a mark

I learned many lessons this weekend. They are complex and I am just starting to try and wrap my mind around them. Of all the degrees I took upon myself the Mark Mason has thus far impressed me most.

I have a mark and have long held it. any who have a piece of art signed by me can find it if they look for it. But I had not looked upon a Craftsman's mark as a lesson until now.

This is how I have made sense of this lesson to this point.

What is in a Mark?

A Mark is made any time a pen touches paper,
A Mark is made any time a foot touches dirt.
A Mark is made any time a beast claws stone
A Mark is made any time a gull touches sand.

A Mark is then gone

When the paper is cast into the fire.
When the rain washes the dirt
When the Wind scours the stone
When the wave meets the sand.

The Mark is Forgotten

The Mark is not but ash
The Mark is not but mud
The Mark is not but passing
The Mark is not but sand

How does a Mark hold Fast?

The Mark must be known well
The Mark must be struck well
The Mark must be worthy
The Mark must be well earned.

A Mark then is lasting.

It must not default before rage
It must not fail to memory
It Must Not Be given lightly
It must not be free as sand

A Mark then is lasting

When Written it is a Bond
When Held it is Faith
When engraved it is Enduring
When True it is Eternal