May 7, 2013

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Someone Digging in the Ground 
 by Jalaluddin Rumi

An eye is meant to see things.
The soul is here for its own joy.
A head has one use: For loving a true love.
Legs: To run after.

 Love is for vanishing into the sky. The mind,
for learning what men have done and tried to do.
Mysteries are not to be solved. The eye goes blind
when it only wants to see why.

 A lover is always accused of something.
But when he finds his love, whatever was lost
in the looking comes back completely changed.
On the way to Mecca, many dangers: Thieves,
the blowing sand, only camel's milk to drink.
Still, each pilgrim kisses the black stone there
with pure longing, feeling in the surface
the taste of the lips he wants.

 This talk is like stamping new coins. They pile up, 
while the real work is done outside
by someone digging in the ground.

Ken King, founder of Frog Holler Farm, made his transition four years ago today. It was a beautiful bloom-filled day on May, just like today. Ken was a musician, scholar, student of world religions, father, husband and farmer, not necessarily in that order. Rumi was one of his favorite poets. And despite his numerous projects and accomplishments, he knew the real work is done outside and that's where he went, happy to be just 'someone digging in the ground.'

The farm goes on, thanks to his digging.
Ken King, Fall 2008

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