( oil painting by me / via )

"When an old song passes through a living body, the song is brought to life, made material. The singer offers hospitality: she makes the song welcome in her body; she invites the song to take up residence in her memory; she shapes the song afresh in mind & breath."

" 'Is there a single word that one may practice throughout one’s life?'

The Master said, 'Perhaps it is shu — empathetic restraint.

What you yourself do not desire, do not impose upon others.'

子贡问曰：'有一言而可以终身行之者乎？'

子曰：'其恕乎！己所不欲，勿施于人。' "

~ Kongzi (孔子, aka “Confucius”, 551–479 BCE), Spring and Autumn period philosopher and teacher, from The Analects · Book XV: Wei Ling Gong (《论语·卫灵公》)" —@jianxu

"The work of becoming still, of sitting with what you do not know, is slow and humbling and has no algorithm.

"THE SHIRE (Bivocalism*)

In the shire,
winter nights,
we drink red wine
in frenzied inns.

We sip the finest bitter gins.
We find the gilded fire.

In the shire,
in the spring,
we sing the hills,
we drink the silver spires.

(*Only two vowels, which alternate throughout)"

—@anthonyetherin.bsky.social

"...with a belly full of hope."