Raphael (1483-1520) Self-Portrait (1506) Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Rembrandt (1606-1669) Self-Portrait (1659) National Gallery of Art

Renoir (1841-1919) Self-Portrait (1899) Clark Art Institute, MA

Letter R: Raphael, Rembrandt, Renoir Recall their paintings refreshing my mind— School of Athens & Mount Parnassus. The Philosopher & The Polish Rider, In the Meadows & Dance at Bougival. The 3 R's— Reading, 'Riting, 'Rithmetic— Read Jean Christophe by Romain Rolland and poems by Rimbaud, Rilke, and Rumi— Real Self is beyond waking, dream, and sleep. Ramanujan is wizard in math, Ramana is wise sage of reality, Ramakrishna in trance state readily, Rinzai wakes up all with a Zen shout! Little Richard sang Rock 'n Roll songs, Respighi composed "Pines of Rome", Ravel's Bolero rhythm repeated returns, Rossini's William Tell used in Lone Ranger. Red Ruffing, Robn Roberts were starters, Rollie Fingers an ace pitcher in relief— Bill Russell & Jerry Rice are "GOAT"s, Raiders & Redskins won six Super Bowls. Rudolph the red-nose reindeer is ready, Roy Rogers' horse Trigger is running— Rabbit, ram, rooster at Rancho's farm with robin redbreast rejoicing Spring. She offered me ride in her Rolls Royce instead of railroad train to Richmond's Rosicrucian Museum's Rose Garden and their rare radiant royal rubies. Reason the river is lord over mountain streams is it remains below them— thus ruthless rulers reigning on top will be removed by riot and revolt. When born, Tibetan monks recall past lives, When dying, some ascend to rainbow light. Remembered dream: sage revealed to me— "Refine your mind with rectitude." Relax at the Russian Ridge retreat— Roar like a lion, soar like redwoods, renounce the rat-race for rustic life, relish the sprinkles of summer rain.         — Peter Y. Chou             Mountain View, 9-27-2020