I give thanks for the day after
Thanksgiving Day
when the cooking’s
done, the feast’s been
held and there’s nothing much to do.
Left-overs will
feed the hungry
crew with little
effort from me. It’s then I can
finally settle
in with book, pen,
and cup of tea.
JDG
Her final word to me was “love”,
said as if she
were just naming
what was there – much
as a child, learning to talk,
sorts and names what
occupies her
world. She, though, was
looking through all separate forms
straight to the heart
of all that is,
was, and will be.
JDG
( In celebration of the life of Ruth Farrall )
When different elements meet,
each can become
more than they were
before. Just this
morning, on frosty ground, light met
water, fire
met ice, and this
alchemical
greeting led to sparks that lit up
an otherwise
cold and barren
separateness.
JDG
What I didn’t know when I first
began to write
was this: having
nothing to say
could be an opening, rather
than a closing;
a beginning
instead of an
end. It meant I had to listen
with new ears, look
with fresh eyes and
begin from here.
JDG
Wrapped loosely in soft silence, I
sit, slipping in
and out of sleep,
savoring this
moment before sun or kids or
dogs awake, when
the only things
stirring are my
own half-formed thoughts. The day will start
soon enough, but
for now I’m held
in quiet’s arms.
JDG
Robins fill the sky, signaling
winter’s rapid
approach. Just one
day ago, some
tiny snow flakes fell and I scraped
the first frost from
the car’s window.
We all prepare
in our own way for the coming
cold. Some fly south;
others stay and
seek warmth within.
JDG
When the student said her practice
was not going
well, the teacher
said, “It will pass.”
and when she returned to report
success, the Zen
teacher said, ” It
will pass.” These three
words, “It will pass”, are a strong cane
to help us walk
life’s uneven path
with steadiness.
JDG
Out where I live, we prepared as
best we could for
savage winds, downed
power lines, high
water and fallen trees. We came
through unscathed but
when we think of
others not so
fortunate, grief and gratitude
intertwine for
we know things could
have been reversed.
JDG
As the wind picks up, gold showers
down, carpeting
the rain soaked ground,
reminding us
of nature’s vast complexity.
All that has been,
all that is, and
all that will be
falls within her scope. May we use
our time upon
this golden ground
wisely and well.
JDG
An uneasy quiet settles
in today as
we await the
coming winds and
rain. Legged creatures, and winged ones
too, have searched for
sheltered spots. Now,
with supplies laid
in, our thoughts turn to other storms
somehow weathered.
May we be safe.
May all be well.
JDG
aholdingplace 