Two Springs

Hello all -
Last week's "short & sweet" came to you from son-in-law's cell phone. I've seen a lot of changes in the last 73 years, from 3 cent postage stamps to phones that send instant messages! This week we're back in Tucson briefly before 2 months of whirlwind travel. My friend, Anne (Clark) Eyerly has suggested a new entry for Webster's Dictionary: "to gentzler - a verb meaning to vacation, cruise, travel or just get the heck out of Dodge for whatever reason." It fits. I will try to keep these "start your week" messages flowing from Boston, Chincoteague, the cruise ship and London.
This week it's about spring -- actually two springs. Here in the northern Sonoran desert spring comes early and has it's own beauty. The flowers are different from those back east and especially abundant this year because of the winter rains. But on the eve of my birthday, I'm longing for flowers of another kind and a granddaughter I need to get to know. Bet you can guess this classic English poet. I'll just give you verses 1&4. If you'd like 2&3, I'm sure you can find them.

THE DAFFODILS

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils,
Beside the lake, beneath the trees
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon the inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with the daffodils.

William Wordsworth (what a great name for a poet)

Have a great spring week! Maybe dance with some daffodils. Think of me near the end of the week dancing with my newest granddaughter, Willa.
Love, Keith

The Poetry of Music - Part 3

Hello all --
Short and sweet, from Death Valley.
When I'm having trouble sleeping, I find this better than counting sheep.

I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
I've got peace like a river,
In my soul.
-Marvin Frey

Have a peaceful week.
Love, Keith

--

Lines on the Wall

Hello all --
In one of the rental places we stayed at in New Zealand, three lines of a poem were hanging on the wall. An internet search of these lines tells me this is probably part of a poem by an unknown author that is often quoted. There appear to be many versions. In any case, I like it and think it would be a good way to start the week. Here's my 5 line version:

Work like you don't need the money,
Sing as though no one can hear you,
Dance as though no one is watching,
Love as though you have never been hurt before,
And live life every day as if it was your last.

UNKNOWN

I think I'll try a little singing, maybe even some dancing. I'll try my best to be loving to all I meet and give each day my best. Wanta try it with me?
Love, Keith

Two Years Old

Happy spring everyone -
St. Patrick's day was my second birthday -- as I call them, my bonus years. I guess a little of the luck of the Irish rubbed off on me that day. And that means I've been doing my "start your week" messages for two years. First you get a repeat of the very first one:

Treat today as if it is
the only gift you were ever given.
It is the most precious!
Fill it with love and joy and serenity.
Try to breeze past all the disharmonies
that may assail you.
Keep today special --
treasure it with every breathe
you take,
and every beating of your heart.

And as a bonus:

May I learn to live in the moment.
Today, may I stay focused on the now.
May I leave the past here --
it is finished.
May I limit my anticipation of the future --
it will be what it will be.
Let me honor today
with awareness and reverence,
Making each moment a gift.

Thank you Dr. Tuli, your medical team and medical science. These 2 years have indeed been a gift. Enjoy another week of life! ! !
Love, Keith

When Teutonic eyes are smiling

Tena koe (guess by now you’ve figured out that’s hello in Maori) -

We’re back in Tucson, me struggling to tear my heart away from New Zealand. As one man told me, they also have their problems, but it seems to me that they are very civil and seem to have their values right (like mine). And much as I like variety in my weekly messages, I’m going to use THE BONE PEOPLE one more time:

Wherahiko (the Grandfather): We don’t want to be left out, to sit ignored in the corner, but we might as well be. All the things we’ve got to tell, years of love and life and hate. We’d be a good drink for them, a fullbodied mature wine, and look at them! Overcome by fizzy pop, lollywater brew. . . sweeping his eyes round, fierce as a hawk, over the grandchildren pile.

Winking to Joe.

Marama (the Grandmother): When they want to listen, they’ll listen.
We can’t wake them up just to tell them our stories. They’re busy making their own. And in the meantime, my love, we’ve got each other. sliding her plump arm closer, tighter.

Winking at Joe.

- Keri Hulme

So often, I think like Joe, and Rie has to remind me that our grandchildren are busy making their own lives. And that we have each other. Happy birthday, Rie. Wink!

Now how do I get to Ireland? Well, Keri does have some European blood – maybe it’s Irish. May you have the luck of the Irish this week – green beer tempered with a wee bit of Maori wisdom.

Kia ora koe (good health), Na tow hoa (from your friend), Arohanui (much love) - Keith

Winging, walking, listening

Tena koe to each of you. Think of us winging our way back across the restless Pacific.
How misnamed it is – always talking.

O, never silent by the sea
always something talking
water on rocks
water on sand
wind and birds
your heartbeat and
others’ words
whatever knocks
keep right on walking
Listening is for free. . . .

Keri Hulme

No matter what happens this week, keep right on walking. The best things in life ARE free.
Arohanui, Keith

Dancing with the Maoris

Tena koe again from New Zealand (or San Francisco, if you prefer).

Our first visit to this beautiful country happened to be on Sept. 11, 2001. That night I got to dance with the Maoris. They were extremely kind and understanding about the events in the US. They even said my tongue-out growl wasn’t bad. ROOLOOWHALL!

Sunlight metalling horizon to silver;
long stretch of ruffled grey.
A matt white line of breakers.
Behind the steel, clouds reach darkly up
tops shaded by cold still light.

Keri Hulme

Begin your week with the calm of cold still light.

Na tou hoa,
Keith

Maori meditation

Tena koe (how’s your Maori?)

My knowledge of New Zealand literature is slight (something I hope to correct on this trip). The one book I loved is by the Maori author, Keri Hulme. Her book THE BONE PEOPLE won the 1985 Booker Prize.

O the spun shiny surface,
mica and stars,
I span: stand stunned
reeling over night and mind,
so far, no sand
or chance strange feeling
blunts my eyes blind. . . .

Keri Hulme

May your week be filled with the brightness of mica and stars.
Kia ora koe, Keith

ps. For more “real time” updates from New Zealand, check out the travel blog here: www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/krgentzler/5/tpod.html

A Day Late (could blame time zones, but Kim just forgot)

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone.

I’m in love with New Zealand! It’s always been at the top of my list of places I wanted to go back to, and now we are. It’s got to rank with the world’s most beautiful places. And you’ve got to admit, the former British colonies are very civilized places, even if they don’t know which side of the road to drive on.

Our guide book begins with these words:

“With its spectacular abundance of nature, New Zealand defines itself by its affinity for the outdoors. It can be gentle enough to clear the mind and recharge the spirit, or call for adventure and the exhilaration of challenge.”

Wherever you are this week, find some exhilaration and let your spirit be recharged.

And thanks, Kim, for letting me know that we over 70s can bungy jump free.

Love, Keith

The Poetry of Music: Part 2

Hello all –

Bet you’ve all heard of the poets, Joe Darion, Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer. My point being that lyricists are even less well known than other poets. Joe Darion wrote the lyrics to my all time favorite Broadway musical, Man of La Mancha. Something about a crazy old poet who retains his idealism in a mad world that speaks to me.

To dream the impossible dream,

To fight the unbeatable foe,

To bear with unbearable sorrow,

To run where the brave dare not go, etc.

Joe Darion

Last year Kim, Allen and Max took us to an outdoor performance of Man of La Mancha. I loved it and got my favorite baseball hat with “Dreamer” on it. Which is a round about way to another song that may be my theme song:

They call me a dreamer

Well maybe I am

But I know that I’m burning to see,

Those far away places

With strange sounding names

Calling, calling me.

Joan Whitney & Alex Kramer

Which is really the long way to saying that we’re off for 4 weeks in New Zealand. But, with a little help from Kim, you’ll continue to get my messages. So go ahead, be a dreamer and follow your star this week. Love, Keith

JANUARY 31, 2010

Hello everyone. We’re back home again. And it’s damn cold, only got into the 60s today! But I’m cozy here in my library - “I have my books and my poetry to protect me.” Well, protect may be a little strong, but they do provide a certain comfort. And sharing a little of that comfort poetry:

Rolling snow turned peach-color

the moon

left alone in the fading light

makes a soft cry in the heavens

and once more

drinks up the scattered light

Gary Snyder

“Dawn”

Hope your week is filled with the softness of light and love.

Keith

Having trouble getting to my blog? Try google and type in keith-weeklywisdom.blogspot.com. If it works, share it with your friends.

January 24, 2010

Buenos dias.

A Little Mexican Magic

Senses focused west
across Banderas Bay
to the Pacific Ocean.
The crescent moon,
a silver bowl,
and nearby
the evening star, Venus.
The horizon darkening,
shades of pink and orange.
Below us, the incessent surf
ebbs and flows.
And the pool complex
glimmers with lights.
Here, by the ocean,
my heart sings quietly
and I am at peace.

Keith R. Gentzler

May you also be at peace this week.

Love,
Keith

January 17, 2010

The wisdom of chocolate

When we come to Mexico, we always come with lots of dark chocolate -- along with a glass of red wine it makes the perfect dessert! And then there's all the great reading we get to do. A favorite this year is Luis Alberto Urrea's THE HUMMINGBIRD'S DAUGHTER, good reading in Mexico. Huila's wisdom is hard to beat --

When women ran the world,
the palaces would be made of
chocolate!

Most of my wisdom this week comes from the wrappers of Dove chocolates. Don't laugh. Some of them aren't bad. I kinda liked these
two--
Follow that dream wherever that dream may lead.
Mary Ann from Inez, KY

Don't look back -- you've already been there.
Lana from Lemore, CA

But the one that stopped me in my tracks was--

Even small celebrations deserve a dance.
Laureli from Spring Grove, PA

Honest! It's my tiny hometown!

This week follow you dreams, don't look back, dance if you can, and if things get rough, try some chocolate.

Love,
Keith

January 10, 2010

Greetings from Puerta Vallarta--

This week, especially, I should feel guilty - most of you freezing, even in Florida. But, as Rie says, guilt is a useless emotion unless you can do something about it. I'll enjoy the sun!

Week after week, as I search my mind for thoughts to share with you, I have come to realize that much of the poetry that sings to me is the poetry of music. Over the next several months, I'll share a few examples from time to time--
When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
For the lucky and the strong
Just remember, in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose.
Amanda McBroom

This week, stay warm or enjoy the cold, whichever. We have yurned the corner- spring is on the way!

Love,
Keith

January 3,2010

Buenous dias. Greetings from south of the border. I'll try not to rub it in, sitting by the pool enjoying the sunshine and the temperatures in the mid-80s. But whether you're here or in the cold and snow (I know some of you love it), it's time to start another week with appreciation and enjoyment. This week, for no special reason, I've been thinking about how much our own attitude about who we are can affect the life we live. Here are two quotes I like:

No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face
to himself and another to the multitude, without finally
getting bewildered as to which may be true.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

OR, somewhat more direct:

You are what you pretend to be,
so be careful what you pretend to be.
Kurt Vonnegut

This week, maybe we could all "pretend" to be a bit more kind and gentle.

Love,
Keith