Vision

In the light of death
the world sharpened.
Colors became
more pronounced.
The curve of that tree —
I hadn't seen it before.
The rapture of life
opened before my eyes
and my heart expanded
beyond its mortal horizons.

In the light of death
I could see
through your surface
and mine.

In the light of death
life exposed herself
and that memory
takes me deeper
than any days' walk
with a cloud
hanging over my head.

Saying Goodbye

It took our whole lives
to see each other.
To see beyond the stuff
that fathers and daughters hold.

For a second
I saw you.

I saw you
as you always wanted
to be seen.
And in that moment
love flowed between us
like never before.

It was more than knowing
it was goodbye.
It was, in fact, hello.
And though it seemed
late in our lives
it was perfect —
because
I saw you.

I saw you with my soul.
And though words
cannot express that feeling

I know you took it with you
as much as I know anything.

The Sacred Life

There comes a time
when you want to run.
Run as far away as you can.

Run from your life.
Run from the task
that is so large
it cannot be done.

But your feet don't move.

And slowly
life opens up
and help appears.
Not in the form you expect
but in secrets
and winding roads
and gateways into
the world you long for
but don't know how to reach.

And the task
doesn't get easier
but life gets more beautiful
with a richness you couldn't imagine
and a warmth you had never felt

as you directly face
the immensity
of what you are
called to do.

Opening

Longings leave

as my heart opens
slowly abandoning
old ways
bringing me into
a satisfied now.

Life holds a fullness.
The kind needed
to let soul flow
unhampered
wiser
freer.

My lines follow
as I dance
with ink on paper
and know
this is the beginning
I have been
working towards.

Balance

At the edge of the avalanche
I balance between
airless ground
and groundless air.

Fluttering
like a butterfly
about to take flight.

Waiting
as the dream is just forming
and I don't know how large
my wings will be.

Meditation

Stay here
my mind
who wants to wander
on her own.

Stay here
sit with me
Enjoy this place
that houses you
and nurtures you
with food and wine.

Stay here
in silence.
As thoughts arise
let them pass.

Stay here
drink in gratitude
for your lovely life
cool breezes
and streams that run
over your toes.

Stay here
while the moon shifts
stars explode
and crickets claim their ground.

Stay here
while the sun gently rises
shedding light on your eyes
so you can see
there is nowhere to go.

Lunar Love

Another leap of faith
forms out of the mire

Don’t dissect it —
it wants to be whole
Don’t tear it apart —
it doesn’t need to be figured out.

Pushing through all the stories in my mind
I see they are only stories
blockages
time machines to nowhere
Vestiges of the old
while the new
make whirlpools in my stomach

The moon joins us full tonight
in ceremony.

Sailing Away

I dreamed I didn't have to be
cold again.
I could leave
cut the ties that keep me here.
Clean up a little every day
get rid of my clutter
methodically, carefully
so no one would know my plans.

And then I could
slip away
like a ship pulling out of harbor
guided by the light of the moon
anchor already on board
sailing to some distant land
where I didn't have to be
cold again.

Arriving Again at Ghost Ranch

The place of arrival
Where all time stops
I smell the air
feel her dryness in my bones.

The place of return
Of knowing
coupled with pure expectancy
of the newness of this experience.

Visits with old sage and dust
heat
Music of cicadas dotting the path
Mexican food, margaritas.

The return to stillness
amid doing
Acclimation, renewal
colors, creative abandon.

I was young here
Sorted through crises here
I slept here
woke here.

I am here.
Brought back time and again
for my soul to come home
to peace.

The road is always long
and worth the effort.

The Dancer

You
want to be danced
through me.

You
want to release into the trance
of tall gods and goddesses
gracing the air.

It is you
who wants to dance through me
write through me
make love through me.

Countless times
I stopped you
laid forth other plans
but your vibrancy finds its way
through the cracks and crevices
of my shield
and thank God I cannot seal it all

for without you
I'd be hopeless.