What is Required by Paul Allen (fragment)1All elsewhere being World, how many times have I stoodin the bright shadows of a wood,no track or trail leading in, out-as though ground coverrenewed as I went through?I sometimes own the moments where I standalone. Everything else is airand arbitrary firings of neuronswe call memory if they happened,fantasy if they didn’t- same pictures.Call it prayer, then,the moments where I’m not awareeven of how lovely the moment is-not liking, not disliking-not aware there is a moment until I’m back in the worldand remember it- construct itin my mind as having been beautiful.4I’m too often bitten by silence.My mother called it dawdling, the ex, brooding. My students call itabsent-minded professor.The kindest students bring me back gently.But I live most when silence,shade, and light like this harvest me,a kind of prayer I’m gathered to, not the prayer I clutter with will or words.

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