The Song of Quoodle
G.K. Chesterton
They haven’t got no noses,
The fallen sons of Eve;
Even the smell of roses
Is not what they supposes;
But more than mind discloses
And more than men believe.
They haven’t got no noses,
They cannot even tell
When door and darkness closes
The park a Jew encloses,
Where even the law of Moses
Will let you steal a smell.
The brilliant smell of water,
The brave smell of a stone,
The smell of dew and thunder,
The old bones buried under,
Are things in which they blunder
And err, if left alone.
The wind from winter forests,
The scent of scentless flowers,
The breath of brides’ adorning,
The smell of snare and warning,
The smell of Sunday morning,
God gave to us for ours
****
And Quoodle here discloses
All things that Quoodle can,
They haven’t got no noses,
And goodness only knowses
The Noselessness of Man.
So, AGING with JOY & GRACE was the title to last weekend’s yoga therapist training. Among some 50? and counting attendees finding mat space on the labyrinth at Oakland Peace Center as we gather for the two days immersion ahead. Making up this module missed last year while in Japan for my mother’s birthday. Reminded how my mother would make a great guest to teach this particular module as she would make a role model for many of us. But for her to come along this far, there’s always a great sense of gratitude for her support system that consists of kind social services and attentive care provided to seniors in Japan. Gratitude to tradition and culture where seniors are respected for their wisdom and the frail cared for as there’s a clear acceptance that we are all aging as long as we are living. It’s just not possible to live in denials when slowly your loved ones start to disappear from this particular world, this life. There’s no exclusion and denial of this natural stages of our lifeline. It’s okay to accept it and go with the flow while doing everything you can to tend to the temple of body, mind & spirit.