Have you gazed on naked grandeur
where there’s nothing else to gaze on,
Set pieces and drop-curtain scenes galore,
Have you strung your soul to silence?
Then for God’s sake go and do it;
Hear the challenge, learn the lesson, pay the cost.
Then listen to the Wild — it’s calling you.
Have you suffered, starved and triumphed,
groveled down, yet grasped at glory,
Grown bigger in the bigness of the whole?
The simple things, the true things, the silent men who do things
Then listen to the Wild — it’s calling you.
Let us probe the silent places, let us seek what luck betide us;
Let us journey to a lonely land I know.
There’s a whisper on the night-wind,
there’s a star agleam to guide us,
And the Wild is calling, calling. . .let us go.

- Robert Service

A little Friday inspiration for you. Robert Service is one of the poets I grew up with. He was one of my Grandpa Gene’s favorites, and even Mom could throw down at least most of “The Cremation of Sam McGee” at the drop of a hat. I’ll have to pull out a book of his and earmark a few for memorization this winter.

Snow has fallen in Jackson – it won’t be long before we’re dusted as well.