Surrender

-------Surrender-------

Like a windbreak of Cottonwood

bending 

in toward the garden

I surrender

to that unseen

To that powerful

and delicate 

wonder

Who softens the storm

into a breeze

And uplifts 

each 

little leaf

To re-member in

to flowers.

-------

Paying Attention

-------Paying Attention-------

Over those 

who

observe flowers

Loneliness

will hold

no power

For inside 

each 

there is a seed,

A precious flame

which presence 

feeds.

So when 

the world

attempts to plunder

The innocence

of love 

and wonder

Know that you

are not 

alone

That plants are friends

and the garden 

home.

-------

Further

-------Further-------

If there is fear 

behind your anger

and loneliness 

within that fear

Do not look for company

in the blaming 

of an 

other.

The only way 

out 

from despair

is knowing we each belong.

But discrimination

takes us

further 

from ourselves.

-------

Go There

-------Go There-------

A thousand 

years 

of violence

Have passed down

and settled 

inside this body.

Avoiding this can be distracting,

but is not 

a cure for pain.

To heal

I must

go there,

Reckon with those 

of my 

descent

Be they victim 

or 

violator

And convey light

into that 

darkness.

For what is untended

cannot

be mended

And silence

keeps safe

the hurt.

-------