"Autobiographies of great nations are written in three manuscripts – a book of deeds, a book of words, and a book of art. Of the three, I would choose the latter as truest testimony." - Sir Kenneth Smith, Great Civilisations

"I must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine." - Leo Tolstoy

I have never believed that one should wait until one is inspired because I think the pleasures of not writing are so great that if you ever start indulging them you will never write again. - John Updike

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations." - Lawrence Ferlinghetti


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Saturday, October 19, 2013

R.E. Slater - A Second Sight (a poem)


Photo: Edward James


A Second Sight
by R.E. Slater


There is no second sight in passage,
we grope towards futures blind,
hopeful, brave, unknowing,
believing kinder days lie ahead.

And on that morning's final day,
when death doth come arising,
may it be quick, incautious, merciful,
met like any other day's mourning.

As there is an end to life in death,
so is there an end to death in life,
each measuring the other's half,
testing vigor, strength, and soul.

Meeting winter’s end with fairer spring,
waking small flowers to rise and greet,
each one blessed, unique, e'er frail,
refrains to tomorrow’s hope reshaped.


- R.E. Slater
October 15, 2013
In honor of my father's passing this day
*Adapted, “Head in the Clouds

@copyright R.E. Slater Publications

all rights reserved



Untitled Poem
"Head in the Clouds"

There is no second sight.
We grope towards our future blind
It's kinder that way.

On the mourning of her final day,
she came to her death clear-eyed,
brave, unknowing.

And when the snow melts,
spring has come,
there is an end to war.

One small flower
blessed, unique,
will flower no more.









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