Somewhere
in darkness
a door closes
a circle and a line
strangely
when the light appears
it was always there
the next door opens
A circle and a line
An echo at the edge
An echo at the edge
of why
shapes and sounds
of inner sky
the heart and mind
speak the voice
of disappearing
lines of choice
I need to stop
what I’m pretending
and offer you a hand
with flowers bending
Measure
Is there a measure
for emotions moving
can there be patience with passion
and pointing words for wonder?
In the weariness of waiting
can calm follow confusion
and clarity become a comfort
and companion
Favourite story
It is a loving kindness
to allow an old friend or a husband
to tell you a story you both know
he has told you more than once before
you can even smile and comment
on the insightful observation
that follows at the end
you know it’s one of his favourite stories
Cuties on the bus
On the way home from an early morning medical test at the hospital I had to change from one bus to another. The schedule told me the #40 would be arriving within a couple minutes – a good connection I hoped.
As I waited at the Exchange, minute by minute it became clear my bus had left early! So I had to wait for the next bus.. Then a young mother walked up with her very little daughter. She was disappointed to have missed the bus as well – she had a job interview. We compared notes on making appointments when traveling by bus.
I have a few times had surprisingly personal conversations at bus stops! I told her a brief story of why I will be unable to drive the rest of my life. She responded by telling me she also was not going to be able to drive. She has a problem with her eyesight, a condition that gives her temporary blind spots in her vision.
The bus arrived and we got on. It happened that I was behind the little girl as we passed the driver. I had my bus pass ready to scan. I saw the sweetie had her “pass” clutched in her hand. It was a glossy paper of some kind, about half again bigger than a regular pass. It was decorated with a number of bright coloured stickers. The driver noticed her trying to get her “pass” through the scanner. Would you like to scan it, he asked her? She did. He helped her run it through and she moved towards seating. I ran mine through – it went Beep. I looked at the driver and said I’d take her pass ANY DAY! He agreed. Mother and her daughter sat two seats behind. I thought our interesting exchange was over. I hadn’t expected her daughter springing to life (into my life).
There were about four bench seats in front of me, behind the driver. A smiling grandmother lady got on with her very cute granddaughter and sat in front of me, leaving two empty seats. This little girl had pink angel wings extending from her back. She had a twinkle in her eyes but she became shy and turned away when my first cute little girl darted up to greet and perhaps play with the other girl.
Not able to make a new friend there, my first little sweetheart turned to me. She smiled and looked me over, then suddenly whipped off her floppy pink hat and handed it to me. I was more than bemused but I accepted it of course. I didn’t know what to do. I looked behind me and showed the pink hat to her mother. She just smiled and shrugged her shoulders helplessly.
Ok so I looked back at my new little friend, held up the hat and offered it back to her. She shook her head and pointed at me – I should keep it? Now I’m really bewildered. I mocked trying on the hat and told her it wouldn’t fit. She shook her head.
Not long after we arrived at my stop. The bus was crowded. I stood up to leave. Next thing I knew my little friend was standing in front of me with her little arm clearly blocking my way off the bus! I wasn’t going anywhere? I’ve never experienced anything like this adorable girl before. With her mother’s help I managed to give her back the floppy pink hat and get off the bus. I will never forget my adventure with the cutest little girl imaginable. I wished her mother good luck with her job interview. She smiled back and said thanks. Never forget. Never forget….
The deer and the frog
In our walk in the woods
around the duck pond yesterday
I observed a deer looking down on us
I would never see him
without some movement
he blends in so perfectly
even his eyes and ears turned towards us
could be enough
a few minutes later
only when he moved
I spotted a tiny green frog
he jumped twice away from us
thinking he was safer
when he stopped he immediately
became invisible to our eyes
movement indicates life
but can also draw danger
the opposite of intent
Airs of night
Although I move gently
across the floors of night
the earth knows every touch
although I breathe softly
in the airs of night
the sky knows every breath
although I do not speak
into the silence of night
the universe knows every thought
Lines of time
If you regret the ending
do you regret every step
along the way
if you regret the beginning
do you regret both the paradise
and the pain
can you find any spot
along the lines of time
where you would say
let it stop here
A wheelbarrow contemplates
What if a wheelbarrow discovered
it was carrying a load of bricks
should it stop and contemplate
or just carry on doing
what it was made to do
like I do
Small hands
The small hands of the child
feel the trembling
of the solar system
but he thinks it’s just a tree
and laughs and runs
towards the duck pond
he can hear them calling
daninmaya 