slivers

 

“senses sensing”

imagine
all the humans and their senses
perceiving life right now
all the ears listening, all the eyes witnessing
all the tasting, all the touching

all the senses
cast like a vast net over planet Earth
observing life

each a uniquely colored lens
filtering experiences in their own way
each a fractal, a gem, a sliver of the whole

then,
imagine more senses sensing
all the birds perceiving life
all the elephants and the Lilies of the Valley . . .

and how about grains of sand?
do they sense life in their crystalline way?
where does it all begin and end, this living net of awareness?

“a sliver of the whole”

 

FEARLESS QUESTIONING

 

“timeless ”

there are these fertile unanswered questions

like:
where did i come from before i was born
what happens when we die?
what is the meaning of life?

children still ask these questions without fear,
startling adults back into instant humility

so what then about these rich, timeless questions?
what are our current best views on them,
our own working theories?

can we live with not knowing,
yet still caring deeply
for these questions
in our own way and style
with honesty and tenderness

which may be 
the very antidote
to our loneliness

. . . let’s reconnect
to the fearless questioning of childhood
and warm our soul in contemplation,
keeping company
with these abiding questions

“let’s reconnect”

 

when all still is possible

 

“in the gap”

it is within the smallest moments that our lives are shaped
in the gap between stimuli and response
when all still is possible

a lifetime of habits overshadow
the brilliance of this moment 
and its unlimited possibilities

so i ask myself to resist
then the instant urge to do
to hold the state of “all is possible”

to pause in the quiet now
listening to the whispers of a freer state of being
until clarity of intent chimes

“until clarity chimes”

 

an invitation to remember

 

“jewels of instant quiet”

there are these rare moments in life
maybe a handful over decades
touching the deepest core

pure and strong they speak to us
in the wordless language of the Friend

jewels of instant quiet
and belonging

remember then these moments
that sustain
the thread of love 
between the Friend and you

“remember often”

 

this body of mine

 

“this body of mine”

i love this body of mine
just look at what it can do
even the gray hairs sprouting from my chin
how can i not be in wondrous amazement, in awe

this body can
walk, listen and see
heal itself and breathe for me
it is a most marvelous machine
my home and temple while here on Earth

observation and reason tells me
that this journey of living
within condensed stardust will end
that this sweet body of mine 
will wear out and dissolve

and when that time comes
may my heart be grateful and full of thanks
to this steadfast friend of mine

all the adventures we have had,
of growing together through love and pain,
wisdom and persisting folly

- now, to all the purveyors of views
that tell me: my body is too short, too fat, too old,
too this, too that  - i smile,
and without wishing ill to anyone,
twirl and continue to love this body dearly

“when the time comes”

 

sparks of sound

 

“infusing our moods”

right now music is being made
all over the world

notes of orchestras playing
in the acoustics of high ceilinged halls

melodies of lone instruments
floating through wide open spaces

impromptu tunes of bands
in village squares

rhythms that move our souls
transporting us, infusing our moods

to sing along, toe tapping, hip swaying, ecstatic dance 
or quiet contemplation - we like a good buzz, a fizzy intoxication

what power they hold
these sparks of sound

“a good buzz”

 

orient

 

“location, location . . . ”

seven directions
are my good friends

Greetings to the East 
and Salutations to the West

Aloha to the South 
and my Good Wishes to the North 

Up and Down - How do you do?
Within - I welcome you!

to orient
the island of peace

the ripples of light
from the basket of wonder

the gems and joys to be found along the way

“in flux”

 

in the meantime

 

“the path is there”

we all suffer from ignorance 
we all are in need of more skillful ways 

in the meantime what is the antidote
for all our countless follies?

make a home in the heart of forgiveness
and learn to love - more

open, spacious, all enveloping
the path is there, faithfully

and the more it is walked
the easier it becomes
for all

“spacious”

 

innumerable

 

“messages”


on blue wings the peanut eaters arrive
we have a date, each early morning
on the front step of our home
where we exchange tokens of food for messages
in their language, which i am still trying to puzzle out

friendships come in innumerable flavors
growing with each meeting and greeting
as our worlds entwine

“morning meetings”

 

reclaim

 

“homecoming”

covered by sky and stars
cradled by earth
nights spent outside
of the usual shelter of solid walls


nights when i have temporarily 
traded comfort for being closer to nature 
linger long in my mind


strange how what used to be so natural 
is now so removed 


do i dare to reclaim this freedom
and gather the ancient vitamin 
that comes with the witnessing of the night?

“to reclaim the night”

 

gentle

 

“soft focus”

it still astounds me
what gentle attention can do
. . . how it can bring much well being 

letting my mind walk slowly
through my body from head to toe

greeting my eyes, ears, arms, hands, fingers, heart . . . 
saying: “hello eyes. please relax and be at ease”
“hello ears. please relax and be at ease”
“hello shoulders . . . 

slowly, like on a garden path,
walking through the community of my body
i feel tensions ease and deep calm spread within

it seems that together, mind and body,
we create a small miracle 
of greater well being

beautiful what gentle attention can do

“attention”

 

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