We stand at the source, the plane tree and I. Our images reflect off the river. The water-dazzle lights up the plane tree and me.

We stand at the source, the plane tree, me, and the cat. Our images reflect off the river. The water-dazzle lights up the plane tree, me, and the cat.

We stand at the source, the plane tree, me, the cat, and the sun. Our images reflect off the river. The water-dazzle lights up the plane tree, me, the cat, and the sun.

We stand at the source, the plane tree, me, the cat, the sun, and our lives. Our images reflect off the river. The water-dazzle lights up the plane tree, me, the cat, the sun, and our lives.

We stand at the source. The cat will be the first to go, its image in the water will dissolve. Then I will go, my image in the water will dissolve. Then the plane tree will go, its image in the water will dissolve. Then the river will go, the sun alone remaining, and then it, too, will go.

Twenty-first. Night. Monday. Silhouette of the capitol in darkness. Some good-for-nothing -- who knows why -- made up the tale that love exists on earth.

People believe it, maybe from laziness or boredom, and live accordingly: they wait eagerly for meetings, fear parting, and when they sing, they sing about love.

But the secret reveals itself to some, and on them silence settles down... I found this out by accident and now it seems I'm sick all the time.

for my daughter

Here, I leave you. There are tins of water enough to keep you for a little while, dried meat and biscuits by the pantry door. Usually, the mice stay pretty quiet.

The view's not bad. Those are my favorite hills, covered with pines. On a clear April day you can see small paths among the boulders, maybe an eagle if you're looking hard.

Try to remember that the telephone is only for emergencies—may they be few. Keep the doorsill swept. You can never tell who will come riding up from the valley.

These are my books, a motley varied lot, some too much read, some not much read at all. If you want, replace them with your own, or use the shelves for toys and flower vases.

You're going to be on your own—sometimes for months on end. I've found it helps to whistle frequently or make out lists of foods you love and states you've traveled in.

The pump is just outside. The clothesline holds two weeks of laundry if you're planning things. Fasten garbage lids on tight. Little devils come from the woods to forage every night.

I hope you like the sound of mountain streams, by my count three. But I suspect a fourth is somewhere out there. Every spring I think I hear it flowing through the dark.

You might listen for it, too. But now I've said enough, it's yours. And don't forget I've left you butter in the blue and silver dish and stubs and stalks of candles you may light.