Awakened by the Challenge Space – To assess the dreams of life. The space between art and audience. Between art and self. The last gap between the sea ahead and shore – Through and into Paradise or Hell. Man is a ship sewing its own sails - Finding the wind in search of home. Alive in the course! Balanced and sleek through all matter - Conscious of the rules of seamanship and salesmanship. Doing the work - Feeling the Sun and knowing the Stars. There is a beauty in learning the ropes - Tying and untying necessary and unnecessary knots. Those moments the hull lifts above the water With frictionless ease Only to face the waves, the currents, the storms. Then look at the sailor’s hands – Ropy and knotted, themselves. Tools worn of the work done and still to be done - Beneath the bluest heaven and the whitest clouds. For it’s not the destination after all – But the journey and the ride That make a man a sailor Beneath all kind of skies. —Alan Adler / 3-24-23