In What We Trust (Final)

[Mark A Becker]

"earthiness" is weak to my read, could be improved. Maybe even by just changing it to "earth" 
OK. "earthiness" is a bit too schmaltzy, and I think I have an idea of how to go with just "earth"

Old oaks stretched
moonlit limbs into a clearing  limbs stretched into a clearing - can't really picture this myself.
Yeah, it is a bit of a strectch.  When I try to visualize it all these years later, I think that "poke" is sparser, and a closer depiction of the actual scene.

His gentle orange eyes reflected
the rising moon with an awareness i like this - it may be stronger if you move "orange" to follow "moon".
Not sure if I wanna make the change away from "gentle orange eyes" as it one of my favorite memories of ole Bucky. I also may likely mess it up if I tried to make that revision.

saw mighty Jupiter
wooing the lonely Autumn Star. this is nice - i think you could cut "saw" though.
I agree, and I'll saw off "saw"


I asked out loud, “if I’m really created
in Your image, then what about Buck?
In whose image was he created?"
How is it that this simple animal
seems so finely attuned to something
that I have only half-hearted faith in? I like the ideas, but there may be too many similar rhetorical questions in one burst.
Thanks. I think I can fix that rather easily.

I enjoyed reading this, Mark.

I very much enjoyed, and appreciate the constructive feedback, Wj. I believe you've made some valid points. 

Thanks!
Mark