
Now we have passed through the Holiday throng
And approach Christmas Day, let it be with a song,
For the spirit of joy and good will all around
Filters through to our hearts; and there may it abound.
May this be our fortune: Let not a tear
Dim the outlook for peace in the coming year.
And as we go forward, together we'll go
Finding happiness there--still a girl and her beau.
A verse like this is sure to be mottled
But the spirit thereof, though it should not be bottled,
May be expressed in a symbol and the very next line
Will show that to be just a bottle of wine.
Should you be curious to look at the label
You'd better not wait 'till we're all at the table
But quickly unpack it like an impetuous flapper,
Paying strict attention to the inside wrapper.
Elmer Riggins, 1937
The "inside wrapper" for the bottle of wine was a special sheet of
wrap carefully
fashioned from $10 bills.

International Association of Self-Proclaimed Artists and Writers offers a tranquil space for Creative Souls to share their work to foster global harmony through the arts. www.iaspaw.org

This quote, attributed to a Zen poet captures the essence of my artistic pursuits:
"A person who is a master in the art of living makes little distinction between their work and their play, their labour and their leisure, their mind and their body, their education and their recreation, their love and their religion. They hardly know which is which and simply pursue their vision of excellence and grace, whatever they do, leaving others to decide whether they are working or playing. To them they are always doing both."
IASPAW is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to better promote creative expression and understanding across cultures.

For those who enjoyed the introduction and music from the original website, this is for you. Please read more about the generousity of the Washington Symphonic Brass and its rendition Karitas Habundat in Omnia (Charity abounds toward all) here. Enjoy!
French translation
"Si quelqu'un est maitre dans l'art de vivre, il fait peu de distinction entre son travail et ses loisirs, son esprit et son corps, son éducation et ses distractions, son amour et sa religion. Il fait lui-meme a peine la différence entre l'un et l'autre et poursuit simplement sa vision de l'excellence et de la grace, quoiqu'il fasse, laissant aux autres le soin de decider s'il travaille ou s'il s'amuse. A leurs yeux, il fait toujours les deux a la fois."
"一个精通生活艺术的大师,往往不会刻意去区分工作和玩耍,劳动和休闲,精神和肉体,学习和娱乐,爱和宗教信仰的不同。他们几乎不知道孰是孰,而只是在简单地追求着他们眼中的卓越与优雅。是工作还是娱乐,都留给他人去评说。而对他们自己来讲,工作即是娱乐,娱乐即是工作。"
首届IASPAW画展将于2016年1月24日举行。诚恳欢迎大家通过下面的链接加入我们的组织,与我们一起为世界和平而努力。
曾淑心
Spanish translation:
"Un Maestro en el Arte de Vivir hace poca diferencia entre su trabajo y su juego, su labor
y su diversión, su mente y su cuerpo, la educación y el recreo, el amor y la religión. El Maestro apenas conoce la diferencia entre una y otra cosa, simplemente persigue su visión de la excelencia y la gracia en todo lo que hace, dejando a los demás decidir si está trabajando o jugando. El Maestro siempre siente que está haciendo ambas cosas."