Abundant with the Body

The sacred motion of this verse
moves me to laughter

the trial of my brother
fosters forgiveness

suffering in each breath
before the gentle hands
of God lifts the earth.

Plant the roots deep here,
where tears mix with the sky
and the forester
is given the gift
of nurturing
love from soil
and stretching
to the stars.

Joy is easy here.
As easy as leaning into
all that is awake
and abundant
with the body.

Terminal

Spin around
until you are dizzy
dancing with the galaxy

Terminal with loving kindness
that is the healing salve,

the lowly
offering of relief
from all the urgent pain
we all suffer

just to suffer
until we open our eyes,

awake to our simple call
to prayer.

Chosen

Let me be frank
as I punctuate
the ways we choose sides

The games of children
hosey and chisel the hope
from even the brightest spirits

I  am lost.
The last to be remembered.
The last to be asked
about my own life.

I ask someone
to take my hand
in a holy circle
and lead me
to the other side.

Let me be chosen
for something
that means anything
to God.

Endless Winter

The wattle of too much pride
hangs from the wizened experiences
of the winter that wouldn't end.

Even as the warmth and light
wake me into a pinkish flush,
it does no good to try and convince
the mind to let well enough alone
and rest.

I cough into the cave of disbelief
and sigh, exhausted
from the repetition of my mistakes.

Lungs wheeze and contract
with breath that must struggle
and blow like a wind
across the parched prairie
of day after day
of denial.

Lie Like a Fox

I wither
in the heat of this sun,
bound like a poor slave
and unable to steer my way
onto a peaceful path
where cool shadows of ferns
and flowers whisper relief.

The lobe of my ear waits
patiently for patient truth to guide me
toward the light of home.

I am listening for the joy of birds
but there is no rest in the night
for the fox has stirred all the branches
with his rough and hungry mind.

I Love My Children

Healthy
Whole
Kind
Patient
Funny
Creative
Smart
Intelligent
Peaceful
Thoughtful
Strong
Beautiful
Handsome
Focused
Determined
Wise
Sensitive
Attentive
Curious
Stubborn
Hungry
Thirsty
Angry
Sad
Lazy
Sleepy
Flexible
Entertaining
Loving
Mine

Outside the Simplicity of Skin

What do I know of the journey
dreary as I meander
on a damp and slithering trail?

By the lamp that watches the slight
variations of air as I exhale,
you might think that the breath
was something to flop past
and trounce before it gets control.

That is not necessarily the case
and we can, instead, watch summer bugs
with hard shells and wings
know the way,
the slime and abandoned places to avoid
just long enough to retreat
and make a new life in the simplicity
and solitude

outside of skin.