Awakening

The dread of pain
dawning on the mind
dragging the heart
sinking the stomach

The dread is so great
that the snake unfolds its hood
the snake that was previously a swan
floating on a blissful lake
touching gently all that it meets
only sweet notes arising

The dread, stones becoming boulders
again & again raining in, as years go by
the snake determined to protect his swan
till the swan is hidden by the coils
of the emboldened, empowered snake
the swan that blossoms now
only in solitude.

The snake wrings, wraps & hisses
at the hint of a pebble
But the swan is watching now
Trying to break free 
from what was once her protector

He writhes without her consent
in mindless fury
Buried under him, solitude is the only way
to ensure she still lives.

If she does break free, can she survive?
without the snake
she has to become translucent
to wisps of sweet smelling ether
through which all can pass
none can stay
engulfing the world
in sandalwood laden bliss.

Half an eye

I shall not reveal all of that I am,
Lest I be shamed for my play

I shall not spread my wings for all to see
Lest I be put in my place

I shall not bring forth my small successes
Lest I be reminded, how small they are

I shall not open my heart
Lest I be told that I should be someone else

I look within, because without, has failed me child
I show only that which I know
will be a clap on my back
because all else, is a rejection
of my tries, my failures, my lessons. 

Fear not, my love

Fear not, my love

You are a golden sunshine

That is meant to blaze the streets

As you stride in jolly gait

Fear not, beautiful one

You are the charming fox

Who is meant to cast the spell 

Of sideward glances and loving looks

Cower not, my sweet

You are not what they said you are

Throw away that burden they set upon

Your now frail shoulders

Do you remember how you were

The glint in the eye

The voice of a string instrument

What did they do to you, my love

What did they do to you, my sweet

Fear not, mine and mine

You will see you were never burdened

By everything they said 

It was just a wave, that you held dear 

That you thought weakened you

But it never did,

It disappeared into the ocean

Of you 

I will cradle your heart in mine

My love

The broken heart wounded by all

That searched for love

That it so deserved

I will cradle it till it heals

And then your heart will soar 

Like a lion you will roar 

You'll see what you are

Not burdened, not cowered

But a blaze of shining light

My love

-25 July 2024

Invisible Love

A glimmer of love in the darkest heart
Of the violent man who has never been loved
or has received it but not recognised it
Violent, always with the wounded hearts

The pain, a shadow in pitch dark
That comes from
not believing in the love
Of sieving out only the wrongs
and blinding out the tenderness

What human fatality is this?
That walls us up from the obvious love
of the breath that goes in and out
the heart that beats incessantly
the grain that merges with our flesh
the thought that flickers in our mind
We do none of it
And yet we think; no, we believe
That we do all of it
And this is the human predicament
that blinds us
from the obvious love

The sweet hum of creation

Why would it be revealed to me
The one who dwells in the gross
Soaked in desires of success all day
A base seeker who works more than she contemplates 

The hum, a delicate flower
The softest turn of a woman's waist
The tiniest string of an instrument
The delicate whisper of the mother divine

Revealed only to the one who becomes that fine
Soft cradling in the sensitivity of the heart
Quiet listening in the pulsating silence 
The one like air, who can slowly
delicately push aside the veil of the Beloved
to reveal her shy beauty 
till she roars through my being

Fear

The sinister darkness that lurks behind thought
Its weapon, the very water of you it clenches 
The sticky darkness that divides multifold
Tentacles masquerading as common traits

The greed you feel is not your ambition, no sir
Covetousness wrapped in faux freedom of desire
Wanting to eat, engulf, possess-deep in your depths
The very tentacles of fear, distorted even more
of disappearing if there is nothing possessed

The envy you feel is not inspiration, no sir
Pangs in your heart & chest 
Masquerading as fuel to 'do' in the world
The very tentacles of fear, separating you from all
Violence in its mildest hues
though not mild at all, within you.

Pride of Compassion

Watch the swell of pride

that bursts through your chest

a penny worth offering

you gloat your compassion

A high-nose wad to a scrawny boy

The dogs glutton leftovers you toss

delighted pity for the unfortunate friend

a badge of sympathy vulgarly flashed

Watch the bird that nests and feeds
the hatchling till flight
simply, unheeding of return
striving as is needed

no compassion, no frills

Watch the dog that follows you

eats what you offer it

lives and dies for you
with you

no compassion, no frills

Now look at you

The pride you take

In feeling sorry for another

In sharing a wad, some grub

Just because it is rare

doesn't make it valuable

It is a quiet accepting, allowing

compassion is

a soft inclusion 

a silent sorrow

tears of love

and a sliver of gratitude.