Long Walks and Intimate Talks: Stories, Poems and Paintings (Women & Peace)

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."