Monday, January 22, 2018

Light in My Mouth


This morning, as I meditated,
I had this sensation: light was resting on my tongue like a glowing lozenge.


I opened my mouth and chanted


(gone gone gone beyond utterly beyond)

The words lifted off my tongue
and as they did they pulled
light from
my
heart.

I love the way
occasionally
I
can
see
light
fill
me
up.

Starting the day this way
is
just
wonderful
oh and
also
I
drank
a
cup
of
coffee.



*gate gate is the mantra at the end of the heart sutra:

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Journey Into a Rose

Journey into a rose


The petals
have those
tender lips
curving, curling
like
a baby’s ear
begging, begging
come here, come here.

Look
Inside, the
layers of flower flesh
circle
around and around
deeper deeper
dizzying
to a point
that disappears.

The rose
is something
like
a book,
the petals
are
pages
that
draw
you
into
another
realm.

And then, an
added bonus,
there is that
heavenly smell
that defies
telling,
a living perfume.




Thursday, January 11, 2018

Pretend


All deep water.  All around me.
Me paddling.  Me scrambling
Me bubbling
Panicked and…
OOOHHHH
wowowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
help MEEEEEE…
Please PLEASE!
I can
Hardly
I am slipping I am

knockingkickingthrashing grabbing
PLEASE!!
at sticks and rocks anything sticking out
over the dark water.

Thank you.
For pulling me up
Here.
On this shore.
Thank you
For the blanket.
Yes, right there, over my
Shoulders
Yes.  I am terribly
Yes, are they purple?
They feel
So cold.
Hold my hand?
Yes, please.
For just a moment.

And breathe.
With me.
What?
What did I see?
Below?
A beautiful green.
I think I saw
a jellyfish.
A turtle.
I can’t tell you for sure.  I don’t know.
Everything was so... frantic.  Fuzzy.

It is something like a dream I have,
Say, for example, I am walking
Where?
I don’t know where, but suddenly
There is an army of crickets in the grass.
Giant crickets.
Thick green
Such tall grass
I can hardly see the orange sun.
As soon as I start to tell you the dream
It seems so inane.
Why would I tell you?
Why would I take the time
Even to write it
Down .
When I am sitting
Here shaking
Clear drops
Dripping off of my cold naked
Body.

Having almost drowned,
I could
Yes, I could use a cup of warm tea.
And another blanket,
Yes.  I would love another blanket.
If you have one.
There, yes, around my legs,
Nice.
Thank you.
And
Please. One other thing:
Don’t leave me.
Just yet.
Just let me rest here,

Until I am ready
To continue.