For some people the day comes
when they have to declare the great Yes
or the great No. It’s clear at once who has the Yes
ready within him; and saying it,
he goes from honor to honor, strong in his conviction.
He who refuses does not repent. Asked again,
he’d still say no. Yet that no—the right no—
drags him down all his life.
The title of this poem, “Che Fece… Il Gran Refiuto”, is borrowed from Dante’s Inferno, iii, 60, and means “Who made…the great refusal.” The poet deliberately omitted the words “per vilta”, i.e. “because of cowardice”. †
For some people, their great Yes or great No is an explicit declaration. For others, their declaration is implicit and subtle. One may wonder what their true answer is. They themselves may not even be aware of their own answer. But God knows.
![[image: Gas price sign]](http://cowpi.com/journal/media/2006/gas_price-196.jpg "Gas price for unleaded gasoline: $1.96")
I’ve been waiting to see this sign for the last couple weeks. The price for a gallon of gas has been dropping fairly quickly over the past two months, from a high of $2.99 this summer. I wonder how low it will go?
What a gorgeous morning! Reminds me of the refrain from the opening song from Oklahoma! (with one word changed in the last line):
Oh, what a beautiful mornin’
Oh, what a beautiful day
I got a beautiful feelin’
Everything’s goin’ God’s way
Come to think of it, every morning is beautiful regardless of how I label the weather.
I often say to my students, “Every day is a good day; some days are just better than others.” Maybe I should leave off the labeling in the second half of the statement?
Every day is a new gift from God.
Welcome to my morning
Welcome to my day
I’m the one responsible
I made it just this way
To make myself some pictures
See what they might bring
I think I made it perfectly
I wouldn’t change a thing
Welcome to my happiness
You know it makes me smile
And it pleases me to have you here
For just a little while
While we open up the spaces
Try to break some chains
And if the truth is told
They will never come again
Welcome to my evening
The closing of the day
I could try a million times
Never find a better way
To tell you that I love you
And all the songs I play
Are to thank you for allowing me
Inside this lovely day
The world’s a rollercoaster
And I am not strapped in
Maybe I should hold with care
But my hands are busy in the air
Suffering comes from holding on,
not letting go of the pain.
Let go. Do not resist.
Joy is lost too
when grasped at.
Let go. Let it flow.
Quit holding on,
quit grasping.
It’s not yours any how.
All is gift.
Enjoy the ride of life.
It is far more frustrating to have a million words to write and no time than to have the time but the words do not flow.