Such beauty. It stopped me in my tracks and forced me to the side of the road.., where there was no “side of the road.” I was on a narrow mountain road just west of Jervis Bay, New South Wales, and I pulled to the side until the passenger door of my “hire car” was inches from the rock wall around which the road curved. Thank goodness, it was early and there was no traffic.

I was in Australia to present a paper at an academic conference. More to the point, I was going through one of the biggest personal challenges I have ever faced. This sunrise over a valley full of clouds spoke.

After Death, A Voice

After death
a voice
rises

The groaning
of the earth
swells

Thunder
rumbles

Live, they say

Live. Live. Live.

--bjk