Scent of Light

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Scent of Light

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Scent of Light Episode

by Ken Norton

Mentoring

Broadcast June 24, 2018

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The audio file above is the spoken word recording without background music provided to Radio KOWS 92.5 FM broadcast of the Scent of Light episode for insert into the Radio Spotlight Magazine with host Andre' Marc.

 

Transcript

This is Ken Norton. On this 5-minute segment of Discernment I will share my thoughts on how mentoring was valuable in my life. My mentor William Hermanns, who was born in Koblenz, Germany in 1895 and died in San Jose, California in 1990 with me at his side, lamented the early loss of the guidance of his father Michael Hermanns when he was only 10 years old and felt that he sought to replace this fatherly guidance through the Kaiser's German State and its army that would order him as a volunteer to Verdun to witness the slaughter there in 1916. Along the way he discovered his conscience, the true guidance which that of his father could only faintly approach, but which he discovered within while enduring the hell of war. This poem is his translation of his German poem Vater that he wrote at the grave of his father in Koblenz in my presence in August 1976. Over 50 years my elder and German cultured not American, yet I am sure the poem's lessons can be recognized by those today who have similarly sought this guidance out.

Father

                          by William Hermanns (1895-1990)

You are no more: My life fills emptiness.
The nation comes and speaks: "My faithful son,
don't mourn, I'll glorify you, take up arms.
My General is your father from now on.

I learned to hate, to hate my unknown brother.
Were we not both born in a mother's womb
of love and labor? But my sword changed values.
At Verdun a million found their tomb.

Woe, who like me stands at a father's grave,
dust steals his watchful eye, his helpful hand.
Woe, whose young ears like mine are then exposed
to malehood trumpets of the marching band!

Is there still innocence, the State will rape it.
Woe, who like me, believing undefiled,
is listening to the Siren call of glory!
Is there no Angel to protect the child?

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I was born and raised in Los Angeles County. My Dad Donald Norton was born in Los Angeles in 1924 and died one of its suburbs in 2016 with my Mom at his side in the house in which I with my seven younger siblings was raised. I am grateful that he lived so long for me to work out our differences, not to the point of conversion but acceptance that we had other perspectives and desires.
My mentor came into my life, as I, a 22 year-old student at San Jose State, sought guidance during the Vietnam War, a guidance that countered that of my Dad, still believing in the Law and Order promised after the USA was victorious in WWII and embodied in Richard Nixon as President. This old patriotic belief prevented my Dad from knowing those realms of conscience questioning patriotism, at least he never expressed doubt about it to me. I am glad that mentoring is an opportunity for people like me to expand their consciousness from the limitations and stereotyping that come with family upbringing.

My mentor Dr. William Hermanns, a retired professor, was that angel that helped protect that soul child that was me seeking the way. From my childhood I was encouraged to believe in a Jesus who said "Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find." I honor my Dad for encouraging me to search, even though what I found was difficult for him to understand. And I honor my Mentor for expanding this search and application in my life. I was even given the opportunity to assist him for some years in publishing his book Einstein and the Poet - In Search of the Cosmic Man, which is available to purchase on the website that I put up in his honor at www.williamhermanns.com, where also this poem Father and more of his poetry and essays are archived, and through which you can contact me. This is Ken Norton with 5-minutes of Discernment. Thanks for listening.

 

                About the Author and Producer

Ken Norton earned his master's degree in Materials Science from Stanford University as the Vietnam War was ending. During that time Ken served as the personal assistant to a poet/sociologist Dr. William Hermanns as he prepared his writings for publication, exposing Ken to not only the sciences but also the humanities and comparative religion for making conscious and conscionable choices.

Ken is a regular contributor to Radio Spotlight Magazine with his episodes on the Scent of Light. Ken lives in Santa Rosa with his life partner Elaine and their little dog Rosey.

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Reference Link:

                                    

Father by William Hermanns is on the web archives of the William Hermanns Trust at http://www.williamhermanns.com/Poem/P359.html

                                                             

Ken in Tai Chi Chuan - 2018 Photo by Elaine B. Holtz

Ken Norton in practice of Tai Chi Chuan

 2018 Photo by Elaine B. Holtz

 

 

Women's Spaces Show with Host Elaine B Holtz

I co-produce Women's Spaces Show with my loving partner and its host Elaine B. Holtz. Take a visit.  All the shows are archived on the website.

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William Hermanns - Author Poet - Life and Works website

I am the Trustee and Archivist. Visit the website I built in honor of my mentor.

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Be still and know,
We're in the flow
Of Love to grow
From seeds we sow.*

                    Kenneth E. Norton

* stanza from his poem Intuition's Joy

Ken in Tai Chi Chuan - 2018 Photo by Elaine B. Holtz

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