The Summer Day

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean -
The one who has flung herself outa the grass
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand
the one who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down -
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed,
how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at laser, And too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?

Sent from my iPad
Mary Oliver

I had breakfast in the albergue before heading off for a 28 km walk to Carrion de Los Condes. The entire 28 km was flat and an easy walk, but I'm guessing by 10am it was in the mid 20's and by midday in the mid 30's. a day when the need to carry lots of water was a necessary evil. i was glad of my camel bag in my backpack. The first 6 km of the walk was along a man made canal. Close to the banks of the canal were swamps with lots of reeds. The noise of frogs was unbelievably loud and a delight to listen to. This coupled with the grasshopper from the nearby wheat fields and the many birds made for a delightful early morning walk. By the time we had reached Villacazar De Sirga it was time for a well deserved break and some lunch. I rested up for about an hour before finishing the last 6 km of the day. I booked into a convent albergue which is very big, spacious and clean. Some how I think I have ended up in the female dormitory for the night. I am the only man and about 15 women in the dormitory. I guess blessed are I among women. This is a nice little town and after doing some shopping it's time for walkabout and find somewhere for dinner.

"If we could read the secret history of our enemies,we should find in each person's life - sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility"
Longfellow

"I can walk alone beside you"

ASH

Buen Camino