My Father's Day Surprise and "Valedictorian Speech"

This is a letter I wrote to our poet, for both Father's Day, and as my "Valedictorian Speech".  I thought you all might like to hear it!

 * I attached a copy of his poem "Square Wheel" at the end.

To Dad, for Father's Day and Graduation....

During my life, so far, you've helped me to extract a sensitivity to poetry; a comprehensive philosophy of ethics along with an idea of how I want to influence this world; and my individuality!  You did it partially from homeschooling me and partially from your writings and spiritual teachings... but most of all, you helped me through your unforgettably courageous and awe-inspiring example in life!!!  Thank you so, so much for all of this!  I am so privileged to be going out into the world with these things!


I get to start out with a poem; to go into my adult life with the wisdom of 'Square Wheel', and also, January: in the House of Nods!  You wrote this book for fun!  Nothing serious!  Yet with limitless and meaningful spirituality!!!  That's what I want to do with my life!  That's the ultimate goal of existence!  And you did it (and are also still doing it, of course)! ~ both through your books and your life.  Thank you for sharing that with the world and thank you for sharing it with me.

'Square Wheel' really illustrates it in a nutshell: the limitless ideas that a life can hold (like states of being, things we dream in our sleep, visions, concepts, realizations...) ~ ideas that can't be organized into a physical life!!!  But they are what life really is.  They are what we live for.


I know that only how we feel matters and that we really know all we need to know; we just haven't put it all together yet.

I learned from you, as we were walking one night, that our lives really do progress through our thoughts and that our accomplishments in life ~ even our influences on the world ~ are also, really, achieved through our thoughts.  I'll remember that.

You made me see how fluid these thoughts are: so fluid that we don't realize how we change.  But if we look it over, we'll see how they all built on each other and brought us to this place where we now feel we always were.

And you said that every thought ripples out around us, out to others.  You really opened my eyes to just how much influence each and every person must have on... not just the world, but ALL-THAT-IS, in this way!!!

Thank you so much for showing me these things!  It is such a gift to be able to live the rest of my life with this foundation!  Thank you!!!


You have shown me what a beautiful journey it can be to live your life as a part of the process of bringing out Earth's natural harmony and magnificence!  You have shown me, through this life, how I can 'go out on a ledge', like you, because we are all a part of something greater than ourselves!

Because of this, I am already content in my expectations for the rest of my life (and in my life, so far, of course)!  It is also because of your enlightenment of the extraordinary (the spiritual), such as

• your sensitivity to a natural caring for others;
• a pure sense of virtue; applying it simply because you can feel it in yourself!;
• and your sense of fun! and imagination! and openness to intellectual and spiritual realms!

I am content in the substance of life because of this; content that this life will have been worth living as long as I am having fun and doing my best to live up to my ideals in this world; content that every other human being is also FULL at his core and capable of transcendent grace, and so, also has my deepest respect and admiration on that level.  I have this view of human nature because YOU have SHOWN it to me!!!


It's because you raised me with so much wisdom, sharing with me your thoughts and desires; your poetry and your visions; your care and attention; your time and your life with me ~ it's because you've given me a home ~ that I feel... safe... going out into this world on my own.  Safe, and inspired!  Because of you, I am also ready to have a fun life!  Ready, with gratitude, reverence, and an open heart.


I wanted you to know what an extraordinary influence you've had on me and on my life.  I will always be grateful to you for that.

~ with all my love ~ your daughter, Sarah

Square Wheel

It doesn't really matter how many hours are assigned 

To a given day;

Any jobber can make a clock stand still, or move at will;

And time is relative to its romance.

The length of a day is relative to its guiding Moon:

No inspiration ever came from a calendar.

(Mine still reads nineteen-eighty-two!

I only keep it for its picture.)

Some days come at noon and leave me twenty years younger.

Some still hang around at 3 a.m.

Until I give 'em up for dead

And try to lose them;

Turn a corner in my head

To confuse them.

And I never keep a clock beside the bed:

I like to pick the numbers of my choosing.

It makes me feel like I'm chipping away

At a square wheel.

~January: in the House of Nods