WELCOME


WELCOME TO THE
COTTON-ARBO RETUM;
PLEASE DO STEP INSIDE.
HERE YOU’LL FIND
A PEACEFUL RESPITE
AND A FEAST
FOR WEARY EYES.


WEARY FROM A WORLD
THAT’S BECOME
PLENTIFUL WITH NEON SIGNS,
BLARING OUT
WHEREVER YOU GO,
UP AHEAD AND
FROM BEHIND.


NOW, THE CHAOS OF
A CROWDED GARDEN,
OVERWHELMING SEEMS TO BE,
BUT ONCE YOU
CENTER YOUR ATTENTION,
FOCUS ON THE
TRUE BEAUTY,


OF A TREE’S
BRIGHT LEAVES OR FLOWERS,
OF A WATER FALL’S
GREAT POWER,
SOON YOU’LL FIND
YOUR VISION SHIFTING,
AS THE MINUTES
ROLL TO HOURS.


AND TO UNWIND YOU BEGIN,
LIKE PLUMING GRASSES
IN THE WIND,
AS A BREEZE
CAN COMFORT YOU
AND HELP YOU SEE
THE WORLD ANEW.


THE WAR WITH LIFE’S
RESOUNDING DIN
CAN SOUND LIKE
RAINING ROCKS ON TIN.
THIS BATTLE
WE HOPE YOU WILL WIN;
SO TAKE THE FIRST STEP,
PLEASE COME IN.

– Mindy Arbo 9/12/05