Of Nature and Man

Two peasants on a pilgrimage
Stepping across boulders and bridges,
Guided by God's wind.

As they summited and saw
A cathedral that scraped the stars,
the one peasant submitted
(equal parts awe and pity):
"Nature taught me God was beyond Man,
This structure reminds me
God is scripture and sculpture."

Mused the other,
Man-made Gods inspire awe
And Mountains and Valleys are wondrous still,
But the People I meet are the wonders of my world.

"Intelligence is an ability to appreciate beauty in many forms."

A memory

Everybody dies
And you'll be dead to me long before you die.
A stolen glance, a sideways nod, a catch of breath ---
Not nearly enough to remember you by.