looking up to the heavens,
looking down upon this
earth,
seeing the cosmos, the
continents,
our place in the heavens, everything
elements, atoms, beauty, organic
stuff
God’s perfect plan, a Creator’s
design…
pondering infinity, eternity,
the arc of the universe,
the heavens
whether we are alone,
unique,
or are one among many civilizations,
creations, not creation, unique,
an abundance of intelligent
life…
maybe no answer, a mystery,
the Fermi Paradox,
as there has been none, no
other yet,
none that we acknowledge,
that we validate,
proving the negative,
proof of life,
Everything is out there,
or everything is here on
earth…
---------------
Edited
July 27, 2023
Pondering
infinity, eternity – v2
Edited
July 24, 2023
Are
our answers in our gods? – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/are-our-answers-in-our-gods-v3.html
Edited
July 24, 2023
Are
our answers in our gods? – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/are-our-answers-in-our-gods-v2.html
July
24, 2023
Are
our answers in our gods?
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/are-our-answers-in-our-gods.html
&
“Star
Trek: First Contact” movie
&
Book:
Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past
Erinnerungen
an die Zukunft: Ungelöste Rätsel der Vergangenheit
by
Erich von Däniken
&
Edited
July 24, 2023
pondering
infinity, eternity
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/pondering-infinity-eternity.html
July
24, 2023
pondering
infinity
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/pondering-infinity.html
July
24, 2023
Post
on twitter by John Kraus,
https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1683328805015019520
“Everything
is out there or everything is here”
&
July
23, 2023
Post
on twitter by Atheist Dad
https://twitter.com/AndyBuzz72/status/1683199123904765953
“Our
existence is proof that life exists in this universe.
Do
you think we are alone in such a vast unimaginable universe?”
&
July
22, 2023
Post on
Twitter by Elon Musk
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1682945360572948484
“The scariest answer to the Fermi Paradox is that
there are no aliens at all. They we are the only tiny candle
of consciousness in an abyss of darkness. “
July 22, 2023 – My response to Elon Musk post above:
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1682960635372486657
“If the answer to the Fermi Paradox is that earth is alone
supporting life, we will never know it because
empirical evidence seems to imply life must be out there
somewhere because of the number of stars and planets.
We will always believe we are not alone even if it isn't true.”
&
July
14, 2023
Star
Talk
https://twitter.com/StarTalkRadio/status/1679959202049949696
&
July
17, 2023
The
sky above me opened
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2023/07/the-sky-above-me-opened.html
Reacting
to post on July 14, 2023
by
Andrew McCarthy
https://twitter.com/AJamesMcCarthy/status/1679861569650593792
“I saw the night sky for the 1st time
when I was 16 canoeing the
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/PDF_GUIDE/aww-guide.pdf
in northern Maine.”
&
edited January 25, 2022
Stilling myself, silent –
v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/stilling-myself-silent-v3.html
&
edited January 24, 2022
The Milky Way above me –
v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-milky-way-above-me-v2.html
&
January 3, 2022
The bear cub
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-bear-cub.html
About drive out of Katahdin Woods and Waters National
Monument
after 2019 Stars Over Katahdin dark skies event.
Drafted after reading first part of poem "Clapp's
Brook" by Mary Oliver.
&
edited January 1, 2021
Looking across the valley - v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/02/looking-across-valley-v2.html
February 1, 2021
Looking across the valley
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/02/looking-across-valley.htmll
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1356233398117920769
https://www.nps.gov/kaww/index.htm
seeing Mount Katahdin from Ash Hill, Route 11, Patten, ME ;
title a nod to LeGrand Cannon, Jr.’s book, Look to the
Mountain,
about Mt. Chocorua in NH
&
edited January 24, 2022
Dip your cup into memory –
v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/dip-your-cup-into-memory-v2.html
&
edited January 24, 2022
Stilling myself, silent –
v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/stilling-myself-silent-v2.html
January 24, 2022
Stilling myself, silent
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/stilling-myself-silent.html
January 24, 2022
Dip your cup into memory
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/dip-your-cup-into-memory.html
January 24, 2022
The Milky Way above me
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-milky-way-above-me.html
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-milky-way-above-me_24.html
&
edited January 24, 2022
Moonlight – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/moonlight-v3.html
&
edited January 19, 2022
Shimmering in the
full-moon light – v3
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/shimmering-in-full-moon-light-v3.html
edited January 18, 2022
Shimmering in the
full-moon light – v2
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/shimmering-in-full-moon-light-v2.html
January 18, 2022
Shimmering in the full-moon
light
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2022/01/shimmering-in-full-moon-light.html
driving over the Route 16
bridge/causeway over the St. Johns River
&
edited December 28, 2015
Moonlight – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/12/moonlight-v2.html
posted February 10, 2004
written August 16, 2000
Moonlight
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/moonlight.html
Written
August 16, 2000 at 11:30pm, after paddling
on
the lake after the School Board meeting ran late.
December 26, 2021
Bursting, rising
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2021/12/bursting-rising.html
edited March 10, 2020
by the side of a lake – v5
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1237525423459721217
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v5.html
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v4
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236658755405778944
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v4.html
stanza 1 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236658184066039814
stanza 2 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236656401197432832
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v3
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236649623726546944
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v3.html
stanza 1 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236648812279730179
stanza 2 – https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236648239019036672
edited March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake – v2
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236638070516129794
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake-v2.html
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236637374282641411
March 8, 2020
by the side of a lake
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236629369256321024
https://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2020/03/by-side-of-lake.html
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236628321573785600
https://twitter.com/raymondafoss/status/1236625326416883714
written in response to a question
on Realistic Poetry
https://twitter.com/RealisticPoetry/status/1236457843055669248
“Many poets believe poetry is an escape.
If your poetry could take you anywhere to
temporarily escape,
where would it be and why?”
======
edited
August 21, 2015
Breaking
Camp – v7
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/08/breaking-camp-v7.html
(editing
version 3)
edited
July 18, 2015
Breaking
Camp – v6
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/07/breaking-camp-v6.html
(editing
version 5)
edited
April 21, 2015
The
Skin of the Lake – v7
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-skin-of-lake-v7.html
(editing
original)
edited
April 21, 2015
Breaking
Camp – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/breaking-camp-v5.html
(editing
original again)
edited April 19, 2015
The Skin of the Lake – v6
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-skin-of-lake-v6-skin-of-lake-sliced.html
(editing original again)
edited
April 17, 2015
The
Skin of the Lake – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-skin-of-lake-v5.html
(editing
version 4)
edited
April 16, 2015
Flowing
North – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/flowing-north-v4.html
(editing
version 3)
edited
April 16, 2015
the
spell of the night – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-spell-of-night-v3.html
(editing
version 2)
edited
April 16, 2015
Under
the Stars – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/under-stars-v3.html
(editing
version 2)
edited
April 16, 2015
The
Ledges – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-ledges-v5.html
(editing
version 4)
edited
April 15, 2015
Breaking
Camp – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/breaking-camp-v4.html
(editing
version 3)
Edited
May 4, 2013
“The
Skin of the Lake – v4
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-skin-of-lake-v4.html
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The
Skin of the Lake – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v3.html
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The
Skin of the Lake – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v2.html
July
28, 2010
“The
Skin of the Lake”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/skin-of-lake.html
-----
edited
April 16, 2015
The
Ledges – v5
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-ledges-v5.html
(editing
version 4)
edited
May 2, 2013
“the
spell of the night – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-spell-of-night-v2.html
new
poem, February 23, 2013
“the
spell of the night”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-spell-of-night.html
&
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The
Skin of the Lake – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v3.html
Edited
February 23, 2013
“The
Skin of the Lake – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-skin-of-lake-v2.html
July
28, 2010
“The
Skin of the Lake”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2010/07/skin-of-lake.html
&
Edited
May 4, 2013
“Under
the Stars – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/under-stars-v2.html
July
19, 2007 21:28
“Under
the Stars”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2007/07/under-stars.html
&
edited
April 14, 2014
“Breaking
Camp – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/04/breaking-camp-v3.html
(editing
original again)
Edited
May 4, 2013
“Breaking
Camp – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/breaking-camp-v2.html
November
23, 2006 18:00
“Breaking
Camp”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2006/11/breaking-camp.html
&
edited
December 7, 2014
Free
Time – v3
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/12/free-time-v3.html
edited
May 28, 2014
Free
Time – v2
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/05/free-time-v2.html
posted
May 24, 2004
Free
Time
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/05/free-time.html
saved
March 26, 2004
&
Edited
November 2, 2013
“The
Ledges – v4”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-ledges-v4.html
Edited
May 4, 2013
“The
Ledges – v3”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-ledges-v3.html
Edited
September 20, 2012
“The
Ledges – v2”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-ledges-v2.html
editing
the original again
inspired
by reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly
poetry reading,
at
the Suncook Senior Center
September
10, 2012
“The Ledges”
http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/02/ledges.html
Written
July 14, 2000.
It
is based on a single night in the summer of 1977 when I was part of a group from
Claremont's Stevens High School that canoed the Allagash in northern Maine.
http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=2
Allagash
Wilderness Waterway
&
It
was the third and final major canoe trip I went on (Saco River in 1975 starting
in Fryeburg, ME, Allagash in 1976-July-ish when it was warmer and slower). This
trip was earlier, in May, when the water ran faster and the time was spent
moving down river with the flow of the river. Nights were a lot cooler and the
food was a lot different. Many of us had bad hypothermia the first night because
it was a cold rain and none of us had unpacked our bags to pull out the foul
weather gear. I remember well having to strip off all of my cold wet clothes
and sharing a sleeping bag with another camper. The night written about here
started innocently enough. We arrived at this particular campsite on Eagle Lake
(or Churchill Lake) earlier than normal, because of the river's current. We all
set up each tent and set the dinner fire going. I think it was fried bologna.
We all turned in early. We were tired. The moon rose before 11. There were ants
and black flies everywhere. One of the campers had to sit by the fire at each
campsite to ward off the black flies. Anyway, one by one we all realized we
weren't going to sleep any more that night. Before am, we were all pacing
around, uneasy. The leaders all agreed to put out for the next camp. We weren't
in any rush at am though. This was the way I felt about this night. After we
put in mid morning at the next site, I remember the wonderful brook trout we
caught and I can still taste it, twenty-three years later. I think these times,
when I was moving from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, when I was canoeing the
Saco and then the Allagash were some of the happiest of my high school days. On
the 1976 trip, from Massachusetts, I found the canoe paddle I wrote about in
the poem "Wind" I always talked about going back to the Allagash; but
I have never gone back. It wasn't until 22 years later that I finally got my
canoe again.
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are
copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019,
2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com)
for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry
Where You Live.
creation, Faith, God, hearing, Maine, memories,
Nature, night, Poetry Where You Live, Raymond A. Foss, river, senses, sound, water,
Writing Poetry, poem, poetry, lake, summer,
#poetry #Canoe #cold #creation #eyes
#Faith #God #hearing #imagination
#memories #Nature #night #river #senses #sight #sound #water #Writing #summer
#coffee #lake
---------------
poetry, Faith, God, family,
Nature, memory, memories,
#poetry #Faith #God #family
#nature #memory #memories
--------
poetry, poem, Faith, hope,
moon, Nature, water, river, night, God, full moon, moonlight, Milky Way, stars,
Maine, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Thoreau, dark sky,
#poetry #poem #Faith #hope
#moon #Nature #sky #water #river #night #God #fullmoon #moonlight #MilkyWay
#stars #AllagashWildernessWaterway #darksky
--------
poetry, Nature, God, Milky
Way, stars, intelligent life, creation, Fermi Paradox, SETI, exoplanet, earth,
aliens, water, carbon, infinity, universe, extraterrestrial, life, cosmos,
#poetry #Nature #God #MilkyWay
#stars #intelligentlife #creation #FermiParadox #SETI #exoplanet #planet #earth
#aliens #water #carbon #infinity #universe #cosmos #extraterrestrial #life
