<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><font size="5" class="">You are cordially invited to join us for an Oral Tradition Poetry Salon</font><div class=""><span style="font-size: 36px;" class=""><b class=""><br class=""></b></span><div class=""><span style="font-size: 36px;" class=""><b class="">Falling or Flying</b></span></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="5" class="">Saturday, December 16</font></div><div class=""><font size="5" class="">7:00 PM</font></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">at the home of Larry Robinson and Cynthia Kishi</div><div class="">460 Eleanor Ave., Sebastopol</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">We will gather in the darkest time of the year - in one of the darkest years in memory - to share fellowship, tasty treats and poems, stories and song learned by heart. Our gathering will be a prayer for the return of the light.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Seating is limited. To reserve a space please reply to this message letting me know how many seats and the names of those who will occupy those seats.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Falling</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">In these awe-filled days of fire and flood</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">We watch and wait and wonder</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">When that fierce hand</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Might reach at last for us.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Those of us not yet touched by calamity</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Quake, knowing in our bones</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">That though we may be spared</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">This time, time will level us all.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">No magic amulets, no prayers,</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Good deeds or good looks</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Can promise protection</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">From our terminal condition.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">And those who have watched a child</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Swept forever from our arms</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Or fled the flames that swallowed</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Our hopes and our memories</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Or hid from the bombs</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Or the predator’s gaze</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Know that nothing now will ever be the same -</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">As if anything ever were.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">For all of us are falling</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Like ashes, like rain,</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Like petals or leaves;</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">But we all are falling together.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">And if we knew, in truth,</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">There was nowhere to land,</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Tell me: could we know the difference</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class="">Between falling and flying?</span></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""></span><br class=""></div><div style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;" class=""><span style="font-kerning: none" class=""><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>- Larry Robinson</span></div></div></div></body></html>