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Thursday, September 10, 2015

Alive and Breathing and Bigger Than Life - with audio

Audio Link

Alive and breathing and bigger than life
The freedom to grow like a ray of light in the great expanse of this world
Or to lie vacant and vacuous in the virtual claim that has laid hold on the soul

How is it that we can prefer empty repeated critiques of others so eloquently born
As to fly across the world and back again in an instant
No fresh air is to be found there, nor the cry of something living
Only a silence to break ones heart at its being and essence
Is that what we must be fated to and how is it that we have given ourselves
Given our time and substance so freely to that which is not real
Which does not really exist or have blood and breath

My arms reached out my soul grew large until I inhabited the place of beating wings
My legs sank deep 50 feet down into the earth
I felt my chest heave until it loomed wide over the neighborhood
I saw the policeman look up from his motorcycle and ticket writing
The people walking through the pathways under the feathery treetops
This then is our destiny without limitation of space, stagnant form and matter

Not to engage in endless meaningless chatter of unanswered scribble and blather
For a few glimpses into the lives of our distant loved ones
We are willing to die a little, and then a little more until we bellow
As hollow and as loudly as a distant bell tolling to the sudden jerk of a cord
Give up, oh give up, I say,  surrender the right to be right
The hubris to put all others down because of their wrongs and because of my searching and wondering ignorance.
I want my own kind, to seek that which wells up in a river of life, that which lives and loves, and prays… To speak the Truth with singing, Spirit, cursive and Word.

I grow, I live, I expand, hovering over the landscape as if to scoop it up in my arms
Crying out in a place where sound can be heard without digital assistance
Looking up I soar into the azure field flooding over the burnt mauves, flowering pinks, and gentle calming grays;
Through the misting sheets of cold and dewy white.
The deep dusky purples call out their threats, taunts and challenges
Be still darkened ones and bring about the renewing, refreshing squalls and showers.
Cleanse all the face of the earth.

I rise up ever higher arcing over the horizon with the barrel chested winds
My body stretches out like the northern cross against the spectrum of mercurial light
There in silent waves to contemplate with the pulsating warrior Orion
Riding upon the back of the charging solar breeze
Passing through the horns of Taurus, onward to kiss the Seven Sisters
Showers of love and luminous blinding radiance reaching out to heal
While the darkness continues to melt away, cringing, scattered, dying
Before the presence of the vast saving heart that beats out the Cosmos
Where the Seven Spirits dwell who witnessed the first spark of all creation
To the One who holds all things together and designed the final new beginning

Passing through all, hoping all, forgiving all, with an exuberance yet unspoken
Feeling the pain and joy of a myriad of those with light and being
Raise me up oh Lord, now and at the end of days that I might cradle some
That my eyes might see through tears the souls of others and behold my God
There among the lightning, rainbows, and fiery Nova's refining heat 
Then I can fall into the eternity of your highest love while fearing not to care
Withholding not my hand to do all that is set out before the quantum of time
Before the never-ending sight of the heavens above and all the Holy Host.


Thursday, July 23, 2015

A Day of Seasons - with audio



Peaceful Shadows
Patient light
Winter dawn
Shattered colors
Faded Heaven
Icy fingers weep
Grey headed frost
Praying rigidly
Clenching teeth
Hugging sweatered soul
Crunching walk

Turned muddied steps
In melted grass
Sun is out,
Yet air is misty
Bits of thoughts
Fly in pink sky
Sleep flees away
Leaves us now
In vapors musty

Morning in clover
Dew on buttercups
Feet cold and wet
Dirty bottoms,
Wet tops
Peace in green
Life in heat
Spring in song
Singing rainbow
Clear flowing water
Chirping Sparrows
Cooing tardy
Morning doves

A crow calls out
His off key song
Rouge pollen petals
Hearts without loving
Till crystal teardrop
Should adorn each
The torrent sounds
Yet the violet
After the storm
Stands regal once again
Tempering Brilliance
So softly sounds beauty

Braided green
Budding Birth
Oh fattened Butterfly
Hello Mr. bee
Shimmering and fuzzy
In the sunlight preening
Take your time and clean
I won't chase you
Rest while you may
Until you fly away

The sunbeam pierces
The cool stream
Reflection yielding not
The warm hand of One
Cleansing the life within
Drifting in the quiet

Gliding Hawk
Tracing out the
Turning warmth
Flax gold swaying
Hot wet spirit
Black moist earth
Cloud floats in blue
Watercolor view
Summerset afternoon

No more orange rays
The sun slips down
Other side of the horizon
Orange, reddish leaves
Let loose like falling stars
Skyward honking vanguard 
Geese flying south

So tempting,
The Autumn air
Holds one captive
Filling the senses
Pure damp cool life
Wrapped in darkness
Shades of night
Standing in the earth

Canopy of whispers
Feeling life flowing
Sap deep within
Mighty oak and pine
Wooed by the fire's story
Quickened restless limbs
Stretching toward a star
Only a pine needle away
Warmed by existence
One of many in a great house
Seemingly silent.

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Feral Fellow - with audio

Audio Link

Thursday came in the cascade of days
It rained down like an avalanche
Rolling down upon eyes that
Could not see the oceans blue sky
For the mists that yet rested
In the minds valley
(pause breathe) Ahhhhh

Come now and walk upon the rocky peak
Wind on down through the hollow
Pass under by the mild mannered Ponderosas
Upon the dust and dirt worn path
Up around the bend and back again
Aching hinge and stubborn ligaments
(pause breathe) Ooooo

Pour down the social cup
Piece together the puzzle
Of the yet tender day
Purposefully proposed thanksgiving
For those loved, lost and living
As peace can make a home in that place
(pause breathe) Mmmmm

Journey beyond the morning garden
To another of worker bees and marching ants
The telltale signs appeared announcing
His presence, that feral fellow
He was there though out of sight
Fowling up the bushes and corners
(pause breathe) Tisk tisk

Wallowing in the throws of life
Vacant uncaring blue eyes
Scanning sunbeams awash in warmth
Desiring nothing, needing no-one, cleaning sullied paws
Coming near he speaks an empty greeting
Listlessly forgotten the days of bloodied prey
(pause breathe) Umhmp

Swatting at a fly, capturing a cricket
Earnestly hunting down an old lizard skin
Rustling in the breeze and thorn
But these are the secrets of another creature
How dare one condescend to put to pen
That which is forbidden, and primitive
(pause breathe) Sigh, .. oh

Is he in his unkept imperfections
Not, but a shadow of ourselves
Does not the pool of words
Give cause for one's own reflection
Oh Diviner of hearts were it not so
That colored inklings should so paint another's expression.

Pslam 103:14-16
14 For he understands how we are made,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 Yes, a human being’s days are like grass,
he sprouts like a flower in the countryside —
16 but when the wind sweeps over, it’s gone;
and its place knows it no more.
Psalm 8: 4-9
(3) When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place —
(4) what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them;
humans, that you watch over them with such care?
(5) You made him but little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor,
(6) you had him rule what your hands made,
you put everything under his feet —
(7) sheep and oxen, all of them,
also the animals in the wilds,
(8) the birds in the air, the fish in the sea,
whatever passes through the paths of the seas.




Thursday, June 11, 2015

Life, Death and Remembering Our Loved Ones - with audio

 audio link

"... Lay me down like a stone, O God, and raise me up like a loaf,"
- Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace, Ch. XII

I received the phone call full of restrained words, that they had taken ill 
The soft voices, spoken prayers, eternal hopes, miraculous dreams
In that stillness of shaken hearts we wished and offered our support
Part of us knowing the certainty of sadness to follow
A little while longer and our loved one was gone; taken from us

Retreating into the garden of quiet wandering and drifting thoughts, 
I began to reflect on the Following; Sleep comes to us all, covering us, 
As we slowly struggle and fall, with an Irresistible Blanket of peace. 
Each winter season brings its news once more and only time Serves to Cushion the blow, 
Till it becomes like a bell tolling in the distance. 
Our friend has Overcome Great hardship and we now join in this endeavor 
With help from one another, and A loving hand from above.

The motion of leaves whispering before the storm
Is it not like the footfall of those we now recall?
Faces turned to shades of memory hidden in the heart
As moonbeams hiding in the folds of satiny clouds
Announce the great light's silhouette, though it be obscured

Are not the raindrops that fall out of heaven's door
Messengers that come to refresh the land and its people?
To bring good news upon the great and small of life and of cleansing?
Are they not but a mirror of our tears and the outpouring of our hearts and souls, 
Renewing the deepest parts of each, helping each to love one another?
For a seed has been brought to bear in the earth, to grow blossoms and fruit
So that now the landscape is peopled with plenty, and each bosom is full.

So precious is that which cannot be bought or contained, in the sight of the Almighty.
That which is sent from on High and then returns again on the wind unseen
As it has been said "For a little seed must fall to the ground in order to give life"
The great and beautiful community of lights is made up of these, 
as are our families and Friends gathered in this place.  
The mustard seed has done what the Husbandman Intended, and we have witnessed it.  

It has Grown up into a vast network of love, Of sowing, of harvesting and of abundance here today. Are not the words and deeds of those remembered here with us now, as the sunshine that comes after the showers to warm and brighten all things? Do we not see the gifts of our loved ones expressed in the faces of our friends and family?
When we do, our Maker walks with each one, and holds us for a little while
And so we celebrate the diamonds mined deep within the earth,
The gleaming of purest gold, the sparkle of dazzling jewels and the fine color painted tapestries, as we look upon the treasures of life, and celebrate those who've left us.

The good are taken from us, as the world cannot countenance them any longer
It turns away from the evening, only to behold the dawning of a new day elsewhere.
Each friend is like a fine wine, rich in sweetness and royal color, satisfying the Heart And calming the mind. Gathering together, each enjoys the blessings of one another's company, And in this way joy shall overtake our sorrow, until it is time to rest. 
So it is then, That we in this life should be like a loaf of braided egg bread, 
Sprinkled with the laughter of our Children, friends and loved ones, 
Like poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and raisins.  
When Looking upon It one sees not the beginning, nor the end, 
But rather, only, the sumptuousness of its sun-like yellow, 
The filling richness of its doughy taste, and the exalted Pleasure of its Rising