We are otters of the evening

Thank you Stella, you are such a brilliant wordsmith yourself, it's an honour to be acknowledged in such a warm way by you, though I do think (i've mentioned before I know), there are ways we feel the world that are akin, you & I... I recognise myself so deeply in your poems... then again that may be that you are such a great poet that all of us find ourselves written into your descriptions?! Ah, but it is somehow so apeasing when someone picks a line you feel so deeply & at so many levels, & says this line particularly moved them... It is topical currently since a few poems have seemed to have mentioned the concept of "knowing" or at least reminded me of it's import... & again, I am sure I have mentioned it to you before... there is a comfort when anothert human seems to know something deep & hidden within you, you felt you might never share or find comfort there... In a way, that's partly what this work is about too ironically. Ah, I waffle, sorry... thank you for knowing, for seeing, for being such a wonderful writer & for exposing that here so courageously, loved your last, it was painful but so impoertant, beautiful tragedy & regret I guess. Take care wonderful Stella & write lots, I love it so much. Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

Hello Gee, have missed you, thanks dear one for your ever encouraging words. Don't know about the water here, there isn't enough of it these days might be the problem, makes us apreciate things a lot more maybe... I suspect there are just a lot of good writers everywhere, you were just never exposed to many from here before... Ohh Otters, I've loved them so much for years, I am very pleased to discover my scientist is an otter (since I certainly am)... there's not a lot of difference between gliding in the sky or in the ocean, except you really can just gide & float in the ocean, whereas in the sky it's just imaginary... I used to dive with passion, Marks plane crashed into the ocean, it was one of the places I could be with him, since they never recovered his body, said it was too deep. It was probably an unhealthy obsession, but nobody really new, & it became a love in it's own right very quickly of course... Nothing like it... it really is like flying without a plane & so peaceful, so I am a sky baby AND a water baby in truth, I've been called a siren & a mermaid on many many occassions for different reasons, I feel there is truth in it somewhere. Have you ever seen otters interacting?, divinely intimate & affectionate & full of fun & mischief... My ideal really, they mate for life & show a great deal of tenderness & committment... Was a lovely surprise to meet that in another, especially one so cerebral & practical... fantastic combination... Maybe this is my 3rd time lucky scenario, like yours... Feels pretty overwhelmingly well matched & the dents from my last exploration are not so bruised & serve to show up what was really missing & what is (in this instance) fully present. Feel like I hit home finally, don't have to stretch myself out of shape & have my heart ache & ache to meet the Avalon I crave. I thought I had that before, but was only really offered it for such a brief time, then it was withdrawn, I should have taken the time to really look before I leapt. This is different, all the cards are fully exposed & that is so precious & such a relief in comparison, it means we CAN be fully known & know the other, nothing hidden, in secrets or shame or regrets... & there are some major historical tragedies in both our lives (spookily similar in a way), so much easier to handle when they are able to be explored & expressed. Goodness me, for some reason I find it's always you I spill so abundantly to dear Gee... hope that doesn't worry you! I do hope the others you refer to are going ok.. yes it would be so nice to share some of this joy around... I had a crappy start to life, but managed to work out long ago how to really gather & spread joy, I feel I have more than enough to spare & often wish you could just parcel it up & send in "brown paper packages tied up with string" across the country or the world... or even across the table sometimes! Hearts are such beautiful, delicate things, they require such care & attention... mine can get me into such terrible pain, but I love it for it's courage & it's resilliance & generosity... yay for getting older too I reckon! Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

EEE Geee, was certain I had responded to this, I must have been sleep deprived as I am yet again & not pressed the right box, preview then confirm or whatever... done that twice before, frustrating. Anyway now I am so tired I can barely think... but want to say thanks & you are most welcome as always to fly in my sky, which belongs to all of us of course. Mine has been particularly happy of late, there is a duality of sadness as when grief is present any wonder & beauty that is present also draws the mind & heart to one who is lost & no onger present, it is a challenge but I so comepletely understand it having been there & I bever had a caring soul who had such understanding & empathy when I lived through it freshly... Anyway, there has been an abundance of joy all round despite other things, so thanks for your good wishes & I send it back out into the world at any oportunity, it works best that way, hope some reaches you or anyone else who'd like some. Ahh it is a relief to be back here, this is "home" for me this state of joy really, the difficulty earlier this year was an awful aberration, I am so glad to have it fade. I'll be away a few days again - looking after a friend after an op & another otter visit which will be nice. Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."

Jolly good, cockles should be toasty. What a funny saying huh, makes me chuckle... best wishes Arduinna... loving your work. Anni "Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about ideas, language, and even the phrase, "each other" doesn't make any sense."