Gently encouraging

Gently encouraging
You allowed us to be ourselves
without any sense of push or force
gently encouraging.

You nurtured our bodies
minds and hearts
in a naturally caring way
holding our hearts whilst
letting us fly.

Your beauty, grace and poise
are transmitted to us.
This hand could not write
without your presence.
This heart could not beat
without your love.
Your innate creativity
allowed us to freely explore
our own sense of self.

You were a constant
in the background.
Gently encouraging.

I feel your presence more keenly now
gently encouraging.

© 17 Jul 17

A dear and loving friend

This body
which is not me
has needs to be attended to
as a dear and loving friend.

This mind
which is not me
has thoughts to be noted and
quickly discern whether they
can be heeded or left.

This breath
which is not me
breathes apparent life into
this ‘dull earth’ providing animation
as a dear and loving friend.

This awareness
which is the real me
holds body, mind and breath
with a gentle, kind attention
as a dear and loving friend.

© 11 Jun 17

How big is your cup?

I heard the voice of Shams*
questioning
‘how big is your cup?’
and heart responds with a
resounding smile of recognition
before tricksy mind has a chance
to form its inevitable objection.
Head would shy away
bowing and scraping
in a show of unworthiness.
Heart instinctively moves forward
drawn by a growing flame and
all the while
knowing it will burn.

Burning away dead wood
cauterising and discarding
to reveal fresh tender shoots
vulnerable yet sturdy
containing within all knowledge
to become a vast, wide-spreading tree.

The question reveals
a willing heart, open
embracing wholeness
freedom, completeness
stepping whole-heartedly
into the flame
knowing it will burn
welcoming the burn.

© 15 Aug 17

*Shams of Tabriz was the dervish who inspired Rumi to become a poet

I can be

I can be generous as the sky
or closed as a tight flower bud.
I can be unhurried as an unfurling leaf
or full of push and bluster.
I can rest in a non-personal knowing
or believe I have to make things happen.
I can peacefully perform actions
or exhaust myself having to do and create.
I can meet you as you are
or block the flow of love at every step.
I can allow kindness to infuse my actions
or see myself as an unconnected individual.
I can be a free being
responding to the universe.

© 12 Aug 17

Here is what I want to say!

Here is what I want to say!
Oh contrary mind
be still!
Never satisfied
always perceiving what is lacking
untrusting
unappreciative of here and now.
Contentment and abundance
both present
and many other gifts.
Stop looking out
stop grasping
be with what gently
presents itself.

Life is a flower
softly unfolding
petal by petal
a delicious centre
hidden from view
revealed only in it own time.

Oh contrary mind
be quiet!
Hush your relentless prattling
notice the flower
softly unfolding.

© 12 Aug 17

Sing to the moon

What can I sing to the moon
tonight
whose strong magnetic pull
orchestrates all the ebbs and flows?
Hanging
globe-like in a vast
wide greying sky
magnificent and awe-inspiring.
Your light cannot be hid
by the clouds tonight
though they connive to throw
their velvety blackness
across your face.

What can I sing to the moon
tonight
whose loveliness
floods every corner of the vast
wide greying spread?
Following me as I journey home.
A golden pearl swimming in the ocean
of wide greying vastness.

© 11 Aug 17

Rough edges

Rough edges

grating

resonating

chafing

undoing

opening

allowing

engaging

receiving

being full of awe

stepping stones

into a magical world

of resonance

harmony

the heart says yes.

Rough edges

stepping stones

open my eyes

to a world of

true delights

always present

always here

always available.

 © 30 Jul 17

Close the eyes, I am there

Close the eyes, I am there*
Close the eyes to all physical limitations
all information produced by the senses.
Open the eyes to a world of
boundless heartfulness
pure love
being, not becoming.

Turn away from the information
of the mind
turn towards all knowledge
pure awareness
already present
already proclaiming.

There – not a physical location
there is presence
nowness
knowing
oneness.
There is who I am
where I am
when I put down
the unending claims
limitations of the mind.
There is aware, spacious, free.

© 9 Jul 17
* Swamiji