My hand dips in the Autumn stream—

My hand dips in
the Autumn stream—
    cold calor—
    viscosity of whispers—
    scintillating macules over
    a thin slide of smooth stones

Under these
pines of gold
and green— further
up the hill, I see her
walking the path
to the mountain— I rise
to follow

and let my fingers dry
by the wind of the woods—
    velocity of lines—
    anatomy of angles—
    evaporating atoms escape
    the epidermal

Along rocky
peaks— I step behind
her— crunching
leaves— cracking red
touching bark—
black and wet— and
I follow

A hand held still—
    in contemplation—
    forgets direction
    and the science of the flow—
but senses the relief—
    the impression of a hole—
    and the Godly current in
    the serous soul

1. Hiking the White Mountains in New Hampshire was great when we sought foliage
2. In medical school we studied from Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination to learn how to describe physical findings
3. The American Academy of Dermatology has a fantastic resource for medical students and general physicians: Basic Derm Curriculum
4. One of my favorite slides from histology class: elastic cartilage from external ear with elastin stain
5. “Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray” (Luke 9: 28-36)
6. “”the way is hard that leads to life”” (Matthew 7:13-14)
7. “Be still” (Psalm 46: 10)
8. “Indeed, the ancient saying: “Bend and you will remain whole” is no idle word. Nay, if you have really attained wholeness, everything will flock to you.” (Chapter 22 from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu; translated by John C. H. Wu)
9. “The highest form of goodness is like water. Water knows how to benefit all things without striving with them. It stays in places loathed by all men. Therefore, it comes near the Tao.” (Chapter 8 from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu; translated by John C. H. Wu)
10. “we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14)