Charlie Bee

“The Buddha taught that all life is suffering. We might also say that life, being both attractive and constantly dangerous, is intoxicating and ultimately toxic. 'Toxic' comes from toxicon, Pendell tells us, with a root meaning of 'a poisoned arrow.' All organic life is struck by the arrows of real and psychic poisons. This is understood by any true, that is to say, not self-deluding, spiritual path.”
― Gary Snyder, Pharmako/Poeia: Plant Powers, Poisons, and Herbcraft

“As a poet I hold the most archaic values on earth . . . the fertility of the soil, the magic of animals, the power-vision in solitude, the terrifying initiation and rebirth, the love and ecstasy of the dance, the common work of the tribe. I try to hold both history and the wilderness in mind, that my poems may approach the true measure of things and stand against the unbalance and ignorance of our times.”
― Gary Snyder

“You must realize that these are abnormal times and there's no way that any of us can keep ourselves pure”
― Gary Snyder, The Real Work: Interviews and Talks, 1964-1979

“stay together
learn the flowers
go light”
― Gary Snyder