Late work, early dark
(Breathe to settle a mind)
I hear the blues a callin’
(Breathe to settle a mind)
But no matter if I’m confused
(Breathe to settle a mind)
I always know what to do-
(Breathe to settle a mind)
-with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs!
My first was dark brown
A mala of seed.
My next was stone
Pattern of beads.
Another, like glass
Shimmered in light.
And then one of wood
Reminding of life.
That last one was given
A time it was most needed
It set itself free
When its influence receded.
Eighteen months since
My wrist remained bare
The tool and vessel
Replaced by air:
I take it in
Turn it to breath
Let it go
One closer to death.
Free from tether
Mind, body, and soul can drift
While without my mala
I tested life’s gift.
A piece of material
I fully understand
It is only but a focus
As close as my hand.
I made yet another
That now wraps my wrist
Stones made in the Earth
Far from sun-lit mist.
Under the mountains
Where the pressure was keen
And from the mouth of volcanoes
Where the heat is extreme.
From the dark
To the light
Wrapping round
Tied tight.
Bringing them together
Also brings me to myself
A bead in the middle
Unique to all else.
It is dark brown
From an old, mala of seed
And from it, a tassel
As blue as the breeze.
Because that is but air
Moved by Earth and sun
A thing that was once breath
From the mouth of One.
Concert in the park
People brought lawn chairs
I found a nice log!
Two hands, two eyes
One heart, three minds.
A walker joined me for some days;
He drank all my beer and ate all my food.
He had many stories,
And many blisters.