when I started was that I would take
when I started was that I would take
when I started was that I would take them and show people and they would
them and show people and they would
them and show people and they would say wow man that’s really nice what is
say wow man that’s really nice what is
say wow man that’s really nice what is that well that was a periwinkle
that well that was a periwinkle
that well that was a periwinkle I mean periwinkle you know it didn’t
I mean periwinkle you know it didn’t
I mean periwinkle you know it didn’t quite look like it doesn’t matter what
quite look like it doesn’t matter what
quite look like it doesn’t matter what it looked like it was my representation
it looked like it was my representation
it looked like it was my representation of a periwinkle and that’s all I did and
of a periwinkle and that’s all I did and
of a periwinkle and that’s all I did and that was an important part of my day
Tomales Bay my first tree this was going
Tomales Bay my first tree this was going along really well and then something
along really well and then something
along really well and then something happened something happened in February
happened something happened in February
happened something happened in February when I discovered bamboo I discovered
when I discovered bamboo I discovered
when I discovered bamboo I discovered bamboo and I thought that this was a
bamboo and I thought that this was a
bamboo and I thought that this was a beautiful plan and what I didn’t realize
beautiful plan and what I didn’t realize
beautiful plan and what I didn’t realize but I discovered as well is that it was
but I discovered as well is that it was
but I discovered as well is that it was the word was ubiquitous and that meant
the word was ubiquitous and that meant
the word was ubiquitous and that meant that it was everywhere and I discovered
that it was everywhere and I discovered
that it was everywhere and I discovered that bamboo was everywhere so I decided
that bamboo was everywhere so I decided
that bamboo was everywhere so I decided that I was not going to mess around with
that I was not going to mess around with
that I was not going to mess around with mountains and trees and things anymore I
mountains and trees and things anymore I
mountains and trees and things anymore I was going to work on bamboo and so
was going to work on bamboo and so
was going to work on bamboo and so that’s what I did
that’s what I did
that’s what I did I started painting bamboo I would sit
I started painting bamboo I would sit
I started painting bamboo I would sit down and I would sit in front of a stalk
down and I would sit in front of a stalk
down and I would sit in front of a stalk of bamboo and I’d start painting it was
of bamboo and I’d start painting it was
of bamboo and I’d start painting it was really very restful I found it was more
really very restful I found it was more
really very restful I found it was more than restful as I started painting you
than restful as I started painting you
than restful as I started painting you can notice that there is something about
can notice that there is something about
can notice that there is something about the way that bamboo lent itself to being
the way that bamboo lent itself to being
the way that bamboo lent itself to being painted but not all of it needing to be
painted but not all of it needing to be
painted but not all of it needing to be painted that there were spaces that
painted that there were spaces that
painted that there were spaces that could be represent where bamboo was but
could be represent where bamboo was but
could be represent where bamboo was but the paint wasn’t and I started
the paint wasn’t and I started
the paint wasn’t and I started experimenting with that that there was
experimenting with that that there was
experimenting with that that there was this negative space this silent space
this negative space this silent space
this negative space this silent space this silence
this silence
this silence the stillness and bamboo took me on this
the stillness and bamboo took me on this
the stillness and bamboo took me on this journey because when I first started not
journey because when I first started not
journey because when I first started not speaking I thought well see this is
speaking I thought well see this is
speaking I thought well see this is great this is going to help me in a way
great this is going to help me in a way
great this is going to help me in a way this is going to help me learn to listen
this is going to help me learn to listen
this is going to help me learn to listen another thing that it started to help me
another thing that it started to help me
another thing that it started to help me realize was that when I did speak I did
realize was that when I did speak I did
realize was that when I did speak I did speak with the gene you get that one
speak with the gene you get that one
speak with the gene you get that one yeah the forked tongue there that was a
yeah the forked tongue there that was a
yeah the forked tongue there that was a problem I had of kind of exaggerating
problem I had of kind of exaggerating
problem I had of kind of exaggerating exaggerations going into great stories
exaggerations going into great stories
exaggerations going into great stories and great stories going into absolute
and great stories going into absolute
and great stories going into absolute lies but I did that for a reason I the
lies but I did that for a reason I the
lies but I did that for a reason I the reason was I was always trying to be
reason was I was always trying to be
reason was I was always trying to be someone else I was not satisfied with
someone else I was not satisfied with
someone else I was not satisfied with being who I was I’d lost that person a
being who I was I’d lost that person a
being who I was I’d lost that person a long time ago trying to be pretend to be
long time ago trying to be pretend to be
long time ago trying to be pretend to be someone else trying to be like someone
someone else trying to be like someone
someone else trying to be like someone else and for me as an african-american
else and for me as an african-american
else and for me as an african-american you have to understand that as I was
you have to understand that as I was
you have to understand that as I was growing up in the 50s there weren’t very
growing up in the 50s there weren’t very
growing up in the 50s there weren’t very many models for me to to look forward to
many models for me to to look forward to
many models for me to to look forward to you know well there was you know Booker
you know well there was you know Booker
you know well there was you know Booker T Washington there was Frederick
T Washington there was Frederick
T Washington there was Frederick Douglass of course there was you know
Douglass of course there was you know
Douglass of course there was you know Jackie Robinson but then there was
Jackie Robinson but then there was
Jackie Robinson but then there was kingfish and then there was the guys I
kingfish and then there was the guys I
kingfish and then there was the guys I saw in the newspapers the pictures of
saw in the newspapers the pictures of
saw in the newspapers the pictures of people I saw on the newspapers were
people I saw on the newspapers were
people I saw on the newspapers were mostly criminals and so I tried to be
mostly criminals and so I tried to be
mostly criminals and so I tried to be anything but who I was that got me into
anything but who I was that got me into
anything but who I was that got me into into big trouble because I was so good
into big trouble because I was so good
into big trouble because I was so good at pretending
at pretending
at pretending that I I pretended so well that I lost
that I I pretended so well that I lost
that I I pretended so well that I lost the person that I was I didn’t know who
the person that I was I didn’t know who
the person that I was I didn’t know who that person was anymore
that person was anymore
that person was anymore and so the silence that not speaking
and so the silence that not speaking
and so the silence that not speaking allowed me to rediscover that
so I say all this to you now and I want
so I say all this to you now and I want you to know that it’s all documented
you to know that it’s all documented
you to know that it’s all documented it’s documented in in painting and in
it’s documented in in painting and in
it’s documented in in painting and in writing and this is what happened after
writing and this is what happened after
writing and this is what happened after the silence I continued painting bamboo
until finally I could break out of that
until finally I could break out of that and I started painting larger landscapes
and I started painting larger landscapes
and I started painting larger landscapes and and with words now this is eight
and and with words now this is eight
and and with words now this is eight months later eight months after I had
months later eight months after I had
months later eight months after I had stopped speaking I started writing
stopped speaking I started writing
stopped speaking I started writing because when I stopped speaking at first
because when I stopped speaking at first
because when I stopped speaking at first I didn’t write at all and how did I
I didn’t write at all and how did I
I didn’t write at all and how did I communicate it was all by sign it was
communicate it was all by sign it was
communicate it was all by sign it was all by mine and was all by acting things
all by mine and was all by acting things
all by mine and was all by acting things out I want some tea I’m in the
out I want some tea I’m in the
out I want some tea I’m in the restaurant and I need if I don’t want
restaurant and I need if I don’t want
restaurant and I need if I don’t want tea I want it was very good but it
tea I want it was very good but it
tea I want it was very good but it really takes two and so I started to to
really takes two and so I started to to
really takes two and so I started to to paint and and write and you can see my
paint and and write and you can see my
paint and and write and you can see my paintings are starting to change now I’m
paintings are starting to change now I’m
paintings are starting to change now I’m using pen and ink and I’m using the pen
using pen and ink and I’m using the pen
using pen and ink and I’m using the pen and I I’ve never read these out I would
and I I’ve never read these out I would
and I I’ve never read these out I would use these books now I’m travelling
use these books now I’m travelling
use these books now I’m travelling around in my village and up to other
around in my village and up to other
around in my village and up to other villages I would use these books to say
villages I would use these books to say
villages I would use these books to say where I had been
where I had been
where I had been they were the communication and music
they were the communication and music
they were the communication and music and so I want to read this to you I’ve
and so I want to read this to you I’ve
and so I want to read this to you I’ve had this will be the first time I’ve
had this will be the first time I’ve
had this will be the first time I’ve read this to an audience and this is a
read this to an audience and this is a
read this to an audience and this is a picture of Inverness were where I had
picture of Inverness were where I had
picture of Inverness were where I had been living and this is October 9 1973
been living and this is October 9 1973
been living and this is October 9 1973 sitting on a wooden bed
sitting on a wooden bed
sitting on a wooden bed in front of the Inverness post office
in front of the Inverness post office
in front of the Inverness post office the morning is new the Miss still
the morning is new the Miss still
the morning is new the Miss still envelops the mountain across the day
envelops the mountain across the day
envelops the mountain across the day business goes on as usual and a familiar
business goes on as usual and a familiar
business goes on as usual and a familiar pattern unfolds as the mist disappears
pattern unfolds as the mist disappears
pattern unfolds as the mist disappears the mountain calls many steps later
the mountain calls many steps later
the mountain calls many steps later point raise station and Inverness lay
point raise station and Inverness lay
point raise station and Inverness lay below in the distance paper Mill Creek
below in the distance paper Mill Creek
below in the distance paper Mill Creek whines lazily through the meadow on its
whines lazily through the meadow on its
whines lazily through the meadow on its way to the bay and the incoming fog is
way to the bay and the incoming fog is
way to the bay and the incoming fog is held momentarily by the ridge before a
held momentarily by the ridge before a
held momentarily by the ridge before a spilling through the pines now he says
spilling through the pines now he says
spilling through the pines now he says almost many years ago and I’m not
almost many years ago and I’m not
almost many years ago and I’m not speaking so this is all coming out of a
speaking so this is all coming out of a
speaking so this is all coming out of a place of silence for me this is coming
place of silence for me this is coming
place of silence for me this is coming out of a place where I’m just letting
out of a place where I’m just letting
out of a place where I’m just letting myself right but I’m only writing about
myself right but I’m only writing about
myself right but I’m only writing about my natural environment and and that’s
my natural environment and and that’s
my natural environment and and that’s something another thing I have to go
something another thing I have to go
something another thing I have to go through to just write about what’s going
through to just write about what’s going
through to just write about what’s going on around me in nature I’m going to read
on around me in nature I’m going to read
on around me in nature I’m going to read one more of these this is a the air is
one more of these this is a the air is
one more of these this is a the air is clean and the sky is clear say for a few
clean and the sky is clear say for a few
clean and the sky is clear say for a few high puffs of clouds on the bay the tide
high puffs of clouds on the bay the tide
high puffs of clouds on the bay the tide moves in and the hill sighs have begun
moves in and the hill sighs have begun
moves in and the hill sighs have begun this to sprout their winter greenery the
this to sprout their winter greenery the
this to sprout their winter greenery the wind comes in from the ocean and more
wind comes in from the ocean and more
wind comes in from the ocean and more clouds gather the music is here now the
clouds gather the music is here now the
clouds gather the music is here now the mountain sings the seasons are slowly
mountain sings the seasons are slowly
mountain sings the seasons are slowly changing while sitting on the dock and
changing while sitting on the dock and
changing while sitting on the dock and Inverness
thank you well music has become a part
thank you well music has become a part of my journey now listening to natural
of my journey now listening to natural
of my journey now listening to natural sounds I’m very fortunate to be living
sounds I’m very fortunate to be living
sounds I’m very fortunate to be living in this beautiful place listening to
in this beautiful place listening to
in this beautiful place listening to water up against the shore and the wind
water up against the shore and the wind
water up against the shore and the wind and the trees and the Jays and all the
and the trees and the Jays and all the
and the trees and the Jays and all the sounds that are that are in nature being
sounds that are that are in nature being
sounds that are that are in nature being able to hear those and and walking in in
able to hear those and and walking in in
able to hear those and and walking in in this area so it’s a really a wonderful
this area so it’s a really a wonderful
this area so it’s a really a wonderful thing for me but there was something
thing for me but there was something
thing for me but there was something else that’s inside of me that needed to
else that’s inside of me that needed to
else that’s inside of me that needed to come out and and that had to do with
come out and and that had to do with
come out and and that had to do with with journey and pilgrimage and a Vision
with journey and pilgrimage and a Vision
with journey and pilgrimage and a Vision Quest
Quest
Quest it happened on Christmas the day before
it happened on Christmas the day before
it happened on Christmas the day before Christmas I guess I got a large bag of
Christmas I guess I got a large bag of
Christmas I guess I got a large bag of toys well I’ve been making these toys
toys well I’ve been making these toys
toys well I’ve been making these toys all along because when you’re not riding
all along because when you’re not riding
all along because when you’re not riding in cars and you’re not talking you have
in cars and you’re not talking you have
in cars and you’re not talking you have a lot of time to do things like make
a lot of time to do things like make
a lot of time to do things like make little toy figures out of wood and paint
little toy figures out of wood and paint
little toy figures out of wood and paint little paintings and and I had some bees
little paintings and and I had some bees
little paintings and and I had some bees actually and I could make some honey and
actually and I could make some honey and
actually and I could make some honey and my mother gave me the recipe for her
my mother gave me the recipe for her
my mother gave me the recipe for her sticky bun recipe and I made sticky buns
sticky bun recipe and I made sticky buns
sticky bun recipe and I made sticky buns and and for Christmas so on Christmas
and and for Christmas so on Christmas
and and for Christmas so on Christmas Eve I took a big bag and I went walking
Eve I took a big bag and I went walking
Eve I took a big bag and I went walking around walking around Inverness and
around walking around Inverness and
around walking around Inverness and point raised and all night long
point raised and all night long
point raised and all night long delivering things I was Santa and when I
delivering things I was Santa and when I
delivering things I was Santa and when I would go into some houses people would
would go into some houses people would
would go into some houses people would say bring their kids wake up wake him up
say bring their kids wake up wake him up
say bring their kids wake up wake him up wake Willie up because Santa’s down he’s
wake Willie up because Santa’s down he’s
wake Willie up because Santa’s down he’s right down there right now I look like a
right down there right now I look like a
right down there right now I look like a very different Santa than
very different Santa than
very different Santa than on the packages and things like that but
on the packages and things like that but
on the packages and things like that but I was Santa that year and it was really
I was Santa that year and it was really
I was Santa that year and it was really a great time and then at the next day I
a great time and then at the next day I
a great time and then at the next day I decided that I was going on a Vision
decided that I was going on a Vision
decided that I was going on a Vision Quest I found myself on this Vision
Quest I found myself on this Vision
Quest I found myself on this Vision Quest and I painted a poem over the next
Quest and I painted a poem over the next
Quest and I painted a poem over the next five days or until than first of the
five days or until than first of the
five days or until than first of the year and I want to share that poem with
year and I want to share that poem with
year and I want to share that poem with you and the paintings
you and the paintings
you and the paintings it’s about Manito manito is the great
it’s about Manito manito is the great
it’s about Manito manito is the great spirit the word for a great spirit in a
spirit the word for a great spirit in a
spirit the word for a great spirit in a lot of the indigenous cultures North
lot of the indigenous cultures North
lot of the indigenous cultures North American Native Americans and I began on
American Native Americans and I began on
American Native Americans and I began on Christmas Day and this is a poem that
Christmas Day and this is a poem that
Christmas Day and this is a poem that goes over that time and so in December
goes over that time and so in December
goes over that time and so in December 25th 1973 and this is the year that I
25th 1973 and this is the year that I
25th 1973 and this is the year that I had stopped talking so a lot of things
had stopped talking so a lot of things
had stopped talking so a lot of things are happening for me I become so
are happening for me I become so
are happening for me I become so creative I’ve never done anything like
creative I’ve never done anything like
creative I’ve never done anything like this I’ve never painted and I’ve never
this I’ve never painted and I’ve never
this I’ve never painted and I’ve never kept a journal I couldn’t do anything
kept a journal I couldn’t do anything
kept a journal I couldn’t do anything one day at a time if someone would say
one day at a time if someone would say
one day at a time if someone would say they say oh well you know John could do
they say oh well you know John could do
they say oh well you know John could do that for a little bit as my dad would
that for a little bit as my dad would
that for a little bit as my dad would say yeah my on you’re hot and sweaty
say yeah my on you’re hot and sweaty
say yeah my on you’re hot and sweaty which mean that you just do something
which mean that you just do something
which mean that you just do something for a little bit till you get hotter you
for a little bit till you get hotter you
for a little bit till you get hotter you start sweating you want to do something
start sweating you want to do something
start sweating you want to do something else and that’s what I was I was that my
else and that’s what I was I was that my
else and that’s what I was I was that my dad was right I was hot and sweaty man
dad was right I was hot and sweaty man
dad was right I was hot and sweaty man and he was from the from the islands and
and he was from the from the islands and
and he was from the from the islands and Families from Antigua and that’s a whole
Families from Antigua and that’s a whole
Families from Antigua and that’s a whole story in itself but on this day I began
story in itself but on this day I began
story in itself but on this day I began this poem and upon the road empty sack
this poem and upon the road empty sack
this poem and upon the road empty sack full heart clouds play amongst the
full heart clouds play amongst the
full heart clouds play amongst the mountains tide rushes toward the sea
mountains tide rushes toward the sea
mountains tide rushes toward the sea returning when whispers softly in the
returning when whispers softly in the
returning when whispers softly in the trees feather dance lying on the road
trees feather dance lying on the road
trees feather dance lying on the road one flight is done another just begun
one flight is done another just begun
one flight is done another just begun many toll calls Manito is the rain today
many toll calls Manito is the rain today
many toll calls Manito is the rain today wedding road and making clay Manito is
wedding road and making clay Manito is
wedding road and making clay Manito is a drop on leaf enlarging worlds beyond
a drop on leaf enlarging worlds beyond
a drop on leaf enlarging worlds beyond belief Manito is the screaming J wanting
belief Manito is the screaming J wanting
belief Manito is the screaming J wanting rain to go away Manito is the flower
Manito sits upon the tree Manito rain
Manito sits upon the tree Manito rain drips from the leaves letting go of
drips from the leaves letting go of
drips from the leaves letting go of shape and for Manito is a endless sky
shape and for Manito is a endless sky
shape and for Manito is a endless sky letting body feathers torn fall to earth
letting body feathers torn fall to earth
letting body feathers torn fall to earth Manito is the tear Manito is the
Manito is the tear Manito is the
Manito is the tear Manito is the mountains steep hidden by a misty sheet
mountains steep hidden by a misty sheet
mountains steep hidden by a misty sheet Manito is the yellow gold of daffodils
Manito is the yellow gold of daffodils
Manito is the yellow gold of daffodils as they unfold Manito also that unseen
as they unfold Manito also that unseen
as they unfold Manito also that unseen something rather like a dream manito is
something rather like a dream manito is
something rather like a dream manito is the fragrance Manito is the warming sun
the fragrance Manito is the warming sun
the fragrance Manito is the warming sun gracing sky when storm is done Manito is
gracing sky when storm is done Manito is
gracing sky when storm is done Manito is the one that fell passing through life’s
the one that fell passing through life’s
the one that fell passing through life’s wondrous spell singing frogs dancing
wondrous spell singing frogs dancing
wondrous spell singing frogs dancing trees Manito makes up all of these
trees Manito makes up all of these
trees Manito makes up all of these manito is the spellcaster
Manito is a salmon strong returning here
Manito is a salmon strong returning here from sea to spawn here in swishing
from sea to spawn here in swishing
from sea to spawn here in swishing shallow stream where red does flash
shallow stream where red does flash
shallow stream where red does flash among the green and gentle rain upon the
among the green and gentle rain upon the
among the green and gentle rain upon the trees the voices of the stream of Manito
trees the voices of the stream of Manito
trees the voices of the stream of Manito quiet voice splash manito is a great
quiet voice splash manito is a great
quiet voice splash manito is a great spirit there are lots of times when I
spirit there are lots of times when I
spirit there are lots of times when I didn’t paint anything and this is one of
didn’t paint anything and this is one of
didn’t paint anything and this is one of them when I would just paint a circle
them when I would just paint a circle
them when I would just paint a circle with a with a dot in it and and let that
with a with a dot in it and and let that
with a with a dot in it and and let that circle be for one day and then the next
circle be for one day and then the next
circle be for one day and then the next day I would I would paint another circle
day I would I would paint another circle
day I would I would paint another circle with a dot and where was I I mean I just
with a dot and where was I I mean I just
with a dot and where was I I mean I just I was in this place again where things
I was in this place again where things
I was in this place again where things had just fallen away and I was just kind
had just fallen away and I was just kind
had just fallen away and I was just kind of at one with with everything with the
of at one with with everything with the
of at one with with everything with the planet with myself with the grass with
planet with myself with the grass with
planet with myself with the grass with the people with a deer and the and that
the people with a deer and the and that
the people with a deer and the and that all the little critters all our
all the little critters all our
all the little critters all our relations and so this is the kind of
relations and so this is the kind of
relations and so this is the kind of painting that I made it doesn’t have to
painting that I made it doesn’t have to
painting that I made it doesn’t have to be a complex something you don’t have to
be a complex something you don’t have to
be a complex something you don’t have to sit down and make a wonderful drawing
sit down and make a wonderful drawing
sit down and make a wonderful drawing that all yes it’s it’s just to remind
that all yes it’s it’s just to remind
that all yes it’s it’s just to remind you just a symbolic thing that can bring
you just a symbolic thing that can bring
you just a symbolic thing that can bring out what’s inside you and that you can
out what’s inside you and that you can
out what’s inside you and that you can share that with those of us around you
share that with those of us around you
share that with those of us around you because we will share it I mean we will
because we will share it I mean we will
because we will share it I mean we will share the piece that you have it will
share the piece that you have it will
share the piece that you have it will become our piece and when we actually
become our piece and when we actually
become our piece and when we actually care for each other that way I believe
care for each other that way I believe
care for each other that way I believe this is going to change this is what’s
this is going to change this is what’s
this is going to change this is what’s going to change the planet that as we
understand that we are all the
understand that we are all the environment that we’re all the
environment that we’re all the
environment that we’re all the environment and that how we treat each
environment and that how we treat each
environment and that how we treat each other how we treat each other is really
other how we treat each other is really
other how we treat each other is really how we treat the environment and how it
how we treat the environment and how it
how we treat the environment and how it manifests into the physical world
manifests into the physical world
manifests into the physical world I guess it’s easy to say if we treated
I guess it’s easy to say if we treated
I guess it’s easy to say if we treated each other with love and respect
each other with love and respect
each other with love and respect that’s how the environment would would
that’s how the environment would would
that’s how the environment would would be treated sustainability is in our
be treated sustainability is in our
be treated sustainability is in our relationships with ourselves and with
relationships with ourselves and with
relationships with ourselves and with each other and I believe that
each other and I believe that
each other and I believe that sustainability is something that we’re
sustainability is something that we’re
sustainability is something that we’re going to get to through this
going to get to through this
going to get to through this appreciation of being silent and being
appreciation of being silent and being
appreciation of being silent and being at peace with each other
”
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