I live my life in growing orbits, 
Which move out over the things of the world. 
Perhaps I will never achieve the last, 
But that will be my attempt. 
I am circling around God, 
The ancient tower, 
And I have been circling for a thousand years... 
Still, I don’t know if I am a falcon, or a storm, or a great song! 
-	Rainer Maria Rilke, as recited by Tom Wisner at the Heron Dance Fifth Anniversary Celebration.

. . .

When I read that poem
I hear Tom Wisner’s deep, resonant voice
Resounding in my ears.
Bard of the Chesapeake
Friend of Heron Dance.

His message:

Live slow, like the oldtimers who made their living
Fishing the Chesapeake, and building boats.
Celebrate life
Live in close relation to wild nature
Live simply
Live thoughtfully.

He lived his message.

When I told him that Middlebury College was donating the use of their
Golf Club auditorium to Heron Dance for our fifth anniversary celebration, 
and, “It was free. Middlebury College has more money than God.”
He answered, “Well, that doesn’t matter because I have more God than money.”
And he did have a lot of God. And not much money. 

He devoted his life to songs and stories of the Chesapeake.
The Chesapeake has a transcendent value
Not only because of its natural beauty
But because of the traditional culture that grew on its shores. 

. . .

Access other recent Art Journal posts, and books, poetry diary etc. from the prior twenty years of Heron Dance here.

View available prints of today’s image here.