DEDICATING THIS YEAR TO THE MEMORY OF MY GRANDFATHER STANLEY H. CROW &
THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF MY GRANDFATHER
FREDERICK O. LANPHEAR

To Be of Use

The people I love the best
jump into work head first
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half submerged balls.
I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.
I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who stand in the line and haul in their places,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.
The work of the world is common as mud.
Botched, it smears the hands, crumbles to dust.
But the thing worth doing well done
has a shape that satisfies, clean and evident.
Greek amphoras for wine or oil,
Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums
but you know they were made to be used.
The pitcher cries for water to carry
and a person for work that is real.
~ Marge Piercy ~


Wednesday, August 18, 2010

New York



I arrived in New york this morning (the first to arrive) when i got to the hotel I was welcomed by the AFS volunteers warmly, and was offered breakfast and coffee. No other student arrived till much later in the day, so i decided to join in the activities with the student that are leaving for China and Russia in the morning. I soon realized how tired i was, so I went to my room and passed out for a couple of hours. When I woke I went down to the lobby where other students were starting to arrive, so I began to mingle and introduce myself to the other kids. There are 9 kids going to Norway from the US. The rest of the night consisted of discussions, activities, dinner and asking question. I am still fighting the sadness i have inside from missing the people i love, but I am going to stay strong and fight through it.

Best regards, Noah.
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1 comment:

  1. Nina RhysAugust 18, 2010 at 8:07 PM

    We love you honey and know that the sadness will pass as you embrace your new family and new life. We are still here but you will have Odd Tore, Astrid and Sunniva to lean on.

    Hang in there sweet boy.

    I love you,

    Mama

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