how_to_be_a_swinger_of_birches the swinger of birches "To swing birches is to seize the day. It is to live life to its complete fullness. It is to wonder and look at things as though you are looking at them for the first time. It is the ability to detach and live only in the moment where happiness is at its fleeting height. It is the dance of the double helix and the misfortune of those short of time. Nonetheless, swinging birches takes practice. You cannot simply expect to climb the obstacles in your life with ease and turn them into sport or game. For gravity is the one things that threatens the existence of boys who swing birches. Sometimes life has the greater force, and you fall down to the earth. Sometimes your knees are scraped, and others your arms are broken. Either way, what is important is that you remain determined to climb and swing again. In my life I have been and done many things. I have been homeless, and yet had a home. I have been alone, and yet had a family. I have seen days when there was no sun. I have seen nights when there were no stars. I have fallen in love. I have been heart broken. I have embarrassed myself. I have been arrogant and selfish. I am only human. I have been a brown cardigan boy. I have been an artnerd. I watch. I wait. I listen. I believe. And again i can love. It has taken time to do all these things. Some question why it is necessary to undergo the heartache of experience when guidance has been offered in prevention to the unneccessary. I say to those in question, my curiousity needed satisfaction. I swing birches and make them bend to left and right. It is I, not ice storms. My life has been a pathless wood. I have been weary of considerations. Yet I have found myself through it all. I needed all that I have done...I would not be the person I am without those things. Perhaps if they had never been, I would not be a swinger of briches." from the essay, "How I Became a Swinger of Birches" by d. mansyur 030107 ... jinx deja vu 030107 ... frAnk fascinating. 030107 ... bespeckled A girl stares up at white, fleshy branches. She tosses off her hat, her sweater, and her shoes. And she grasps hold of life and swings with her toes pointing toward the sky. 030208 ... pilgrim Odd, I Always pictured some Nordic Ritual, Involving A Sauna, some Snow and Naked Flesh. Just Me I Suppose. 030209 ... egger . 031223 what's it to you? who go blather from