POETRY
"Poetry is truth made beautiful." Michael Sayers
The following poem was based on a very special heart meditation that Panditji Rasmani Tiquinait, gave at his Enter the Cave of the Heart Conference in November 2002.
Hrit Manasa Puja (Heart Meditation)
I am...
Earth
Like the home of worms
and the hollow calling of Aspen mountains
Like the minerals in my bones
like the chalk from cliffs of Dover
like the ruby on my finger
like the soil dropped on coffin
like the sands of desert and
the earth that delivers the farmer�s field
Like the pebble in my shoe.
I am...
Water
like the tear in an elephant�s eye
like the spittle from mother to baby bird
like the wet of mud
like the steam off the dead body turning cold.
like the celebration of roaring river
like the moist in vapor from rotting plum
like the water in glass
that sits below conversation at the corner cafe.
Like the saliva that rises on my tongue
from expectation of hunger met.
I am...
Fire
Like the destruction of bomb and bullet
in the blaze of war
Like the courage in the heart of heroes
to save their burning comrades.
Like the heat and glow from chimney
that warms the holiday into cozy comfort.
Like the flame of your pillowed glance
as your naked truth meets mine
in the poignant silence of awaking.
Like the combustion of a distant star.
i am...
Air/Prana
Like the wind that spreads the seed
and piles the untethered into corners.
Like the clean subtle fineness of air
left in temples after the devoted
have returned to their day
Like the thickness suspended
in vibrating stillness
between Chopin movements passionately performed.
Like the joy of my breath as autumn
hits my lungs
and the gratitude for color, earthy smell, the crunch of orange gold leaves
is expelled back into Fall wonder.
I am...
Space
Like the space before the was,
the void that births creation
The pauses in my thoughts
Like the emptiness that exists after.
Like the in-between that defines the two
so we can better know our oneness.
Like the dark void in my lonely, hopeless grief
that cuts my gut like guillotine
as I dare to face life without you.
Like the draw of the unwritten future.
Like the substance of all possibility.
Like the place of the forgotten.
I am...
Moon
Whose silver soothes
as her mysteries of soul unfold
Whose pull creates the rhythm, cycles of time
that reference my awareness
or lack of
Who lights the night
and coats lover�s dreams
Who delights the minds of children
with myth of man and cheese
whose gentle, mothering rocks and teaches,
protects me in my sleep.
I am...
Sun
Whose light builds, sustains,
brings beginning of day.
The sun whose rays I absorb on chilled cheek
take in from the plants I eat,
whose brilliance I share
beyond boundary or country or mood.
Who lights my heart, freckles my skin,
fuels my action, energizes my resolve.
I am...
Me
flawed imperfect self
glorious divine self
my only-mine expression of She
me, as drop to the ocean
as drop in the ocean
as ocean
Me, in my resplendence when i let
the gift of Her shine
Me, when I believe in the realness of the shadow
Me in my compassionate acceptance
of humanness, limits, shortcomings
me, as her choice to manifest in all these forms
Boundless expanse of me as She.
I am, I am not
I dissolve into nothing, return as everything
I leave Her, though she never leaves me
She is me and I am her
She is all, I am one with all
She is permanent, though I often come and go.
Always, until..., again, forever.
