Blessed are the flowers — they have no wrist watches, they just know it’s time and they are here. Perhaps the pace of nature can remind us to take a “mindful gap” and just BE for one conscious breath. Each week I enjoy finding and sharing a poem to highlight our weekly class themes:
Awakened Heart
This Ordinary Spring Day (Danna Faulds)
How quickly I gain energy
from the trees, from all the
green and growing beings
in the woods. The fern fronds
have unfurled their fetal curls
and every leafing thing is
bursting with chlorophylled
vitality. I sneeze, then sneeze
again, pollen clearly visible
on the bench where I rest.
The heartbeat of the earth is
strong beneath my feet and
the morning birdsong loud
and lusty. I wouldn’t trade
this ordinary spring day
for any future promise.
The Moment (Marie Howe)
Oh, the coming-out-of-nowhere moment
when, nothing
happens
no what-have-I-to-do-today-list
maybe half a moment
the rush of traffic stops.
The whir of I should be, I should be, I should be
slows to silence,
the white cotton curtains hanging still.
Meeting the Light Completely (Jane Hirshfield)
Inner Listening
Feather at Midday (Sister Dang Nghiem)
If I had not stopped to watch a feather flying by,
I would not have seen its landing–
a tiny pure white feather.
Gently, I blew a soft breath
to send it back to the spring.
If I had not looked up to watch
the feather gliding over the roof,
I would not have seen
the crescent moon
hanging at midday.
What’s In the Temple (Tom Barrett)
Pause with us here a while
Put your ear to the wall of your heart
Listen for the whisper of knowing there
Love will touch you if you are very still
[I only read an excerpt; See entire poem HERE]
Equanimity
The Love Field (Danna Faulds)
Inside the love field
it’s not that problems
disappear, but dealing
with difficulties happens
in an embrace of love.
And since there is no
place or situation that
isn’t pervaded, imbued,
and shot through by love,
it becomes a simple matter
of opening to receive it.
Just as I am, with all
my strengths and
weaknesses writ large,
love is always with me.
I pray not to forget this
when the going gets tough
or the day doesn’t go as
I planned. The love field
is everywhere I am.
MAR
2024