rhythms of seasons

Yesterday was a special day. I picked up Phyllis Hotch and we drove down to Santa Fe through an incredibly magical world of yellow. The trees along the banks of the Rio Grande cast yellow reflections in the water and leaves formed shimmery paths of feathery gold coins that we drove through with wonder. Canyon walls on both sides were veiled in a soft summery haze. It was hard to keep my eyes on the road. I couldn't take pictures of course, but this one taken from my kitchen window today shows the intensity of color that assailed us.

The very air was golden, the sun warm, the breezes soft. It was a living delicate balance between seasons. The last beautiful days of autumn. When strong wind or rain or snow finally comes, it will quickly strip the leaves off the trees and plunge us into winter. Better not to think of that yet.

amigos de las mujeres
We were on our way to meet Marjorie Agosin who was in town from Wellesley, MA for a special event at the Hispanic Art Museum in Albuquerque. If you don't know her or her work (she's on the right in the photo), she is a critically acclaimed Chilean-American poet, short story writer, a human rights activist who has received, among many other honors, the United Nations Humanitarian Award. She also happens to be the friend we love and don't get to see often. (That's Phyllis on the left).

poetry and gossip
We three enjoyed a very long chatty catch up lunch, some shopping, then nice quiet conversation back at M's hotel before saying goodbye again for awhile. Phyllis and I drove back to Taos as the sun sank lower on the horizon and the golden light took on a coral tinge. It was like Brigadoon, it really was, the feeling so strong that this was a fragile and fleeting moment in time that might not happen again for a hundred years. Today a wind picks up, but the glow remains. And the foal is back! Like Brigadoon, she magically appeared during the night after months out of sight. She's almost 4 months old, tall and beautiful. I'll post pictures soon.

There are women like angels
obedient and disobedient
fed by pity
and water
and celery
      Marjorie Agosin (from Council of the Fairies, 1997)