<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="">Oops; I inadvertently directed you to reply to this message to reserve a seat for the December 16 poetry salon. I should have told you to send me a message at <a href="mailto:Lrobpoet@sonic.net" class="">Lrobpoet@sonic.net</a>. Sorry<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><font size="5" class="">You are cordially invited to join us for an Oral Tradition Poetry Salon</font><div class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 36px;"><b class=""><br class=""></b></span><div class=""><span class="" style="font-size: 36px;"><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 send a message to <u class=""><a href="mailto:Lrobpoet@sonic.net" class="">Lrobpoet@sonic.net</a></u> 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 class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Falling</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">In these awe-filled days of fire and flood</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">We watch and wait and wonder</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">When that fierce hand</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Might reach at last for us.</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Those of us not yet touched by calamity</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Quake, knowing in our bones</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">That though we may be spared</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">This time, time will level us all.</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">No magic amulets, no prayers,</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Good deeds or good looks</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Can promise protection</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">From our terminal condition.</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">And those who have watched a child</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Swept forever from our arms</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Or fled the flames that swallowed</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Our hopes and our memories</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Or hid from the bombs</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Or the predator’s gaze</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Know that nothing now will ever be the same -</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">As if anything ever were.</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">For all of us are falling</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Like ashes, like rain,</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Like petals or leaves;</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">But we all are falling together.</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">And if we knew, in truth,</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">There was nowhere to land,</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Tell me: could we know the difference</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Between falling and flying?</span></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; min-height: 22px;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br class=""></div><div class="" style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="" style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>- Larry Robinson</span></div></div></div></div></body></html>