Stone Silence

Months of planning and saving,

And a few thousand miles,

Bringing me here to this very moment,

At a well known sacred site.

Here to this seat of stone,

To look upon the crumbling walls,

Pondering ancient words of wisdom,

Perhaps to experience the sublime.

Quiet pervades as the temperature soars,

Incessant insects drone and interfere,

Eyes wander, sweat drips, skin itches,

As mind desperately seeks an escape.

To go where?

A return to the security of home,

To plan and save all over again,

To note another defeat?

Body stretches and feels deep currents,

Mind notices and curiously follows,

Waves arise as the scene falls away.

A soft gaze widens the view.

Breath deepens and mind settles,

The view shifts and expands beyond,

Mind surrenders to the natural rhythm,

The sacred site finally reveals itself.

This Day

This day once was a dream -
     Turned ‘round, by mind, like a fine jewel.
      Filled with hopes, plans and fears.
      A newformed clay brick, set out in the sun.   

This day becomes today -
       Lived, in mind & body, with presence or without.
       Challenged every moment, to be or to be not.
       A self-made shelter, ‘neath the sun and sky.

This day will be a memory -
      Storied, through mind, both false and true.
      Conveniently remembered or forgotten.
      An old brick weathering in the wind.

Caffeine Courage

Caffeine Courage

Sometime during that first cup

the noble pursuits, long lists, and courage arrive,

then slowly retreat into a warm, thick, comforting blanket.

As I rise they wrap me, yet disintegrate

bit by bit, with each breath I take.

At mid day the clatter and commotion

takes full hold and 

I stand defenseless, with only this

battered shield and a very weak arm of truth.

The stabs become too much and I withdraw again,

back to the siren calls of greed, desire and distraction.

They don me with a new cover,
like an emperor's new clothes, invisible, thin
and instantly dissolving.

Only the darkness lets me feel safe,

and so it goes each day, until dawn.

Then again, sometime during that first cup ...

Together, We

Together, We

I was all you are now, when I was.

I felt all those things

and saw all those sights.

I lived just like you, and 

dreamed of never-ending days.

But that's all changed now.

I no longer feel and I see no sights.

I am locked in eternity's dream.

Breath deep.  Breath slow.

Bring to mind what I was

and what you are now.

Realize there is no difference.

I dream of you 

and you dream of me.

Together, We.

Chatter

As the day unravels,
thoughts fly and fill each space.
Nearby boulder yawns.

The Anatomy of Distraction

Hmmm.  Now this looks interesting.
(As another shiny thing captures my attention)

I'll have to look into this. 
(As I enter full-scale planning mode)

Why, this is simply marvelous.
(As I fool my eyes and take the plunge)

OK, OK, I can do this.
(As I steel and will myself to succeed)

What joy!  How glorious !
(As I bask in my achievement, for a spell)

Look at this ! You must try it too.
(As I gloat and try to gain accolades)

Yes, I did that a while ago.
(As I smugly answer all their questions)

I think it will look good here.
(As I store it away, upon a physical or mental shelf)

I wonder what I saw in this ?
(As I discover it's inherent emptiness)

Hmmm.  Now this looks interesting.
(As I swing to another fascination)

REPEAT ABOVE - FOR ENTIRE LIFETIME

Tomorrow

-->

Tomorrow

I wonder where Today went?

It was here, just a moment ago,

Just as the sun lifted above those far off trees.

Sometimes I know when it’s near,

When I hear a far off church bell,

Or hear a long, lonely train whistle,

As it slowly pulls into my town.

When Today returns, I know just what I’ll say:

Wait, Wait, Wait, Today,

Let me get my pencil and draw you, or

Now hold that pose as I take your snapshot.

Maybe I can finally hold Today within these images.

The kid next door fell off his bike.

As I rushed to his aid, he started to cry.

Just then I saw Today,

As tears streamed down the child’s face, and

As his mother hugged him tight.

Once I sat, carefully staring out my window,

Knowing that Today would certainly come. 

When I awoke, several hours later,

I could see that he did come, and went, for

Long shafts of low sunlight now filled the room.

I’ve decided on the best strategy to catch him.

When my last grain of salt teeters, ready to fall,

I’ll imagine myself very, very small,

Small enough to sit atop and ride that grain,

As it tumbles into the great beyond.

I’ll take a deep breath, and beam a wide smile, 

As I ride, saying:

“There it is!”

“There it is!”

“There - ”