a starlight dance

The grass does blow gently with onset of Spring and in their deep burrows the small owls sing. The skies they are ribboned with clouds wispy white and small things crawl to and fro morning and night. Some small trees are growing where more moisture falls close by golden sandstone lofty canyon walls now providing shelter for small antelope while under them tough creepers spread splay and grope. The moon is a crescent hung low in the sky the bats from their hideouts now drop from on high and all things are peaceful even desert-cat whose outlines are pregnant with thick Summer fat. The rains have been coming quite regularly they bring forth much green on bush grass-clump and tree so sit back now relax and drink it all in for soon enough a starlight dance will begin.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

ranks are swelled

Our borders pose refuge for all who must flee regardless of origin or enemy. We house them in our homes not outside in shacks nor ghettos nor abandoned apartment tracts. We believe in all humans' deep dignity that people contain more than you or I see that they are most righteous who are gave hope to drag themselves back up a slippery slope. Now our ranks are swelled with man woman and child come in from the dark and cold in from the wild they are now our brothers and our sister too we teach them the tricks that our grandmothers knew. They marry our siblings and start families of laughter and joy frolicked under the trees and fight with against the forces without that seek our high stronghold to harass and rout. Come one and all 'fugees come quickly anon and start a new future here under our sun and find hope once more in the love we've to give for here in our bosom a good life you'll live.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

on falling stars

There was then a loud and ear-shattering hum that rendered onlookers mute blind deaf and dumb. Its contrails were many its features were bright it lit up the ink-dark and foreboding night it slashed through the heavens then burrowed below while throwing up mountains of peat-moss and snow. Long after it settled it burbled and hissed; the next day its resembled an onyx schist; when prodded however it made a dull sound right there in its hole in the thick frozen ground. None knew what to make of this fallen body but from all around many came it to see to touch and to feel it to ponder its skin to wonder what might still be hidden within. A wall was built 'round it a roof of wood beams to channel the oncoming pilgrimage streams to preserve the beauty of this fallen rock that once caused such panic and wonder and shock. It is still preserved in the Shrine to the Sky so please come and visit yourself to espy this well-preserved meteor down where it lays since back in those spell-bound and woebegone days.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

hither and fro

Our nomads still wander the Steppes in the south still living the ancient way – from hand to mouth. They drive herds of ungulates hither and fro and just where they'll rest tonight no one can know; their numbers are stable and healthy to boot for they eat leaf bug goat-meat soil and root. They'll cover a league or two every day their children know labor as well as some play they teach them to sew cook tend livestock and guard they teach them that life must not ever be hard. Their cousins the Yaelong were once nomads too but they chose to stay where the best foodstuffs grew and gave up their roaming and pastoral ways and moved into tree-forts and hollows and caves. With luck you can spot you a nomad or two but strap on some sturdy and good walking shoes for they do not wait for the tourist who lags or fiddles with his many camera bags. So come now come quickly and learn of their ken spend time with their wise elders women and men rejoice in their freedom wanderlust and skill in in dusty valley up on barren hill.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

far deadlier foe

With peat-bogs aplenty and mountains of sand we've tons of resources in this tiny land to fuel all our fires and built such contraptions as do many bigger more powerful nations. Our mountains yield coal copper gold and platin in deep and rich lodes and in thick running seams but such paltry trinkets and their fleeting sums do pale when compared to our daughters and sons. In their hearts and minds burns amor patria – a love for this nation of Grigovia – which won't be extinguished by water or wind which none of them have plans to ever rescind. We've beaten off waves of Rus Mongol and Hun although their massed arrows did blot out the sun and they tried a way in to trick and to buy but soon did roll over to perish and die. Now there is another far deadlier foe whose tricks tools and talents still brutally grow who claims he is fighting for Liberty but whose wheels are just spinning in deep bloody ruts. The Ynki is cunning and greedy to boot he's rendered the standards of compassion moot he's sent out his forces to conquer the Earth while his chubby denizens wallow in mirth. We won't let him split our defenses asunder or punish our citizens with rolling thunder but rather we'll join him in battle should he decide ever to force us onto our knees.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

clear clouded mind

Her face is a whiteness that hangs in the sky and dark is the inky expanse that she plies. Her countenance waxes her countenance wanes in some women she causes internal pains in some persons her pull awakens such passions as leads them to behave in strange crazy fashion. As long as we humans have thought dreamed and spoken has her lasting mystery within us woken such dazzling fantasies as one might find within a wild lunatic's clear clouded mind. Lift up the gaze and turn it toward the moon for hers is a bountiful beautiful boon – for without her drawings there would be no tide and life on this planet would have too soon died.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

wellspring of joy

There is an old discipline taught in this land that makes use of mind foot will focus and hand. It's shared with but a few who come from without and helps one to conquer fear torment and doubt and helps one to find in the depths of the self the wellspring of joy purpose calm peace and health. Its name can't be mentioned its outlines are vague it cannot be hampered by sickness or plague it cannot be grasped after confined or caught – all efforts to know it with peril are fraught. It is both internal and external too it ignites the passions yet tempers them too and with it ones learns to be always aware to lessen emotions and soften one's glare. If it must be named then these names should suffice: Tatag'eh, Tatag, or maybe The Rule of Thrice; for three are its tenets its tenets are three and they are love mercy and humility. Its one central focus is stilling the mind and leaving memory and sadness behind and learning to stay in the Here and the Now and learning one's own fertile basin to plow. To control the self and not others is key to living in blessed long-lived harmony with The Great Unnameable Vast Mystery and its many vassals we can't hear or see. The monks of this order are few but well-placed and of many sexes and many a race and move through this world leaving very few traces but filled with such wonder as once filled the Graces. To join in this movement come search out a sage and watch her emerge from humanity's cage then delve into wonder sat there by her side and let go of honor want anger and pride. Our gates they stand open to all those who wander without ever moving from here there or yonder so come when you're ready and stay for a while to learn to live life filled with soft yielding smiles.

© americanifesto / 場黑麥

bridle and tame

She knew how to whisper and how to give thanks and where help was needed on the most far flanks. Her gaze it was piercing but then also kind and sharp was the thrust of the point of her mind and soft was her hand helping a fallen foe and quick was her pace through sand mudflat or snow. Her role in repelling the attacking Hun saw to it that quickly such battles were won as then led to victory in our campaign to live our lives peacefully now and again. Her patroness was she whose home is the arena – our proud and our mighty own Nuuzstathena – whose actions are virtuous righteous and just though she may be covered in gore and road-dust. Now join in our efforts to drive out the foe whose outlines and habits we already know whose stars and whose stripes are the chains of oppression who must be forthwith taught an enduring lesson. His fingers do meddle in many a pie so we must confront him from tunnel to sky and remind his people that Freedom comes not to those who abandon the lessons they're taught. So join in resisting the power whose aim is Liberty's chaos to bridle and tame and stand now for something or stand not at all now rise up and answer ye patriots all.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

the meandering Yalung

The river meanders from high mountain dales down into these verdant and soft-rolling vales. Its banks they are lined with all manner of plant as it back and forth now does happen to cant; its ripples are gentle its flow brings the soil to grow us our bounty and lessen our toil. As soon as a seed is sunk into the earth a strong striving seedling springs suddenly forth and quickly does grow into a healthy stalk within which we stroll run meander and walk. For along the Yalung are paths and roadways upon which a person can wander for days or weeks months and years long without ever leaving unless one should suffer from lack of good breathing. Its liquids are pure clean and nutrient-rich they are home to insects toads and many fish they are safe for drinking so fill up a glass and drink it all down with much relish – not fast. The snow-melt that feeds it makes it mighty cold as it winds its way all throughout this here vold and when it then flows out to lands not our own it is just as clean as the day it was born. So help us protect this holy water source; help us make it better not dirty or worse by using such products as don't pollute it by composting food-waste and cleaning up shit. Together we'll pass to the children still small a land that does blossom from Springtime to Fall while teaching them stewardship of all they've got and improving this our dear and common lot.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥

five angry cats

Her five angry cats and flock of barren hens all made the old lady to ponder just when she'd give in and sell the farm that had remained so long in her family's lackluster name. For men had come calling not to ask for her hand but to get the titles and deeds to her land and all of her children were gone and away and it was just she who alone there did stay. She'd heard of a system for the relocation of elderly persons in families not their own but full strangers who'd then help each other improve and uplift each and everyone's lot. She signed up to live with a man and his wife whose both busy workdays did hardly suffice to care for their young ones so she sold the farm and went to take their children on her arm. Her days they were lovely all her needs were met and she had the best of years that she'd had yet and she then died happy with friends at her side who kept her last months full of honor and pride.

​© americanifesto / 場黑麥