Coming Home

An ode to Ireland

I’ve longed for your kiss

for so long

that I had almost forgotten

the promise of your life-giving pulse.

When we finally met

I moved slowly

with curiosity and gradually

moved into your green field of generosity.

You greeted me with hills of buttercups

and the whispers of the fed

and contented dead. 

It was a joy and a relief.

At every turn the sacred

was alive and well,

even if history was not.

The pleasures simple.

I came home to where

the land speaks 

and the stones are home

and worth fighting for.

And when I sought out Her presence

She was there.

Deep in the earth, “buried.”

Giving blessings beyond the surface world.

The wells and mounds

an open invitation.

No offerings needed for what is whole.

I bow to your mysterious feet.

 

Grief is Mightier than the Sword

 

Blessed are those who grieve.

Blessed are the mortals

Living within the chalice of Life

With all of its love and loss

And unrecognized starlight.

It takes Mighty Ones

To test

    These times -

It takes Mighty Ones

To see

    These times -

It takes Mighty Ones

To feel

    These times -

And yet make them our own.

There is wisdom in

Standing and softening with Grief.

Yours, theirs, ours.

It strengthens our claim on this Life.

Walks us toward what is right.

It takes Mighty Ones

To grieve

    Together -

It takes Mighty Ones

To grieve

    Alone -

It takes Mighty Ones

To grieve - 

    And know

That our grieving brings all of us Home.

Questions at Year’s End

Digesting a year

Is no small task.

It lingers, the flavors,

And begs one to ask:

What have I done?

Who have I been?

Did I love well?

Have I been a good friend?

Did I leave this place

Better than I found it?

Did my heart find her voice

And fully resound it?

Find gentle answers 

for yourself, dear one.

Greeting awareness of

What longs to be done. 

The Tea Forest

Not so long ago, 

in a tea forest under the moonlight,

a bear moved gently among 

the wise and shining green elders. 

Shining wisdom. 

     Waiting for us to listen. 

          And invite. 

Bear made his way 

by following the Way 

to the center of a grove 

where a bright fire glowed.

The Fire knows. 

     The Fire grows. 

          And listens. 

Four companions gathered 

by the elemental light

to hear the wind blow tidings 

from the human world beyond.

To feel the dreams. 

     To hear the cries. 

          And longings.

Bear, Dragon, Phoenix, Tiger 

began to drink tea and dance, 

make poems and sing 

the words of a Great Reweaving.

Not lost. 

     No cost. 

          And freedom.

The tea was keen to dance 

and teach in her own way.

“Humanity is full of

imperfections,” she said.

Relentless fear. 

     Cunning doubt. 

         And forgetting belonging.

“It is these imperfections 

that create the conditions 

for the rising up of 

the joys of Life.”

Fierce love. 

     Holy wonder. 

          And connection.

They prayed on behalf of humanity 

late into the night 

sending a forest benediction 

of exquisite light.

Autumn’s Gold

There is a gold

that heralds Death -

the aspen

tell me so.

Their quaking leaves

resound and laugh -

delight in haunting

us below.

The west winds 

join in warning:

A chill

is in the Air.

The time has come

 to cover

and for Winter

to prepare.

The Center Place

My heart is humming

with Love 

like the Ocean

within.

Now Listen

We rode the waves
of Summer’s passion
all the way
to the shore.

Now let us bury ourselves
in the cool, heavy sand
at the foot of the Mountain
and Listen.

Let’s whisper the weight
of our longings
and watch the stars appear
side by side.

The wisdom will arrive
with the tides
and we’ll know more about
Why we are here.