For Dan George

[Ray Evans Harrell]

IN THE VALUE OF SNOW     Since we all experience the Solstice   no matter where we sit on this   skin of our "Grandmother"   who nurtures every need.   -------------------    Since we all experience the Solstice   whether darkest or light   we remember all of the  animals   we remember all of the  plants   we remember the  stones   we remember the  water   we remember the  fire   we remember the  air   we remember to have the  courage   to be responsible to all    the web of life.   ----------------------------    Since we all experience the Solstice   whether darkest or light   we share our most  unique moments   we share our  food   we share our  work   we share our  thoughts   we share our  feelings   we share our  knowing   we share the  electricity   of our breath.   ----------------------------    Since we all experience the solstice   whether darkest or light   we know that each  learns   we know that each  loves   we know that each  cleans   we know that each  knows   we know that each  expresses   we know that each  gives   we know that each is  healed    ---------------------------------   Since we all experience the solstice   whether darkest or bright   we remember the bringer of light   we remember the little spider   we remember how she caught   the light in her web.   we remember how the web   surrounded the fire   gave the safety of distance   -------------------------------   we remember how it was the smallest   the least "significant"   that brought the warmth and light   --------------------------------   we remember how the light was nurtured   by courage, knowledge and respect   we remember how the light   becomes the sun   close enough to feed   yet distant enough not to destroy.   ----------------------------------    In this web the heat of our thoughts   can begin something that will create   a new world renewed by this   inter - net.   ------------------------------   The old world   destroyed by triviality   the insatiability of material desire   can feed our renewal if we respect it   and then place it   as the dead fish   feeds the corn   -------------------    In one solstice the world is full, warm, summer   In one solstice the world is empty, cold, winter   Remember the fullness at this   time of emptiness   and feel courage   Remember the emptiness in this   time of fullness   and feel humility   -------------------------    That we may all know   and finish our roads   together.       Ray Evans Harrell 12/20/1996, revised 1/05/02