The Good Life Center - "The Best We're Doing"

Poems by Bill Coperthwaite

Photos by Peter Forbes

Perfection

To seek to be to another
As sunlight and water
To a flower
As humus and air
Asking no returns
Making no demands
Encouraging no direction
Asking only the privilege
Of helping it to blossom.

Simple Living

A tough, spartan, gritty life
of sacrifice struggle and toil?
No! Not at all!

This myth is promoted by
The ignorant and inept.

Work, patience and purpose—yes!
Spiced with wonder, beauty, and delight

The Good Life

We must find a definition for
The good life
That is possible for all people

Do I hanker for a special car? Can all have one?
Do seek to work less? Can all live so?
Do I seek to do my share—as well as having my share?

Are my dreams and goals in harmony with a good life for all?

Creative Simplicity

Borrow from cultures old and new
And with our imaginations
Blend those borrowings
To create new ways to live
That are simpler, gentler
More generous and beautiful.

Bill Coperthwaite, founder of The Yurt Foundation, lives in a yurt on the coast of Maine. His book, A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity, is available from Chelsea Green Publishers.

Peter Forbes is a long-time leader in the American land conservation movement, both through his work with the Trust for Public Land and his talks, writings, and photography.

Table of Contents | The Good Life Center | Contact The Best We're Doing

The Best We're Doing : A Journal of The Good Life Center
Vol. 1 No.1 October 2005
Table of Contents GLC Home	Poems by Bill Coperthwaite Photos by Peter Forbes Perfection To seek to be to another As sunlight and water To a flower As humus and air Asking no returns Making no demands Encouraging no direction Asking only the privilege Of helping it to blossom. Simple Living A tough, spartan, gritty life of sacrifice struggle and toil? No! Not at all! This myth is promoted by The ignorant and inept. Work, patience and purpose—yes! Spiced with wonder, beauty, and delight The Good Life We must find a definition for The good life That is possible for all people Do I hanker for a special car? Can all have one? Do seek to work less? Can all live so? Do I seek to do my share—as well as having my share? Are my dreams and goals in harmony with a good life for all? Creative Simplicity Borrow from cultures old and new And with our imaginations Blend those borrowings To create new ways to live That are simpler, gentler More generous and beautiful. Bill Coperthwaite, founder of The Yurt Foundation, lives in a yurt on the coast of Maine. His book, A Handmade Life: In Search of Simplicity, is available from Chelsea Green Publishers. Peter Forbes is a long-time leader in the American land conservation movement, both through his work with the Trust for Public Land and his talks, writings, and photography. Table of Contents \| The Good Life Center \| Contact The Best We're Doing All material copyright The Good Life Center.