Water River Ocean

Water droplets in a river
know no separation
see no difference between each droplet
hold no sense of me and you
know not where I end and you begin
flow along together as one body
a single entity.

The river flows easily
wearing away obstacles
shaping itself continually 
to keep flowing as one body
a single entity.

A journey going nowhere
seeming to arrive at the ocean
already home.
Standing still as one body
a single entity.

The ocean body
knows no separation
sees no difference between river and sea
holds no sense of you and me
sees not the waves as separate
knows only water
one body
a single entity.

The river already is the ocean
each water droplet already the river
one
single.

© 19 Apr 20

Take the time

Take the time to soak in these moments
these “strange” “unprecedented” times.
Do we yet see them as a gift?
A present?
An invitation to be present
to slow down and take notice of
what is around and within.

Take the time to revel in this pause
this diversion from the usual busyness
that has us fixed on a one-track road
of getting through the day, the life
blinkered and unseeing.

Can we take the time to learn
some wonderful lessons?
To see that our modus operandi
wasn’t working
wasn’t beneficial
for family life, for being together
for work-life balance?

Take the time to bathe in these days
when we can hear the birds
enjoy the sunrise and sunset
sit with a cup of tea
converse with our neighbours.

Take the time to soak in these moments.
Do we yet see them as a gift?
© 16 Apr 20

The human agreement

Each morning is a choice
an opportunity
whether or not to sign
the human agreement.
Usually the signature takes place
unknowingly
and with it comes belief in
this body as me
these feelings, thoughts, emotions as me
this mind as me.
All this falls into place
as soon as the signature is writ
before the ink is dry.

Know there is a choice
the signature can be writ
knowingly
lightly
written in pencil and erased very easily.
The choice is to dwell in
peace, certainty
free from doubt and unknowing.

The choice is to accept
this body
these feelings, thoughts, emotions
from the side of Oneness
a spiritual being
stepping into a human body.

The signature can be writ
knowingly
lightly
written in pencil and erased very easily.
© 12 Apr 20

The full moon

The full moon pulled me
out of sleep into wakefulness
called to me
to drink in her light, so fulsome
it cannot be missed
summoned me
out of bed into her attendance.

A silver orb so rich against a velvet sky
A golden orb with billowing
streams cloaking behind her
in the dawning sky.

Each bird sings a proclamation
to her magnificence.
May my words approximate
her beauty and splendour.
The moon orchestrates
our ebbs and flows
pulling me out of sleep
into wakefulness.
© 7 Apr 20

Never before

Never before
have I so closely observed
the moment-by-moment
unfolding of spring.

Never before
have I paid so much attention
to the inch-by-inch growth
of peony stalks
the petal-by-petal uncurling
of plum blossom
and cherry blossom
whose appearance
always signals my daughter’s birthday.

Never before
have I delighted so much
in the minute changes revealing
bud then leaf then flower.

Never before
have I peered so curiously closely
at the bowing fritillary heads
and the unique snakehead pattern
on each flower.

Never before
have I seen so full and bright
a moon in a pale blue sky
harmonising with the dusktime
melody of chorusing birds.

Never before
have I allowed myself
to be immersed
in the moment-by-moment
unfolding of spring.
© 6 Apr 20