Beauty

Music at Midnight by Jeff Tacklind

There’s a poet that I’ve grown to love over the years, George Herbert, who lived in England during the early 17th century. A scholar, who became a country priest, he was also a gifted musician and songwriter. A story is told where Herbert, on the way to play music with some friends, came across a poor man and an even poorer horse in distress and stopped to help them out of the mud and assisted the man in unloading the poor beast. By the time he later joined his friends, he was filthy from head to toe. One of them asked why he had disparaged himself by so dirty an employment. I love Herbert’s answer…that his actions would prove “music to him at midnight.”

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Qualia: Day 14 by Jeff Tacklind

I love the smell of Jasmine. This time of year, our vine erupts with color and fragrance. Right now, it is covered with hundreds of tiny pink buds that will soon burst open with the most incredible aroma.  When I walk past it in the mornings, I pause for a moment and take in the fullness of it.  Sometimes I’ll even pick a flower and carry it with me on the way to Lila’s bus stop.  I love the smell.  It is so good for my soul.

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