it is in the searching

where we truly live 

At Last

Listen to the birds

outside the door

speaking in song

I ask myself

Am I truly listening 

or am I merely waiting

to speak?

We must often do the impossible

and reconcile the world 

with our own heart.

I grow older but I do not grow 

more numb to the world.

I grow older and I feel myself

a greater part of humanity.

My joy and disappointment 

are mirror images.

I grow older and realize 

I must be gentle with 

the fractured and broken.

All of us are so.

I grow older and cannot 

consume blindly and 

without thought.

I must have restraint.

Does the deer dream?

Does it dream of the forest?

Of fresh water?

A quiet valley?

A land without fear?

Some mornings

I sit and must remind myself

that no feeling is final

that I must breath

that this is all there is

this eternal present

this perpetual gift

All these words

All these thoughts

like leaves on a tree

sharing a branch

sharing a body

living

changing

returning home

at last

I have to breath slowly, mindfully

My body is demanding rest

To slow down the pace

Just for now

I am listening

Crest and trough 

it's all the same wave

carrying us along 

Surviving

Old friend

I am thinking of you even now

Even through the years

Knowing there is struggle 

in your heart

Struggle in your life

You said

when you are able

you will reach out again

Here I wait 

wondering when

that might be

wondering if you are 

surviving yourself

and these days

I want to write a haiku

Too lazy to count syllables

This is close enough 

Every

Every day

Every morning

Every afternoon

Every evening

Every night

Every dream

Every nightmare

Every thought

Every action

Choice

Circumstance

Consequence

is ours

What will 

you make 

of it?

Lifetimes

Through how many lifetimes

Have we remained faithful

All of them

And so in this one 

we too remain

dedicated to this

self-given task

Open yourself

Unclench the fist

Let the blood circulate

through veins 

and capillaries

Find the words again

and again

as you always have