Some pleasant and artful surprises

Goldenrod blooms have arrived in more and more places. Might we enjoy a golden autumn? Art Reach St. Croix is helping to make it so with their Take Me to the River events. We found this year's schedule while reading a recent post on the East Metro Water blog. And if those activities aren't enough, there's the upcoming "Friday Night Writes" organized by the St. Croix River Association and St. Croix 360.

goldenrod blooming around the backyard wet spot

Photo by J. Harrington

A few of the "Take Me to the River" events may be concurrent with the September 20th Climate Strike -- Global Day of Action. So far, the closest local event we've found that's related to the Climate Strike is in St. Paul [follow the "Sept. 20" link above].

We confess to being at least mildly embarrassed that, until today, we had missed the "Take Me to the River" schedule and the Franconia Sculpture Park poetry installation described in the East Metro Water blog. Clearly we've been too focused on invasive species, climate breakdown, malfunctioning tractors, dysfunctional governance and other negative matters. We need to spend more time enjoying and posting about the positive aspects of life in the early decades of this 21st century.

One of those positive aspects that we have been enjoying is reading Joy Harjo's recently published An American Sunrise and celebrating her appointment as the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry. It seems highly likely to us that the world would be a better place, and we would enjoy life more if we learn to emulate Harjo's guidance and

Praise the Rain

BY JOY HARJO

Praise the rain; the seagull dive

The curl of plant, the raven talk—

Praise the hurt, the house slack

The stand of trees, the dignity—

Praise the dark, the moon cradle

The sky fall, the bear sleep—

Praise the mist, the warrior name

The earth eclipse, the fired leap—

Praise the backwards, upward sky

The baby cry, the spirit food—

Praise canoe, the fish rush

The hole for frog, the upside-down—

Praise the day, the cloud cup

The mind flat, forget it all—

Praise crazy. Praise sad.

Praise the path on which we're led.

Praise the roads on earth and water.

Praise the eater and the eaten.

Praise beginnings; praise the end.

Praise the song and praise the singer.

Praise the rain; it brings more rain.

Praise the rain; it brings more rain.

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