Long Walks and Intimate Talks: Stories, Poems and Paintings

A book to read and savour and to dip into again and again and for sure to pass along to fellow travelers working for peace and justice. The poems are simple and powerful and often stark and unblinking. Paley's head on wide opened look at war and poverty and sorrow is softened with the gift of beautiful paintings by Vera Williams. "For George" (or in my case, my dad) "What was left before crumbling was sweetness in the maple leaf in our friend George a brilliant attentive sweetness in the wild red maple leaf before winter in our friend George Dennison before death" "People in My Family" "In my family people who are 82 are very different from people who are 92 The 82-year old people grew up The year was 1914 This is what they knew World War 1 War World War War That's why when they speak to the grandchild they say poor little one The 92-year old people grew up The year was 1905 They went to prison They went into exile They said ah soon That's why when they speak to the grandchild they say first there will be revolution then there will be revolution then once more then the earth itself will turn and turn and cry out Oh I have been made sick then you my little bud will flower and save it."