Julie Swennes Butler with niece, 1949 ~

The Dhammapada - The Saint ~

She has completed her voyage; she had gone beyond sorrow, The fetters of life have fallen from her, and she lives in full freedom.

The thoughtful strive always. They have no fixed abode, but leave home like swans from their lake.

Like the flight of birds in the sky, it is hard to follow the path of the selfless. They have no possessions, but live on alms in a world of freedom. Like the flight of birds in the sky, it is hard to follow their path. With the senses under control, temperate in eating , they know the meaning of freedom.

 Even the gods envy the saints, whose senses obey them like well-trained horses and who are free from pride. Patient like the earth, they stand on the threshold. They are pure like a lake without mud, and free from the cycle of birth and death.

Wisdom has stilled their minds, and their thoughts, words, and deeds are filled with peace. Freed from illusion and from personal ties, they have renounced the world of appearance to find reality. Thus have they reached the highest.

They make holy wherever they dwell, in village or forest, on land or at sea. With their senses at peace and minds full of joy, they make the forests holy.

Hymn from the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton

Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer,

pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but thou art mighty

hold me with they powerful hand;

Bread of heaven

feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain

whence the healing stream doth flow;

let the fiery cloudy pillar

lead me all my journey through:

strong Deliverer,

be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,

bid my anxious fears subside,

Death of death, and hell's destruction,

land me safe on Canaan's side:

songs of praises

I will ever give to thee.

La Honda, Christmas 2010

March in A Night

I know you're new
O, so new
to me
to you
New, in a way
of Ah
Of wonderment
to me
to you
A babe you call
A spark for a new fire
A different kind of heart beat
A different taste
generosity in trust
a respect, understood
To be new
Oh, forgiveness!
I watch the tress turn dark
with night
I fade with
lightness
guiding my way
in hope
in love
in thought of you...
I have never felt so loved
cared for
respected as me
So, new
Full of wonderment
excitement
of whole body, mind and soul
Love, so new
Does it hurt?
Does it feel good?
YES...
To you, to you
in time I travel..sometimes
all the time
in time to heal
from past, mistrust
hatred of you.
hated me too!
Let's just be here...now
smell..open arms...no past
Fly, Fly, fly, Freedom!
I feel now, so different...feel good
let freedom stay,
Breath, smell
Forgive, to stay
To you
To me...O, so new

~Trina Butler Gotschall

Song ~ In memory of Mary Derham Warnecke

When I am dead, my dearest

Sing no sad songs for me

Plant no roses at my head

Nor shady cypress tree

Be the green grass above me

with showers and dew drops wet

If thou wilt, remember

and if thou wilt, forget

I shall not see the shadows

I shall not feel the rain

I shall not hear the nightengale

sing on, as if in pain

and dreaming through the twilight

that doth not rise or set

Happily, I may remember

and happily, I may forget

~Christina Rossetti

12 Day of Christmas (Pit bull version)