In the Absence of Shadows

-------In the Absence of Shadows-------

I don't see God,

but I can hear the children playing,

and always, somewhere, on this darkened earth

the sun is rising.

I have nothing of my own

except for everything that I share with you.

It is in this absence 

that I pray.

-------

The Peasants of Industry

-------The Peasants of Industry-------

The entirety of human perfection 

can be realized 

on One 

Small 

Farm.

In few other places 

is the wealth of simple living so wholly defined, and 

Nature so honored, 

everyday.

-------

Ode to Deep Sea Fishing

-------Ode to Deep Sea Fishing-------

All that mock, that prideful plea,

pulls the pride from worried me -

akin to Old Men out at Sea

the fish that pulls my boat 

   is me.

The more I pull, the more I shout,

I'm further pulled from solid ground -

"I know," my Love, "I needn't doubt,

I need not drag this boat 

   around."

But pride's persistent inside my head,

"Let go the line and you'll be dead!" -

so I tear the sheets from heavens bed

to hide the wounds my fighting's 

   fed.

But fear knows not the truth 'bout death,

for I live and die with every breath -

the giving up, the giving in.

I cut the line. 

   I fail

      and win.

-------

Painting on Snow

-------Painting in Snow-------

We are given 

eyes 

to know the light as it changes

and hearing 

to remember silence.

Without Winter there would be no Spring.

And the old story goes on.

Redundant with reverence,

upon birdsong 

and flowers.

Like drops 

on a 

canvas.

-------

Growing to Give Up

-------Growing to Give Up-------

Another year older 

and closer to a child.

Emptiness has become by dearest friend

and wandering, 

the path to my Soul.

Letting go is like a shovel taken to the rubble of fear and time;

when hands take the tool, digging becomes the easy part.

For we are diggers by Nature,

believers

and children always.

-------

At End, a Beginning

-------At End, a Beginning-------

Songs of the weathered stone

have made their way 

to our soul 

in the fruits of the earth.

A child smiles

and our world crumbles.

A flower flowers

from the Winter's garden.

Every song dies 

upon its making;

and every seed 

to sow anew.

These are the gifts

that hold us true.

Those who have

let go

are now free

to sing.

-------

A Humble Abode

-------A Humble Abode-------

The richness of this World 

is seen through the Hallowed eyes of the poor;

   the frugal ones whose vision 

is not cluttered by piles 

of un-needed things.

In this House, 

 built of earth and bone,

each and every empty room 

will be filled with 

Love.

-------

Hallowed Be Thy Name

-------Hallowed Be Thy Name-------

Prejudice is the 

outward 

expression of separation 

within.

It is 

Our Nature

to do right and to forgive,

to love and to live peacefully -

All 

together 

and all 

together Good.

To die with peace 

is to have lived rightly;

to be loved 

One must always love.

We have come here 

to be immersed 

in the glory 

of Emptiness -

to celebrate 

the infinite colors of black and white as the One color of endless light;

to celebrate

the quiet around notes and stories, that erupt in the heart a joyful noise;

to celebrate

the pause between breath and the hollowed bliss of the little death;

to celebrate!

Prejudice is 

the separation of something from nothing,

something 

that need not exist.

For there is glory and

freedom and justice 

in the Emptiness

within.

-------

And Dreams Come True

-------And Dreams Come True-------

A King 

is only Man

and only Man 

can dream.

Dreaming 

makes Man a King

as Man 

gives life to the Dream.

-------

To Dance with Grief, To Dance with Joy

-------To Dance with Grief, To Dance with Joy-------

In this Great Dance of Life

Death is but 

one 

step.

To live in fear of It,

is to not 

dance 

at all.

-------