We Are Anonymous / ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏚᏙᎥ ᏄᏠᏯᏍᏛᎾ

We are anonymous in the flesh,
but identifiable in the spirit.
How is this possible?
Only the Great Spirit knows.

ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏚᏙᎥ ᏄᏠᏯᏍᏛᎾ ᎤᏇᏓᎵ ᎭᏫᎾ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᏓᏙᎯᏙᏗᏔ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎭᏫᎾ.
ᎯᎳᎪ ᎯᎠ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏰᎵᏊ?
ᎤᏩᏌ ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎤᏅᏔᏎ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ / I Am Not a Teacher

ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ.
ᎡᎶᎯ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ.
ᎤᏃᎴ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ.
ᎠᏥᎸ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ.
ᎠᎹ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ.
ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏗᏕᏲᎲᏍᎩ.

I am not a teacher.
Earth is a teacher.
Wind is a teacher.
Fire is a teacher.
Water is a teacher.
Spirit is a teacher.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Warmed by a Fire Unseen / ᎤᎦᎾᏫᏔ ᎠᏥᎸ Ꮭ ᎪᏩᏘᏔ ᎬᏙᏗ

Warmed by a fire unseen,
he stares into past and future,
accepting all.

ᎤᎦᎾᏫᏔ ᎠᏥᎸ Ꮭ ᎪᏩᏘᏔ ᎬᏙᏗ,
ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎭᎦᏔᏎ ᏧᏩᎫᏔᏅᏒ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏩᎫᏗᏗᏒ ᎾᎿᎢ,
ᏗᏓᏁᎸᎢᏍᏓᏁᏖ ᏂᎦᏛᏁ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Man, Dog, and Sun / ᎠᏍᎦᏯ, ᎩᎵ, ᎠᎴ ᏅᏓ

ᎠᏍᎦᏯ, ᎩᎵ, ᎠᎴ ᏅᏓ:
ᎣᏍᏛ ᎤᎾᏓᏟᏌᏅ.

Man, dog, and sun:
a good combination.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

58,000 Visits

I am happy to announce that this poetry blog has now had 58,000 visits since its inception in October 2016.

The posts in or concerning the Udugi language continue to be extremely popular, and I am very happy about that.

Thanks to all of you for your continued interest and enthusiasm.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

There Are More Questions than Answers / ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᎪᏕᏍᏗ ᎠᏛᏛᎲᏍᎩᏗ

There are more questions than answers
in this world.
Its magic and mystery
are intact.

ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᎪᏕᏍᏗ ᎠᏛᏛᎲᏍᎩᏗ
ᏏᏅ ᏬᎯᎵᏴᏍᎬᏗ
ᎯᎠ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎭᏫᎾ.
ᎾᏍᎩᎯ ᎠᏓᏪᎰ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎧᎵᏬᎯ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

He Looks Out on a World / ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎭᎦᏔᏎ ᏙᏰᎩ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎾᎿ

He looks out on a world
that doesn't know him,
seeing past light and shadow
and form,
to spirit.

ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎭᎦᏔᏎ ᏙᏰᎩ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎾᎿ
Ꮎ Ꮭ ᎤᏅᏔᏎ ᎠᏨᏯᎢᏁ,
ᎪᏩᏔᏁᏖ ᎤᎸᏌᏓ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏓᏴᎳᏛ
ᎠᎴ ᎤᏙᏢᏒ ᎤᏗᏗᏢ,
ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏗᏜ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

We Are Conduits for the Energy of Life

We are conduits for the energy of life,
we are vessels of the spirit,
we are love, embodied,
and nothing more.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 68

ᎢᏧᎳ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗᏁ ᎠᏂ-ᏲᏁᎦ, ᎠᏂ-ᏳᎳᏈᎯ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ. ᎢᎦᏛ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎣᏍᏛ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᏔᎵ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ , ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏫᏍᎩᏁ ᎠᎴ ᏗᏆᏂᏳᏍᏗ, ᎠᏲᏍᏙᏗᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏗᏁ.

We learned many things from the Whites, the Europeans. Some things were good, but two things that we learned, drinking whisky and gambling, have ruined many lives.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 68

ᎢᏧᎳ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗᏁ ᎠᏂ-ᏲᏁᎦ, ᎠᏂ-ᏳᎳᏈᎯ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ. ᎢᎦᏛ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎣᏍᏛ, ᎠᏎᏃ ᏔᎵ ᎢᏳᏍᏗᏗ Ꮎ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎦᏙᎴᏈᏎ , ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ ᏫᏍᎩᏁ ᎠᎴ ᏗᏆᏂᏳᏍᏗ, ᎠᏲᏍᏙᏗᏎ ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᎥᎴᏂᏙᎲᏗᏁ.

ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᏏᎵᏯ ᏗᏜ (2) / Song to Celia (2)

ᎣᏔᏕᎩᏍᎩ Ꮎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ ᎤᎵᏌᎳᏙᏓᏎ
ᎠᏔᏲᎯᎭᏎ ᏩᎦᎸᎳᏗᏳ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗᏁ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ ᏰᎵᏊᏎ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ
ᎦᏁᎲᏁ ᏦᏫ* ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎢᏴᏚᏎ ᏂᎯᏁ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ.

* ᎠᎪᎢ ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗ, ᎡᏙᏓ ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎯᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.


"The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine."

ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᏏᎵᏯ ᏗᏜ (2)

ᎣᏔᏕᎩᏍᎩ Ꮎ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ ᎤᎵᏌᎳᏙᏓᏎ
ᎠᏔᏲᎯᎭᏎ ᏩᎦᎸᎳᏗᏳ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗᏁ,
ᎠᏎᏃ ᎢᏳᏃ ᎠᏯ ᏰᎵᏊᏎ ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗ
ᎦᏁᎲᏁ ᏦᏫ* ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎢᏴᏚᏎ ᏂᎯᏁ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ.

* ᎠᎪᎢ ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗ, ᎡᏙᏓ ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎯᏗ ᎥᎿᎢ.

ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᏏᎵᏯ ᏗᏜ / Song to Celia

ᎠᏁᏢᏔᏅᎢ (ᎢᎦᏛ): ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᏏᎵᏯ ᏗᏜ, ᏇᏁ ᏣᏂᏐᏁ ᎥᎿᎢ (1616)

ᎠᏗᏔᏍᎫ ᎠᏴ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ
ᎤᏩᏌ ᏂᎯ ᏗᎦᏙᎵ ᎬᏙᏗ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏯ ᎠᏚᏓᎸᏙᏎ ᎠᏆ ᎬᏙᏗ.
ᎠᎴ ᎤᏩᏌ ᎠᏓᏅᏍᏚ ᎠᏓᏪᏙᎩᏁ
ᎠᎫᎩᏍᏗ ᎭᏫᏂᏗᏢ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎠᏔᏲᎯᎰᏎ
ᎩᎦᎨ-ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗᏁ.


Translation (partial) of Song to Celia, by Ben Jonson (1616)

"Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine.
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not ask for wine."

I will translate the rest of the poem into Udugi too, if there are requests for it.

Udugi text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎠᏁᏢᏔᏅᎢ: ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᏏᎵᏯ ᏗᏜ, ᏇᏁ ᏣᏂᏐᏁ ᎥᎿᎢ (1616)

ᎠᏁᏢᏔᏅᎢ: ᎧᏃᎩᏍᏗ ᏏᎵᏯ ᏗᏜ, ᏇᏁ ᏣᏂᏐᏁ ᎥᎿᎢ (1616)

ᎠᏗᏔᏍᎫ ᎠᏴ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ
ᎤᏩᏌ ᏂᎯ ᏗᎦᏙᎵ ᎬᏙᏗ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏯ ᎠᏚᏓᎸᏙᏎ ᎠᏆ ᎬᏙᏗ.
ᎠᎴ ᎤᏩᏌ ᎠᏓᏅᏍᏚ ᎠᏓᏪᏙᎩᏁ
ᎠᎫᎩᏍᏗ ᎭᏫᏂᏗᏢ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎠᏔᏲᎯᎰᏎ
ᎩᎦᎨ-ᎠᏗᏔᏍᏗᏁ.

We Are Worlds / ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯᏗ

We are worlds
within worlds.
We are systems
within systems.
We are galaxies
within galaxies.
We are universes
within universes.
We are spirit
within a miracle.

ᎢᏧᎳ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯᏗ
ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯᏗ ᎭᏫᏂᏗᏢ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗᏗ
ᎢᏯᏛᏁᎵᏓᏍᏗᏗ ᎭᏫᏂᏗᏢ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᏃᏈᏌrᎣᏗ
ᏃᏈᏌrᎣᏗ ᎭᏫᏂᏗᏢ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᏂᎦᏛᎣᏗ
ᏂᎦᏛᎣᏗ ᎭᏫᏂᏗᏢ.
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ
ᎤᏍᏆᏂᎪᏗ ᎭᏫᏂᏗᏢ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 67

ᏴᏫ-ᎠᏰᎸ ᎤᎭᏎ ᎤᏬᏚᏁ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏓᏙᎵᏍᏗᏁ, ᎤᏁᎳᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᎯ ᏧᏩᎫᏔᏅᏒ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎢᏳᏓᎵᎭ ᎤᏁᎩᎸᏗ. ᎤᏩᏌ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᏗᎪᏏᏐᏗ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.

The human body has beauty and grace, though its past was often ugly. Only spirit can explain it.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 67

ᏴᏫ-ᎠᏰᎸ ᎤᎭᏎ ᎤᏬᏚᏁ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏓᏙᎵᏍᏗᏁ, ᎤᏁᎳᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᎯ ᏧᏩᎫᏔᏅᏒ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎢᏳᏓᎵᎭ ᎤᏁᎩᎸᏗ. ᎤᏩᏌ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᏰᎵᏆᏎ ᏗᎪᏏᏐᏗ ᎾᏍᎩᏁ.

Naked Wisdom 66

ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᏚᎸᏫᏍᏓᎾᏎ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ,
ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎥᏝᎪᎱᏍᏗ
ᎯᏁᎩ.

He works naked,
he lives naked.
There is nothing to say.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 66

ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᏚᎸᏫᏍᏓᎾᏎ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ,
ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎠᏎ ᎤᏰᎸᎭ.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎥᏝᎪᎱᏍᏗ
ᎯᏁᎩ.

His Path / ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ

His path is the path of beauty,
his path is the path of truth,
his path is the path of mercy,
his path is the path of justice,
his path is the path of peace,
his path is the path of brother and sisterhood,
his path is the path of spirit,
his path is the path of respect,
his path is the path of love.

His hope is to see them realized.
His hope is to see them flourish.


ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎤᏬᏚ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᏚᏳᎪᏛ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎠᏓᏙᎵᏍᏗ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᏚᏳᎫᏛ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᏙᎯᏱ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᏗᎾᏓᏅᏞ ᎠᎴ ᎤᎸᏪᏦ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎪᎯᏳᎯ,
ᎤᏤᎵ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏅᏃᎯ ᎨᏳ.

ᎤᏤᎵ ᎤᏚᎩ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎪᏩᏘ ᎾᏍᎩᏛᏁ ᎠᏙᎴᎰᎯᏍᏗᏔ.
ᎤᏤᎵ ᎤᏚᎩ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎪᏩᏘ ᎾᏍᎩᏛᏁ ᎤᏥᎸᏒ ᎠᎴ ᎠᏛᏒ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

There Is No "White Race"

The other day there were horrendous mass-shootings in two mosques in New Zealand, resulting in the deaths of at least 49 people. Both of the perpetrators said that they looked up to Donald Trump as a "symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose." I believe that such events make it necessary to clear a few things up.

There is no white race, nor is there a yellow race, a red race, or a black race.

The word "race" comes from a Latin word, radix, meaning "root." The racism that we are so plagued with today is a result of a huge misunderstanding of human history and prehistory. It is due to the idea that originally there were separate and distinct "roots" of humanity, eventually becoming mixed and therefore less "pure," when in fact the opposite is the case.

Humanity, as homo sapiens, has a single root, and it is in Africa. DNA studies prove that we are descended, not only from Africans, but from African Pygmies. From that origin we diverged, not into a variety of roots, but into a variety of branches, due to climate-induced mutations. If you are white, and proud of it, what you are saying is that you are proud of a particular mutation. This mutation in no way changes the fact that we are all sisters and brothers.

For most of my life, I considered myself "white." But DNA shows that I am part Native American (Cherokee, in my case), part Jewish, and 0.6 percent (are you ready?) African Pygmy. All humans are my sisters and brothers.

If you want to be a follower of the ignorant Austrian paper-hanger, Schickelgruber, you can do that. If you want to be a follower of the ignorant American conman, Drumpf, you can do that, too. But don't expect me to accept you as an equal, or debate with you as such. I am 100 percent human, and proud of it.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

He Sits in the Light of Morning Sun

He sits in the light of morning sun,
and looks out on a new day.
He knows that life is only light
and shadows ever at play.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Fifty-Seven Thousand Visits, Real Life

I'm happy to announce that this poetry blog has now passed the milestone of 57,000 visits. It happened a couple of days ago, but I was not able to comment on it, due to events in what some like to call "Real Life."

Last Monday, my wife and I sold our house in the small city of Atlántida, Uruguay, after having lived there for the last six years. This was wrenching enough, but we then spent a really awful night in the mostly-disused casita of some friends, fighting off mosquito attacks from an infestation that they hadn't been aware of. The next day, we had to drive the 220 or so kilometers to Aguas Dulces on virtually no sleep, arriving in a drenching downpour, in which I nevertheless had to begin unloading our jam-packed car.When I had done all I could, I looked and felt like a drowned rat. A neighbor, who is a good friend, stopped and offered to help, but I told him I was going to continue the job after the rain stopped. He said, "good luck!"

Well, to make a long story a bit shorter, I did have good luck. By the time I got the dripping clothes off, the rain had stopped. Now in dry clothes, I answered the door and it was a couple, also good friends, who insisted I let them finish unloading the car. I was too exhausted to argue. Sandy was in even worse shape than I was.

That was Tuesday. The next day, things looked a lot better, and we began to recover. We were ensconced in our beach house, the last little piece of Uruguay that is ours, with the Atlantic Ocean as our front yard. Having breakfast on the deck lifted our spirits. I saw a couple of dolphins in the water, which I always take as a good omen. A neighbor brought us some freshly-cooked "chucho," which is a kind of seafood, but I couldn't tell you what kind. Anyway, it was delicious. That night, the friend who had offered to help during the downpour dropped in. As I opened the door, I said, "Your timing is excellent: we're pouring Coto de Imaz Rioja." Sandy and I had decided we needed to celebrate. The wine was, of course, absolutely delicious. We went to bed that night feeling welcomed and taken care of in this magical little place.

It is unfortunate that we have to sell this beach house, but it isn't practical for us to keep it. The price, if you're interested, is US $60,000. Believe me, that is cheap.

Thanks to all of you for reading this blog. Wadó. ꮹꮩ.

 Sunrise in Aguas Dulces, Uruguay, March 14 2019

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 65

ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᏧᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᎢᏳ-ᏥᎨᏒ. ᎠᏯ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢᏎ ᎧᎾᏍᏔ* ᎭᏫᎾ. ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏧᏁᎳ ᏑᏟᎶᏛᏗ ᎤᎦᎾᏭ ᏧᏩᏖᎵᏓ* ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ, ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᎢ* ᎭᏫᎾ. ᏂᎦᏛ ᎯᎠ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎠᎴᏅᏔᏅ ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏃᎯᎵᏓᏍᏙ-ᎡᎶᎯ. ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏙᎯᏳ ᎤᏬᏚᎯ.

Many years ago, I lived in Kanasta*. It is eight miles south of Tsuwatelida,** in Tsalaguwetii.*** All of this land was originally Cherokee hunting land. It is very beautiful.

*     Brevard
**   Pilot Knob
*** North Carolina

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 65

ᎤᎪᏗᏗ ᏧᏕᏘᏴᏓ ᎢᏳ-ᏥᎨᏒ. ᎠᏯ ᎠᎴᏂᏙᎢᏎ ᎧᎾᏍᏔ* ᎭᏫᎾ. ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᏧᏁᎳ ᏑᏟᎶᏛᏗ ᎤᎦᎾᏭ ᏧᏩᏖᎵᏓ* ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ, ᏣᎳᎫᏪᏘᎢ* ᎭᏫᎾ. ᏂᎦᏛ ᎯᎠ ᎡᎶᎯ ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎠᎴᏅᏔᏅ ᏣᎳᎩ ᎦᏃᎯᎵᏓᏍᏙ-ᎡᎶᎯ. ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎤᏙᎯᏳ ᎤᏬᏚᎯ.

He Sees / ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎪᏩᏔᏎ

He sees the future
and past,
and knows that nothing
will last.

ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎪᏩᏔᏎ ᎤᏩᎫᏗᏗᏒᏁ
ᎠᎴ ᏧᏩᎫᏔᏅᏒᏁ,
ᎠᎴ ᎤᏅᏔᏎ Ꮎ ᎥᏝᎪᎱᏍᏗ
ᏂᎦᏰᏙᎰᏎ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Living Au Naturel

Here in the Southern Hemisphere, we are in late summer. March here is the equivalent of Northern September. The temperature inside our double-walled brick house tends to be about 78F, or 26C,
which I think is absolutely perfect for being naked, which is how I usually am. I calculate that, on average, I am naked 80% of the time. I wish it were 100%, but I haven't managed that yet.

One of the great things about this house (which we will soon be leaving), aside from it's excellent insulation from the outside highs and lows, is the amount of privacy that it provides. It isn't perfect privacy, but in a tolerant country such as this, it is sufficient. A few years ago, some visitors from Portland, Oregon (by any measure, one of the more liberal places in the US) were amazed that we could just walk around the backyard naked, which we were all doing. We swim naked, I clean the pool naked (which gives me a nice, all-over tan), I garden naked, and weather permitting, I do pretty much everything around here naked.

To be sure, this is one of the things that I will miss about this place. Yesterday, an Uruguayan couple that we know came to say goodbye to us. It took me a while to answer the door, and when I did, I was wearing a bathrobe. They were afraid that they had come too early and we had been sleeping, I explained that it wasn't that, but that I had been naked when they rang the bell, and that I'm that way most of the time. They told me that they were the same way at home. I was happy to hear it, and not really surprised, knowing them.

It is hard to explain to one who has not tried it the pleasure of living naturally.

Fortunately, we are moving to a place where naturists are well established, and the climate is mild. I should feel right at home.

Be well, and thank you for reading my blog.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

This Body Is a Symbol

This body is a symbol of a man
and a life,
but it is not the man,
nor is it the life.
It is a mixture of
sagas and happenstance,
prehistory and slow mutation,
and it represents
endless lives.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

He Sits Between the Worlds / ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎤᏬᎳᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯᏗ ᎠᏰᎵ

He sits between the worlds,
unbound by time and space,
unobstructed,
seeing his bones explode
into a firmament of stars.

ᎠᏨᏯᎢ ᎤᏬᎳᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯᏗ ᎠᏰᎵ,
Ꮭ ᎦᎸᏍᏗᏔ ᎢᎪᎯᏓ ᎠᎴ ᎤᏜᏅᏛ ᏗᎬᏩᎶᏒ,
Ꮭ ᎢᎬᏯᏗᏟᏔ,
ᎪᏩᏔᏁᏖ ᎤᏤᎵ ᎪᎳᏗᏁ ᎠᏔᏍᎩ
ᎦᎸᎶᎢ ᏃᏈᏏᏗ ᎾᎿᎢ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Shank's Mare Is Not So Bad

Because Sandy and I are moving from one continent to another, we're liquidating our assets here in Uruguay. That is why I had occasion to get up early this morning and take our car in before breakfast to get it thoroughly cleaned. That is something we have never done for ourselves, but we did it for the people who are buying it. Since it is our one remaining car, I had to get back home on "Shank's mare," a trip of about twenty minutes at my own leisurely pace.

Along the way I noticed the smell of the Eucalyptus leaves and seeds, though it was a different species from the more fragrant ones in California. Still, it is one of my favorite smells. I noticed, in fact, every little detail of my environment on that walk to the house that will only be ours for five more days.

Later, between breakfast and beer time, I walked back to the "lavadero de autos" to get the car, this time a spotlessly clean version, that will also only be ours for a little while. Along the way, I smelled pine needles strewn on the ground, and it reminded me of childhood camping trips and mountain outings when I was a young man. It also reminded me of our house in Brevard, NC, where there were thirty White Pines on our property, and white squirrels in the trees.

It also reminded me of my childhood. Children usually get a bicycle by the time they're eleven, if not before, but for the first ten years of their lives they are largely pedestrians. They are closer to the soil, and to the details of their environment. If you don't think that's important, you really should think again. We need to get back to it.

My next rambling discourse will probably be from Florida (though there could be one from the beach at Aguas Dulces). In the meantime, be well.

Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler. Photo by my cousin Fergus McCarthy, of Midleton, Cork.

Mammal and Machine

Mammal and machine coexist,
but which has the greater potential?
We cannot compete
with silicon speed,
yet the hardware brain
has no heart,
and no intuition.
Our thought processes
are slow,
yet adaptable to any condition.
Our memories have little recollection,
yet we have a divine connection.

But more, more than all the above,
we have the ability
to love.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Universal Beliefs / ᎢᎬᏩᎾᏓᎴᎩ ᎤᏬᎯᏳᏒᏗ

My religion is the oldest in the world.
I believe those things
that humans have always believed.
The elements of my religion
were said by Aquinas
to be a proof of
the existence
of God.

I have no need
for another creed.


ᎠᏆ ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᎦᏴᎵᎨᏍᏙᏗ
ᎡᏆ-ᎡᎶᎯ ᎾᎿ.
ᎠᏯ ᎤᏬᎯᏳᎭᏎ Ꮎ ᏴᏫ
ᏂᎪᎯᎸᎢ ᎤᏬᎯᏳᎯᏎ.
ᏑᏓᎴᎩᏗ ᎠᏆ ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗ
ᎨᏒᎢᏎ ᎯᏁᎩᏔ ᎠᏈᎾ* ᏗᎬᏩᎶᏒ
ᎨᏒᎢ ᎪᎯᏳᏙᏗ ᎬᏂᎨᏒ-ᏄᏍᏛᎢ
ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.

ᎠᏯ Ꮭ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ
ᏐᎢ ᏗᏁᎸᏙᏗᏁ.


*ᏗᎦᏃᏣᎵ ᎠᏍᎦᏯ Ꮎ ᎠᎦᏎᏍᏙᏗᏎ ᎠᎴ ᎪᏪᎶᏗᏎ ᎡᏆ-ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎠᏂᏰᎸᏍᎬ.

Text © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

This Body Is the Carrier / ᎯᎠ ᎠᏰᎸ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏫᏗᏍᎩ

This body is the carrier of the seed,
and the vehicle of spirit.
It is what it is,
and is not to be hidden
or denied.

If we shall have salvation,
it will come from us,
in these bodies.


ᎯᎠ ᎠᏰᎸ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ ᎠᏫᏗᏍᎩ ᎤᎦᏔ ᎥᎿᎢ,
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏦᏚᏗ ᎠᏓᏅᏙ ᎥᎿᎢ.
ᎨᏒᎠᏎ Ꮎ ᎨᏒᎠᏎ,
ᎠᎴ Ꮭ ᎠᏎᎤᏎ ᎨᏒᎢ ᎠᏗᏍᎦᎶᏗᏔ
ᎠᎴ ᎠᏓᏯᏍᏗᏔ.

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᎰᏎ ᎥᏓᏍᏕᎸᏗᏁ,
ᏅᎶᏎ ᎢᏧᎸ ᏂᏛᎴᏅᏓ,
ᎾᏍᎩ-ᎯᎠ ᎠᏰᎸᏗ ᎭᏫᎾ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

Naked Wisdom 64

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎤᏃᎴ ᏅᎶᏎ, ᏥᏍᏆᏗ ᎧᏃᎮᏓᏎ ᏏᏴᏫ-ᏐᎢ.
ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᎭᏛᏓᏍᏓᏎ, ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎧᏃᎮᏙᏎ ᎾᏍᏋ ᏂᎯ ᏗᏜ.

If a storm is coming, the birds tell each other.
If you listen, they will also tell you.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.

ᎤᏰᎸᎭ ᎠᎦᏙᎲᏍᏗ 64

ᎢᏳᏃ ᎤᏃᎴ ᏅᎶᏎ, ᏥᏍᏆᏗ ᎧᏃᎮᏓᏎ ᏏᏴᏫ-ᏐᎢ.
ᎢᏳᏃ ᏂᎯ ᎭᏛᏓᏍᏓᏎ, ᎾᏍᎩᏛ ᎧᏃᎮᏙᏎ ᎾᏍᏋ ᏂᎯ ᏗᏜ.

We Don't Need Names for Each Other / ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᏚᏙᎥᏗᏁ

We don't need names for each other;
we only need our essences.

ᎢᏧᎳ Ꮭ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᏚᏙᎥᏗᏁ ᏏᏴᏫ-ᏐᎢ ᎾᏍᎩᎭᎢ;
ᎢᏧᎳ ᎤᏩᏌ ᎤᏚᎳᏓᏎ ᎠᏆᏤᎵ ᎤᎵᏍᎨᏙᏗᏁ.

Text and image © 2019 by Donald C. Traxler.