My Songs Of Religion,
Contemplative Sonnets, is nearly finished. I had the chance to do the last editing when sitting on Somerset beach in my fold-up chair, watching Judy parade the dogs. The part-kelpie sheep-dog mongrel from the pound likes running in right-handed circles for hours, herding imaginary sheep and the little old terrier barks aggressively at anything that’s bigger than her and then runs away; life’s like that. Anyway, here I was editing and amazed how the detached mind can see the obvious, not seen before, when Judy came back saying that she is sick of walking by herself along the beach and how much nicer it was when we both walked together barefooted with the wavelets playing with our toes. I had to get up, fold my chair and leave the editing half done. That’s the story of my life.
My novel is half finished (it’s not the one on this page). The computer counts the words and I need 80,000 and I have just over 40,000 - there you go, the great Australian novel set in Lilliput; I hope I’m joking about the latter. If you’ve been reading my little novel on this page, you’ll find that Julie is in big trouble because her husband has been kidnapped by bookmakers. He owes millions. If you have any spare money please send it to Julie so she can get her husband back!
Next month the gazette will be in its eighth year.
Chinese Religions
The Chinese preach of discipline and rite,
Where ethics rise from most Confucian truths
And Buddha is revered to shine the light;
As Taoism makes nature’s myth abstruse.
Yang is positive, as sun and fire,
Where reddish masculinity is warm;
While Yin is dark as lust’s desire;
The blackest femininity of harm.
Heaven is Yang, the Sun; and Earth is Yin
That’s harmony with all, alive or dead,
Must lead to what is best for one’s own kin;
Restrain and love with less, as Lao said.
Confucius felt the call; he could explain
That we must die and fade and all in vain.
© Joe Lake (from Songs Of Religions)
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