Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A Blessing


A good friend from New York City -- the kind of friend who I speak with only once a year or so but who I feel connected to beyond words -- sent Sophie an iPad in the mail. I don't know what to say other than thank you.

Thank you, Jane.

The universe shifts so subtly sometimes, it takes my breath away.


A Blessing

Just off the highway to Rochester, Minnesota,
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness   
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.   
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.   
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me   
And nuzzled my left hand.   
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl’s wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.

-- James Wright

29 comments:

  1. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! Your first app should be this one...musical...easy for even those with hand challenges...Baby Chords. Beautiful sounds all the time.

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  2. how wonderful. what a lovely friend. my heart moved, too.

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  3. yay for Sophie, and good friends!!!

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  4. It's going to be interesting to see where Sophie goes with this!

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  5. I'm sure "thank you" is enough--and the posting of this ethereally beautiful photograph of Sophie is an added acknowledgment of gratitude.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  6. Ohh, I've been hoping, wishing, praying... so glad your friend blessed you in this way.

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  7. That is so kind and she will love it. We have one and it is a hit in our house:) Jen

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  8. The gift of friendship and such a thoughtful gift.

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  9. Oh wow. The universe is abundant, indeed. This is some good news (in an otherwise crappy day over here.)

    Have you looked at Verbal Victor yet? You can program photos with simple statements. Like a super high tech picture exchange.

    I like Magic Piano, and I bet Sophie (and you) will too. Sooo soothing.

    So happy for you guys.

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  10. Beautiful friend, beautiful photograph of Sophie. Amazing grace!

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  11. How amazing! I am so excited for Sophie. There are so many apps available now for kids with limited abilities. I am dreaming of one for Emily, but it's not in the budget right now. If we didn't need the SleepSafe bed so badly, we would have asked Make-A-Wish for one. I can't wait to hear how Sophie loves it!

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  12. Fantastic. Wonderful. Please send her my address!

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  13. Elizabeth - I was cheeky in the last comment, but the ipad absolutely has the same capability as Maggie's talker. there are free apps with limited choices and there are programs you pay for that will give her unlimited speech. start with the free ones and see if she grasps the concepts. talk to an AAC specialist at school. there is so much she can potentially do with this!

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  14. Oh my. Sweet hearts.
    I hope this gift is a flower that blooms in Sophie's presence.

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  15. I knew that would happen! You are blessed AND loved!

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  16. I have been so, so hoping that this would happen. Wonderful news!

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  17. I am in southern Minnesota and I have what is commonly called Indian ponies. Your choice in James Wright, along with your intense connection between this and Sophie took the breath from my lungs.

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  18. I love this and I also am a fan of mermaids too. I have glad to have found your blog and Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

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  19. well,
    to follow Sandra's comment seems ,
    well

    and the photo is gorgeous.

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  20. Great present. And the poem is so beautiful.

    Many thanks.

    Greetings from London.

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  21. What a lovely gift and a lovely child. May the ipad be the piece of the puzzle under the couch that makes the universe work as you wish it would for you and Sophie!
    Blessings to you and your girl,
    Terry

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  22. An Ipad!!! What a wonderful gift of love to think of something Sophie would use and then to invest in her happiness.

    And a beautiful poem, I loved the last line. There are times for all of us to burst into bloom.

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  23. oh to step out of this body.
    thank god there are words, songs, moments,paintings, dreams, friends that can help us do just that.

    xoxoxoxoxox,
    rebecca

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  24. Don't you love when God blesses us through friends?

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  25. Those friends surpass friendship and move into the angel realm.

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