beneath the cedars

Tags

Buddhism, Christianity, compassion, destiny, free, letting go, meditation, philosophy, psychology, spiritual, unconditional love, universe

 

  
i sit
beneath the cedars,
in solemn serenity.
face red
with asking questions,
seeking answers
to the ways
of life and death —
molecules and atoms —
and how we’re all
connected.

my fingers
stiff, from cold —
a child’s stubby crayons —
make difficult the task
of turning pages,
jotting notes
about impermanence,
attachment
and letting go.

i’m surrounded
by spirits of seasons past.
i fear not —
they mean no harm.
their faces radiate,
coming from the light.
in their eyes
i see peace and love —
they are free
of mortal suffering
they endured
in life.

they comfort me.
Grieve not, they say,
soon enough, you will join us.
you will experience the universe
and all it has to offer.
you still have much to learn.
when you are ready,
we’ll be waiting.

i feel the joy of life —
(maples sailing leaves
of red and yellow)
moments, lifetimes pass…
then they’re gone,
as they should be.

beneath the cedars,
in their realm of wisdom,
reverently
i sit.

…

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Disappeared

Tags

despair, desperation, destiny, dreams, eternal, fantasy, lifetimes, longing, lost love, universe, world

 

 

as the sun
played with the leaves
in the cool afternoon breeze
i heard your giggle
saw your smiling spirit face
peeking from behind
a clump of trees.

disappointed,
because i hadn’t
the freedom to follow you,
i sighed and waited for nightfall.
as the jealous moon
stole through my window
a devil in a flannel gown
visited my bed.

we snuggled
throughout the night.
my mouth nuzzled your neck.
your skin tasted
of our favorite perfume,
wood smoke and cedar.
i murmured words of love
as I held you tight.
you disappeared
with the dawn’s
early light.

 
…

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Black Lace and Lavender

Tags

destiny, dreams, eternal, forevermore, lifetimes, longing, love, mystery, romance, sighs, universe

 

 

fly with me,
cry with me,
black lace and lavender.
hold me, enfold me,
long into the night

lay with me,
play with me,
rivers to oceans,
cedars and saplings,
such sweet summer sweat.

astound me,
surround me,
astonish me ever,
sweetest surrender,
for now and forever.

take of me,
taste of me,
succulent sorceress,
drown me with kisses
’till dawn’s early light.

 

 

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hand in hand

Tags

destiny, dreams, emotion, eternal, forever, love, nature, personal, romance, sighs, universe

 

 

we walk
hand in hand
beside wandering streams
towards the ancient caves
where we have gone
before in dreams.

the touch
of your delicate fingers
against mine is electrifying.
gently
I raise your hand
to my mouth,
sense the essence
that I have come to know.
take each finger
deep within,
taste the ecstasy
that is
your skin.

I hear
splashing sounds
of water spilling over rock
“Come,” I say, “Lay with me –
in love beneath the stars,
let’s live the dream –
the story
that is ours.”

 
 
 

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Prufrock

Tags

compassion, despair, empathy, fantasy, fear, imagination, longing, mystery, personal, philosophy, universe

 
 

While pondering Prufrock, and his unanswered, “overwhelming question”
I consider my world of insecurities,
the fourth dimension,
the meaning of life, of afterlife, how high the sky, how deep the sea.
A lot of questions; but, most of all, is that woman looking at me?
And if so, why? Is it admiration? Perhaps my fly is undone.
Is she smiling or snickering? Are my clothes too tight? I’ve just begun. I like to think I’m individualistic, independent;
not a slave to the crowd. My clothes suit me – rather vintage, resplendant.
Or, am I a joke?
Is my style inappropriate, my hair too long?
The words float in space and, in my head, I hear the music to a song.
I’ll admit some insecurity; a lot of insecurity —
more learning, more questions. I like to think of that as maturity. I openly seek, and appreciate, the approval of my peers.
I know that contradicts;
but that’s the way I’ve become throughout the years.
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
It is the sum of who I am, what I’ve done and where I’ve been.
I’ve had much more than my share of restless nights
in one-night cheap hotels.
Unlike Eliot, I consider myself more of a new age seeker. Yes, I have heard the mermaids singing
and no, they do not sing to me.
I have become the watcher, putting in my time, dreaming of the sea.
Infinite waves, at times lapping at the beach,
or crashing on the shore.
Sometimes, I think that life should have more meaning,
that I could be much more.
I have accomplished what I could – “cat will mew,
and dog will have his day.”(1)
As always, the beautiful women smile, and chatter, and walk away.
…

 
 
(1)[1600-1 Shakespeare Hamlet v. i. 286]

Phrases in italics are quoted from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock by T.S.Eliot, one of my favorite poems. What I like most are the daily observances, recollections, distractions, insecurities and the questions.

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Pileated Woodpecker

Tags

birds, Buddhism, Christianity, compassion, free, loving kindness, mystery, nature, personal, spiritual, universe

.

.

while sitting at a table,
enjoying afternoon tea,
in the shade of a cedar,
a Pileated Woodpecker
dropped from the sky
to land in front of us.

his red crest, jaunty,
black, military uniform
with white piping —
a Sargent Major
standing at attention,
inspecting us,
looking back at him.

he paused,
reflected,
saw all there was to see,
found us wanting
then, flapped away,
leaving an after image
of black, white and red
against the pines.

 

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Concrete Box

Tags

blues, dreams, entertainment, fantasy, free, imagination, longing, love, music, mystery, universe

 

I work in a corporate, concrete box;
no windows, only a computer terminal
to link me to the outside world.
Only second-hand accounts
of weather, traffic,
whether it is day or night.

I sometimes go to work in darkness,
return in darkness.
I don’t know if the sun
remembered to rise at all.
Like the light in a refrigerator.
Does it really turn off
when I close the door?

At a keyboard, my fingers type numbers,
millions of numbers.
My mind wanders woodland paths.
I watch birds flitting from limb to limb,
chipmunks scurrying, stopping,
looking around, then scurrying again.

My mind plays tricks on me.
I imagine that just 26 floors down
I could exit on Beale or Bourbon Street.
Hear sounds of the South,
guitars, saxophones and raspy voices
that rule the rhythm of my body and soul.

Take me on a blues ride.
Let me wander with the lyrics
down Highway 61, “The Blues Highway”.
Let me smell the sweat and the booze,
the jostling at the bar,
the waitress who will smile for a tip.

Let me smell magnolia, bougainvillea,
where Spanish moss hangs below the branches,
see the darkest eyes and brightest smile,
hear that special whisper, “Come with me.”
We’ll walk for miles, be holding hands,
and never want for any more
than our window to a dream.

 
 
 
Image: http://www.neworleans.com/nightlife/bourbon-heat/

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Destiny

Tags

destiny, empowerment, eternal, forever, free, lifetimes, love, mystery, romance, universe

 

What path,
what dusty trail,
my destiny decided
(lifetimes ago)
of people met,
places traveled,
people yet to meet,
places yet to go.

Touch (untouch)
in dreams create
eagle feathers,
angel wings,
radiant light in darkest night,
from depths of sorrow
to love ignite.

Archer, warrior,
songster, chief,
(signals smoke
across the sky).
The raven spoke,
to her I listened —
together, forever
we will fly.

 
 
 
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Prairie Crocus

Tags

destiny, eternal, forever, free, lifetimes, love, mankind, mystery, nature, universe

 

After the snow moves north
the prairie crocus,
native anemone,
ears of the earth
listens
for the rustle of summer.

Gently she sways
to moments of truth.
In her petals
the purple blue mist
of far distant mountains;
a small golden sun
close to her heart.

Eternity
folds close around her,
warms her
from the cold winds
of spring.

 
 

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The Mourning Dove

Tags

Buddhism, compassion, death, despair, destiny, empathy, forever, longing, lost love, unconditional love, universe

 

 

 

 

The silence of
the mourning dove,
more mournful
than her song.

She’s lost her mate,
her will to live,
yet time
still passes on.

Of days gone by,
she dreams her dreams,
when last she
heard him sing.

In widow’s weeds,
by empty nest,
a lonely dove
has lost her song.

 .

 
 
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always

Tags

destiny, eternal, forever, lifetimes, longing, love, nature, romance, sighs, spiritual, universe

 

always
and in all ways
you are beside me.
still the same
the jealous moon,
stars for wishing
and connecting
with invisible lines
forming
signs

the same
moon and stars
we observed
gazing skywards
from our bed of moss.
kisses
tasted of blackberries.
wings of dragonflies
caressed
our skin

 
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whisper

Tags

forever, free, lifetimes, longing, love, nature, romance, sighs, spiritual, universe, world

.

.

our paddles  dip

silently into the black.

evening mist hovers

over the lake

as we glide near the shore.

otters playfully cruise nearby,

raccoons timidly drink,

deer watch

.

later

a camp fire

to ward off the chill

of the northern breeze.

time to cuddle close,

whisper secrets

even though

we’re alone

 .

Melting Stars

Tags

compassion, destiny, emotion, empathy, eternal, forever, free, kindness, love, spiritual, unconditional love, universe

 

 .

 

It was a soft October night —
quietly fell the snow,
flake by gentle flake —
making domes on fence posts,
on mailboxes,
tracing upturned branches
of waiting trees.

I know you heard me
on the porch
(you always do)
thought it was
a stirring of the breeze,
or moaning
of the boards
(you always do).

Drawn
to quiet times
knowing you are here,
I feel your peace
(alone)
and come to you.
You know I’m here,
can feel my warmth.

I see you smile.

Let us sit in silence.
Nestle
in my embrace.
Words
need not be spoken
as we watch the melting stars,
listen for the chorus
singing somewhere else.
This moment
all that matters —
quiet filled with you.

 

misunderstood

Tags

compassion, destiny, dreams, eternal, forever, lifetimes, longing, romance, sighs, unconditional love, universe

.

.

I look past the pain,

mist of misunderstanding,

seeking the path to go home.

a voice I keep hearing,

a nightingale’s song,

in a branch high above me,

as I lie on the ground.

fare thee well my beloved,

my angel, my dream,

 for you are the beauty

who I’ve never seen,

 the words left unspoken,

the kisses unkissed,

so much of forever

we’ve missed.

.

Woodland Shrine

Tags

eternal, forever, lifetimes, mystery, nature, romance, sighs, spirits, spiritual, unconditional love, universe

.

.

In a sacred, woodland shrine

I sat with spirits

of another age —

braves, elders and chiefs

at the summer hunting ground.

of the Mississauga tribe

(A nomadic people,

some of them moved south

to join the Cherokee.)

.

I asked nothing of them

but, vowed to respect the sanctity of their land

and tribal customs.

Observing my open, lonely heart

they bade me follow them

to a clearing

I’d never before seen.

.

Standing there

was a beautiful princess

with eyes of onyx and raven hair.

Long grass swayed

silver in the moonlight

Her fingers brushed the tips of the blades.

We talked —

she bade me follow.

I have followed ever since.

.

Twin Flames

Tags

compassion, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, forever, free, kindness, longing, unconditional love, universe

.

.

twin flames
independent
vibrations in harmony
across time and space
at opposite poles
of the earth

divine
masculine and feminine
entwined through
Absolute
Unconditional LOVE
with Gold of
Perfection

.

Image:  http://www.collapsingduality.com/TwinFlameStories_Jamie_Gage.html

Come Together

Tags

astral travel, Buddhism, compassion, destiny, dreams, empathy, eternal, forever, free, love, universe

.

.

eyes closed
not yet awake
nor quite asleep
arms and legs immobile
snug, secure
satisfied

I see myself
arise…
and float away…
(but, I rest here
confused)

body drifts
through the roof
no cold of night
only vibration
universe opens
it is I

female figure
appears
love light emanating
arm outstretched
in welcome
we come together
forever

.

http://www.theworldofchinese.com/2012/08/qixi-a-tale-of-astral-amour/

.

i am

Tags

Christianity, empowerment, eternal, free, lifetimes, love, loving kindness, philosophy, spiritual, unconditional love, universe

.

.

 

i am breathing in and breathing out.
i am at one with the universe.
the universe is one with i am.

God spoke and said, “I am that I am.”1
I am the truth, I am eternal,
I am within you. I am here now.

the mind is fickle, often negative.
i am is the higher and changeless
aspect of an individual.

Ego is a product of the mind.
surrender the Ego and false mask.
yield to the breath of life, the i am.

i am is the Soul of a person.
empty the mind of trivial thought;
allow the Soul to be revealed.

the Soul of a plant or animal2
is an animate being’s driving force,
energy that remains after death.

death is a releasing of the Soul.
no longer is it tethered to earth,
bound to a material body.

i am breathing in and breathing out.
i am at one with the universe.
i am indestructible, immortal!

.

Footnotes
1  Exodus 3:14
2  Thomistic Philosophy Page: http://www.aquinasonline.com/Topics/soul.html

.

.

Electrical Storm

Tags

lightning, mystery, nature, rain, storm, universe, wind, world

.

.

Calm
followed by mist and rain
precedes the storm.

Sounds
of ball bearings bouncing
off the rusted tin roof
one by one
then
by shovelfuls.

Horses whinny
and kick their stalls.
Rolling thunder
slowly sweeps
the largest pasture
beating a rhythm
on her drum.

Whispers of wind
find cracks
between the boards,
whistle
their mournful
tune.

Lightning
flashes brilliantly
in midnight
eyes.

.

Familiar

Tags

compassion, destiny, emotion, empathy, personal, romance, sighs, unconditional love, universe

.

.

Familiar words
echo through the woods.
I’ve committed them to memory,
of places far and deep —
places traveled
in my sleep.

Familiar dream,
fluttering poplar leaves,
yellow and green in noonday sun —
beautiful face behind a tree,
flirting, smiling
back at me.

Familiar voice
(a giggle sometimes)
startles me from reverie —
a sweet, fragrant, lakeside breeze,
and mournful singing
from the trees.

Familiar path,
in darkness I tread —
lifetimes (maybe more),
holding love within my heart,
whispering your name —
you lead me back
home again.

.

Three Ravens

Tags

birds, free, mystery, nature, personal, ravens, universe, world

.

.

walking to the bus stop
I’m welcomed
by the squawks
of ravens,
as I am every day,
same time, same place.

further conversation
is avoided —
we’ve said it all before,
there’s nothing new.

they accept my presence,
scratch themselves,
snuggle
in snow-covered branches.

without warning
one drops
and soars into the distance,
another follows
then the third.

they land far away
on a telephone wire
three commas
on a line.

_,_,_,_

.

Nightingale

Tags

bird, compassion, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, longing, love, unconditional love, universe

.

A nightingale
fell from the sky
and landed
at my feet.

I gave her love,
all that I had,
and nursed her
back to health.

She’s taken wing,
her freedom found
in the realm
of endless skies.

At rising moon
she comes to me,
her heartfelt songs
are songs of love.

.

Finding Home

Tags

compassion, destiny, empathy, empowerment, eternal, fantasy, forever, free, imagination, lifetimes, love, loving kindness, personal, philosophy, spiritual, unconditional love, universe

.

We come
from different directions
along barefoot pathways,
asphalt highways
(that burn the soles of our feet)
gravel roads
(leaves, grey with dust,
the only color,
stop signs and billboards).

Clouds from cars
visible for miles
as they approach,
as they leave us behind.

We seek direction
on the path
where we become
what we were meant to be.

Different stars
shine upon us.
Unlearning is difficult;
simplicity, our goal.

Hearts opened
we will know
the actions to take.
The rewards will be ours.
We will find our home.

.

Pileated Woodpecker

Tags

bird, birds, free, love, mystery, nature, personal, spiritual, unconditional love, universe, world

.

Pileated Woodpecker (Photo credit: tbtalbottjr)

.

while sitting at a table,
enjoying afternoon tea,
in the shade of a cedar,
a Pileated Woodpecker
dropped from the sky
to land in front of us.

his red crest, jaunty,
black, military uniform
with white piping —
a Sargent Major
standing at attention,
inspecting us,
looking back at him.

he paused,
reflected,
saw all there was to see,
found us wanting
then, flapped away,
leaving an after image
of black, white and red
against the pines.

.

My Destiny

Tags

death, destiny, dreams, empowerment, imagination, lifetimes, longing, loving kindness, nature, personal, philosophy, spirits, spiritual, unconditional love, universe, world

.

.

I sit,
back pressed
against the old oak.
Legs crossed in meditation.
Mind emptied of contemplation,
waiting instead
for words
sublime.

A gentle voice,
more like a whisper,
speaks directly to my soul.
An angel, perhaps, sings of a place
(to me, yet unfamiliar)
in blessed words (from somewhere else)
of dreams, fond reunions
far from ravages
of time.

A place
where (someday)
I’m meant to be —
a place I’ll find my home,
my destiny.

.

Sleeping Rough

Tags

compassion, despair, desperation, emotion, empathy, fear, loneliness, longing, loving kindness, mankind, personal, philosophy, spiritual, unconditional love, universe, world

.

Before I open my eyes
I’m aware of a dull roar;
air brakes hissing,
cars honking,
the sound of high heels
on concrete.
It must be morning.

The cold
is unbearable.
I found some cardboard
to insulate me
from the sidewalk
but, my sleeping bag is thin.

There was freezing rain
last night.
I couldn’t sleep
for shivering.
It’s starting to snow.
I can’t feel my feet.
Sometimes, I think
it would be better
if I didn’t wake up,
but, here I am.

 

 

.

Billie Holiday

Tags

Billie Holiday, CBS, compassion, destiny, Duke Ellington, emotion, empathy, empowerment, Fine and Mellow (song), Harlem, Lady Day, Lester Young, loving kindness, mankind, philosophy, racism, Sound of Jazz, spiritual, unconditional love, universe, world

Lady Sings the Blues (Billie Holiday album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

.

Head tilted back,
gardenias in her hair,
Billie sang the blues
like no one else could.

She had lived the blues
with teen-aged parents —
fatherless mostly —
a child scrubbing floors.

Raped by a neighbor
at the age of ten
then put in a home
for wayward girls.

When she was fifteen
she sold her body
to make ends meet
then went to jail.

At Pod’s and Jerry’s
Harlem speakeasy
she sang for the crowd
and brought them to tears.

She sang with the greats
Ellington, Goodman,
Armstrong and her friend
Lester Young on sax.

Like a tapestry,
threads of voice and sax
intertwined and weaved
and became as one.

When I hear her voice,
so melancholy,
crying for her man
it brings me to tears.

She was beautiful,
she was successful
but, abusive men
and drugs pulled her down.

She was Lady Day,
Angel of Harlem.
She charmed us with song
then left us too soon.

Over two hundred
of her recordings
is her legacy.
We miss you,
“Queen of Jazz.”

 

.

Note: Excerpt from Fine and Mellow with Lester Young from the CBS production, The Sound of Jazz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IyuG_2jXsE

Footnotes
1  Tribute song by the rock group U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3IaL-0h-R4

.

Icarus

Tags

compassion, death, destiny, emotion, empathy, eternal, forever, lifetimes, mystery, personal, philosophy, spiritual, universe

Icarus (Photo credit: Jim Moran)

.

there is a space
between the mind
(that tends to seclude)
and the universe
(all-encompassing)
i travel this space

there is a space
between musical notes
between words
between lines
(very important)

there is a space
between the breathing in
and the breathing out
between the fullness
and the emptiness

between ascending
to the sun with Icarus
and the inevitable
plummeting
to earth

.

Figment

Tags

destiny, emotion, forever, imagination, loneliness, longing, mystery, personal, universe

.

i am
a figment
a dream

an image
unseen

words
unread

a figment
a dream

Without a Dreamer
i am
nothing

.

Panhandling

Tags

compassion, despair, desperation, destiny, dreams, emotion, empathy, empowerment, eternal, fear, loneliness, longing, loss, loving kindness, mankind, philosophy, unconditional love, universe, world

Sleeping on the Sidewalk, Atlanta, Georgia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I sit on the sidewalk,
my upturned hat
in front of me,
hoping for spare change.
I’m forty years old.
I look older
because of the beard.
I’ve been on the streets
for twenty-two years.
I sleep on the sidewalk.

The sun is blinding.
My throat is parched.
I’m vaguely aware
of people walking past.
I feel disoriented,
light-headed.
I can’t remember
when I last ate.
I can’t remember
much of anything.
My life is a blur.

Occasionally,
someone will throw
a quarter
in my direction.

Some jerk just said,
“Get a job!”
“Hire me!” I said.
That’s a joke!
Most people
won’t look at me,
let alone employ me.

If I sit here long enough
the cops may run me in.
At least, I’ll get to eat.
I’ll be safe
for one night.

.

A woman waking up on a sidewalk in Bijapur, India, under a Pepsi advertisement. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)