Poems

ANOTHER POEM ON THE LAMB OF GOD

There is a tender,
shy-eyed wisdom
that seeks to pour
her silver waters
of ecstatic rest
into the open, glass vase
of an empty soul.
There is a velvet flower
that only unfolds
in the effervescence
of these waters.
There is a drop of dew
on the lip of that flower
mirroring angels
in all the earth and sky.
There is a shy-eyed face
hidden in everything.



ON THE FREE MOVEMENT OF CREATIVE WISDOM

There is an ecstasy
in open-hearted rest:
the blue breezes of day
sweep through unhindered
by stones;
the silver waters of wisdom
flood through
quietly, wetting everything--
or come as a flash and spurt
shivering the belly
and the bones.



ROSE BREATH OF THE WEST

Why not live every day
in ecstatic emptiness,
in Eshoo's flowing fullness?
This sweet gentleness
of rose breath
is God's rest:
It is the mitzvah of the Hebrews,
the flowering grace
in Francis's holy bosom--
it is the fragrant, unwavering flame
around which Rumi twirled.




GOD IS CREATIVE GENIUS

God is pure, creative genius:
what else can I say about this One
but that?
When God wells up,
floods down,
envelopes in silk,
trickles through the naked core,
the images flow:
seeking to express
the transparency of the shiver,
the soft blow of rose breath
in blood and warm bones.




FALL BACK, YES! DROP IN

We can always keep accepting,
always keep emptying,
always let the rose breath blow.
If a rat builds an muddled nest
in the mind, in the tight belly,
let the wind carry it away.
If a cold stone drops,
let it tumble in a warm river.
If a worm eats into your apple,
throw the apple in God's press:
its golden juices will flow.
It is Eshoo who ever
keeps blowing...
O freedom!
O velvet delicacy!
His white wind,
(this movement
of unmoving light...),
is everywhere and always!
So open up soul
and fall back,
Yes!
drop in.



WISE BLAMELESSNESS

When innocence comes again,
it is called wise blamelessness:
it is the melting away of anxiety,
the flowing openness of God.
It is the sprinkling
of Christ's grace-blood
all over the head and hands,
the throat, the breasts,
the belly, the loins.
It is bare feet in wet grasses
and a yellow flame glistening
in your hair.




DAY AND NIGHT IN CHRIST

The clear mind opens.
Stars pour in;
a glitter of moon light.
The sun arises,
coloring the mind golden and blue.
A silent ecstasy is felt
in light amongst the leaves.