I Have Longed For You

I have longed for you for many a day. Today I trudge through the melting snow to find my home, my refuge. I can feel the sun beating upon my cheek and as I gaze upon the sky so blue. For this moment, I am serenaded by the chirping birds in the distance.

There is nothing in the world like gazing up to an endless blue sky.

Magical things have happened here. One day as my children and I spoke of hunters one appeared leaving the brush with his bow and arrow in camouflage. Another day we spoke of giant turtles. For the past 15 years of coming to this waterside I have never seen one but on that glorious day I spied one through the clear waters of my pond. I can feel its magic every time I open my eyes after meditation and it is good so good and magical so magical. 

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Withered Leaf

Sister leaf, you stand trapped 

between branches of a wild bush completely entangled. 

Will you make it through the end of autumn?

Will you make it through the winter with its heavy snow and fierce winds? 

Will you make it to the spring and welcome buds anew 

or 

have crumbled to the ground?

Oh, withered leaf are you being supported by these bare branches or are you 

just 

hanging on?

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That Is All

Struggling...oh what will get me through tomorrow

Focus... on today and this present moment 

I can hear my footstep and the sweeping wind

I can see my meditation pond and can feel the winter chill through my body  

That is now and that is all

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Springtime Bloom

Oh flower, I eagerly await your springtime bloom

One early morn at sunrise I came with a shovel and hope, yes hope 

and planted your flower bulbs in three separate locations by 

my meditation spot at the waterside

May I witness at least one of your blooms

May the giant irises' regal presence bring amazement and joy, 

magical joy 

to others

For at this moment 

I give thanks for these seeds of hope, 

my hope

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Lullabies

...and the wind whispered the secret tales of the woods 

Come with me and I shall cradle you and sing lullabies

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Stop

                                                                    photo by Judy Lepore

Open to the light of a brand new moment. 

Life is made of moments…one moment hooked to the next.

STOP all thoughts

STOP all actions

STOP

Let the light of love and faith shine above me. 

Even in the throes of darkness there is possibility and in possibility lies hope. 

Oh, take me out of the darkness. 

Take me into the light.

Let me open my hands long enough to feel your warmth and support.

Oh darkness, may this night be short.

May I be able to focus on the heavenly stars and moon for they are part of me, 
as I part of them. 

I look upon these heavenly bodies knowing we are one…distance and time no longer exist.

May I feel just an iota of the sun’s rays rest upon my brow. 

May I be able to share a healing moment with all.

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Initiative

The doing may be 

good but the initiative 

is my challenge

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Veterans Day

                                                                    photo by Rachel Kole

And they said, “Lay down and I will carry you…

across the fields, 

over the hills, 

through the valleys, 

from sunrise 

to sundown 

My arms are strong so when you are weak, worried and weatherbeaten 

I will be here to keep you free, 

keep you safe" 

And for this I am thankful, so thankful

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Skin

Today there is a gentle breeze and soft light emanating peace around me

I now know 

within me lies the same breeze and light glowing from my core

bathing every organ, muscle, and bone 

We sing and sway 

for today, 

this moment, 

I know we are one 

and the only thing that separates us is skin 

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Symphony

It is not necessary to physically connect with kindred spirits 

just listen to their music 

and know 

they are part of your symphony

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Serenity

This morning I can 

see 

serenity in the calmness of the sea

In the hush of the breezes I can

hear 

serenity

In the firmness of the ground I can 

feel 

serenity

Joy, oh Joy, oh Joy

The sun shines upon my heart 
this morning 

There is a gentle smile in my spirit and
 I feel grounded 

And for this I give thanks

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Today

Today I sit on my jacket so I can let the ground support me. 

Today I sit under the canopy of trees so I can let them shelter me from the rain. 

Today I listen to the bird's song and let them lift my spirits

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NYC Climate March

For within 

clarity 

there can be light.

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A Prayer For Caitlyn

The reflection of the forest lies upon my spring waters. 

Tell me about your stillness 

Tell me about peace

Let me feel the warm rays of the sun rest upon my cheek

Let me sing again

Let me dance again 

Let me follow you

This sadness leads me on

A path of forgiveness

A path of hope

A path of faith

I may not be a religious person but in my heart I know you are with me

Hear my calls of grief

Hear my sobs within 

Hear my disbelief

Come walk with me

Lead me out of this storm

Lead me to that place 

Called acceptance

Called love 

Called hope 

Peace be with you 

As you lie upon green pastures

As you rise up 

Let me touch you one last time

I am comforted by happy memories of you

I keep thinking of all of my departed ones

People and pets 

For they are there 

To take you under their wings 

And teach you to fly 

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A Tragedy

And she came to me whispering through each treetop sharing love, only love, pure perpetual love in each word. In each sentence bloomed the seeds of our conversation and in each page I could feel its smooth, calming flow while each chapter cultivated the feelings that only time can heal. And so this book is written. 

There is a heaviness in the air tonight, last night, as well as tomorrow to come.  Loss at such a young age… loss. Oh Caitlyn you will be missed. May only love prevaiI. Today I weep, we all weep. May your family be comforted by others. Within our hearts today..my heart, my sweet Hannah’s heart, Elaine’s heart, Jesse’s heart and so many more… may it shelter your family with strength, support and compassion.

What was once a shining star is now shrouded with pain and suffering but when this black cloud is lifted, the stars will sparkle again... yet this time it will be a seed from a light cultivated with the joy and love in which she shared with all.

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Shades of Gray

When the last shade of gray is lifted

My g-d there is light

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Blanket

 

Oh mother

what warm blanket

doeth thou hold for me?

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A Pause

 

 

Our slow deep breath

gives our bodies and minds

a pause

and lets us feel

the constant peaceful energy

that always exists

 

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Imperfections

 

As I get close enough to touch you 

 

I can see your imperfections

but

can you see mine

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I Shall Never Pray to My Guru

 

I shall never pray to my guru. Even though my guru is the greatest, wisest spirit that I can perceive .

My guru is just leading me on to the stairway into an opening

Raising me towards a greater love and a higher conscientiousness

Leading me to the connectivity of all life

 

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Teachers

Our teacher

may be a person,

may be a place,

may be a part of nature,

may be anything

 

But it is up to us to open ourselves enough to learn its lessons

 

I keep looking for a person

But I can only feel my lessons thru the tree, the water, the stars...

Sometimes I feel very lonely 

 

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Internal Light



Let my internal light

illuminate

my path.

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Walks of Peace

I love how you serenade me with the birds' songs

and the gentle breezes throughout  the trees

   

Your perfumed scents of wild roses and honeysuckle...

unfettered innocence, joy

        

 And your taste upon my lips of sour grass and mint.

 

I honor these walks of peace and inspiration.

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Chose Light

Have I chosen this path or has it been chosen for me?

Will my next step be...

into the darkness through the light or into the light through the darkness?

 

Chose light always chose light

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And So I Did

 

And this large branch was blown down in the storm

 

Its wound bore no pain just openness

From the middle jutted out virgin wood

I tried to break some off for it was so beautiful  

It would not budge
 

In the process a small remnant shattered off and fell into my hand

I held a small piece of its bark

its outside was bumpy and cold

Yet the inside was seasoned wood,

a ruddy orange almost red, a blood orange.

 It was quite jagged yet smooth in places not expected

It said quite clearly “Take me home”

and so I listened

 and so I did.   

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Perpetual Awe

I walk to you today

The ground maybe soggy from all of the rain these past few days

but it is firm enough for me to go forward

and forward I shall go

The art class, yoga teacher training, spending more time with my husband
Life is changing
My children are getting ready to leave the nest 
My hand is cramping from this writing

but my heart, her cup runneth over

I am so grateful

you will still be my constant

With you I have a destination
With you I have support

With you I see beauty
With you in your naked form I am never alone

To you I come as you leave me in perpetual awe

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Dim

 

Today I see a dull reflection of the sun upon still waters. She whispers, “If you wait long enough the clouds will drift away and my bright light will prevail. Patience my child, patience and remember your hopes and dreams can shine bright even though my light may be dim.”

 

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Still Here

Today I come to you. The humidity is so heavy I can feel it masking my skin and pulling my eyelid’s down, “sleep, sleep, sleep”.

Where is hope today? I awoke this morning. I walked to you my spring waters. I do not wear my diamonds. I do not wear my light ... for today I am still here and for this alone I give thanks.

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Summer Morning

 

This morning the pond is covered by a green carpet of algae. I feel this urge to interact with these waters and make a ripple but cannot find anything heavy enough to do what I quest… no rocks or heavy branches, none.

 

Did I look hard enough or did I just scan the surface?  I see a tall but thick weed, break it, and throw it in but it is too light to make a difference. It just floats above not moving, not making a difference, none.

I decide to continue to search and lo and behold, I spy a heavy branch. Yes. I run to the waterside again…stand on a mound and with leverage throw it in…yes ripples. In that moment of contact the water became clear and opens itself to me.

Oh clear water which lies below even though you are covered again with algae, I know for that moment I felt joy. How long did that moment last?  It’s just a matter how one perceives time.

How deep was the joy?  It’s just a matter of how long I opened my heart.

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Stormy Skies

 

I stand with firm ground beneath my feet

but

I

refuse

to

accept

it

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Calling My Name

I feel sorry for the people who don’t see beauty in nature for in this wilderness  there is always a lover calling my name.

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Yes, There Is a G-d

The longer I live the more there is to love

Love is infinite

As long as I can hear the gaggling geese, the guttural call of the toad and the xylophone chirping symphony of the lark and the robin, I know I am alive

In the midst of such grandeur I can feel g-d and it is good so good

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Full Bloom



Today hope

is in

full bloom

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My Girls, 2

 

And the girls

will be home from school

My quiet life will be

spiced with

frustration, joy, companionship and purpose

What will the months ahead hold? 

I await them to share our hopes and dreams

Things may change

Things may stay the same  

But my love for them is unconditional

My love for them is a constant

 

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A New Language

 

And I open my eyes to the light

I am basked in light, inspiration and joy

 

This morning all I can say is that

I feel alive, so alive 

 

You have opened my door and today

I can see the other side 

 

I write of peace

I write of love

I write of joy

 

For this moment

I want to bare my soul and enlighten all

You elevate me and teach me a new language

 

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