So much space

This body
made of flesh, blood and bone
muscle and sinew
organs, nails and hair
full of
earth, water, fire, air and space
so much space
for the elements to dance in
and not one particle or atom
to be found and name as me
not one particle or atom
to say
this is me alone
separate and whole.

This mind
full of concepts, ideas, thoughts and dreams
inspirations, information
remembering
and not one new or original thought
to say
this alone is me, this is me alone
separate and whole.

This heart
full of impulses and longings
intuition and knowing
feelings and emotions
and not a single beat can say
this is me alone
separate and whole.

I am only earth, water, fire, air
dancing in space
so much space
and not a single microcosm to claim
this is me alone
separate and whole.

And when I am free
I  am only space
empty of me and non-me elements
beginningless, endless
forever free
nothing to hold on to
nothing to possess
nothing to claim as me
only emptiness.

© 6 Apr 19

Choose peace

You can spend all your time being disgusted,
upset, horrified and frustrated about
what's going on in the world.
What do you do to bring some peace
into your being
into your life
into your world?

It's not enough to be upset
it's not enough to be angry
be peaceful
be at ease.

In spite of what is happening around you
choose peace
choose joy
choose happiness
choose love.

© 27 Feb 19

Dedicated to the next generation

I discovered today as I looked through my poems that I never posted this one although I originally wrote it several years ago, and reworked it in 2014.

The flowers in this garden
are given unto my care
for a time.
May I nurture you with love,
nourish you with beauty and
feed you with truth.

I wish for you to grow strong,
free to dance in the movement of the winds,
yet not be broken by its force.
Reaching fearlessly for the light
and fully open to the rains of love.

I will give you my time and
all the goodness of my heart
and space to grow,
listening to the inner calling
of the heart.

May you become trees
growing endlessly tall
to touch the infinite sky.
Let your branches spread wide,
to greet all who will seek your shade.
I wish you to become great trees
spreading your seed throughout the earth,
sharing your own goodness and love.

May you have the courage to be free,
to love and laugh and enjoy,
and wherever you go,
to be at home.

May you have patience and stillness
to hear your own inner voice,
fortitude to follow those words and
reason to do so wisely and purely.
May you have great stature and
a great heart that cannot be contained,
knowing your own greatness
to use it justly and faithfully.

May you have wisdom in your heart
to bring forth words of truth
upon your lips.
May you never doubt or quaver,
or stumble on your path.

May whoever comes
into this garden
be contented with what they meet,
basking in beauty and peace.
In time may your own seeds grow strong and beautiful and pure.
And for now,
may you rejoice that you are free.

© 9 Feb 14

Boundless openness

Boundless openness
willing to receive all
the world has to offer
unflinching
without judgement.

Broken open
to let love pour forth
closely followed by
vulnerability
hand in hand with trust.
A plethora of riches
a river of qualities
undulating
flowing
aching to be known
generosity
kindness
compassion.

Who would stop this flood?
Who can build a dam
high enough to contain it?

I am broken open
empty and filled
filled and empty
willing to receive all
the world has to offer.

© 25 Mar 19

What are you listening to?

What is the soundtrack
to your life?
Is it joyful, peaceful or
discordant and edgy?

Is there a narrator
proclaiming your positive deeds
and achievements
or demeaning your efforts and
condemning your every move?

What is the soundtrack
to your life?
How do you meet each happening
each circumstance?
With an open, embracing heart
or a heavy, closed mind?

If you find the soundtrack
disagreeable, too emotional
or not in accord with
your aspirations

change it!

Find a new tune
to dance to
to get you through the day.
Find a new record
that attunes more closely
with how you want to be.

Find it in your heart
listen carefully.
Memorise each phrase
each notation
each rise and fall.

And sing it wholeheartedly
let it fill your being
with love and joy and life.

Let the soundtrack to your life
be that which quickens
your heartbeat
and makes life glorious.

© 15 Mar 19

You touched my heart

You touched my heart
causing it to burst forth
like a voluminous flower
spilling its seeds
letting its love freely flow.

Take a piece of my love
care for it well
hold it
polish it
look at it often.
Keep it safe for me
until we meet again.

You broke open my heart.
I willingly give all
that pours forth
it does not belong to me
it belongs to the receiver.

It happened when we met
truly met
in silence and space
where words were not necessary
a smile said it all
and we are all the richer
for this meeting.

You have opened my heart
as I knew you would.
We share a common understanding
that love is the vital ingredient
for the world to keep turning.
Love is all that is needed.

© 10 Mar 19

Be still o mind and let silence speak

Be still o mind and let silence speak.
And what will silence say?
I am here always
never absent, never distant
closer than your heartbeat
holding and supporting all.

I am infinite love
at the centre of
every cell, every atom in the universe.

I am all knowledge
trustworthy
I am complete peace and utter rest.

I am before all, behind all
within all.

I am where truth dwells
the space from which all movements emerge.

I am endless, infinite, beginningless.
I am complete, I am now.

I am the backdrop
to all the comings and goings of the world.
I am the utter rest of deep sleep.

I am here always.
I am complete
I am now.

© 28 Feb 19