We’re deep in the season of darkness now, night so thick at 5PM I could hide my hands in it. At work this morning, my daughter texts me news of a murder-suicide in a nearby town. The deaths occurred this morning while my youngest and I were eating granola and yogurt, talking idly about Monday morning.
I’ve lived in Vermont darn near forever, and this marks the fifth murder in a handful of weeks. While my daughter and I cook dinner we talk about violence in Vermont — domestic, and not. There’s nothing I can say to change any of this. But I tell my daughter she’s part of the world, now frequently without me or her older sister. In my own mother speak, I remind her that she has her own part in the world, too.
Pay attention, I urge.
In the dark, I chop wood beneath the stars.
Stony Soil Vermont 
Another powerful post. Thank you
Thank you for reading!
“In the dark, I chop wood beneath the stars.” I think you subconsciously nearly unleashed a tanka there Brett!
Quick blast from your past Masahide post:
Barn’s burnt down
Now I can see
the moon!
Thanks and do indeed stay alert and aware. GT
Nice lines! Always lovely to hear from you!
It has been unnerving, all these occurrences that seem out of place here, a one-off that is happening more than once!
You said it!
Love your ending lines…