Where does one being end,
     and, where does a couple start? 
I am not sure anymore.

I know I can no longer exist as a single cell organism,
      reproducing into solitude.

One day I will accept 
     that the independence I gained through being with you
Becomes greater than going it alone.

And even though daily, I lose myself in you,
      I’m delighted that you found me. 

Sometimes, it takes a reminder to breathe.

A moment of stillness, and quietly,

Everything settles, softens.

And, makes space for imperfection. 

The harsh voice of judgment drops to a whisper.



We remember again that life is not a relay race.

All of us cross the finish line.

This is why we were born: to wake up to life.

As many times as we forget, 

And catch ourselves charging forward

Without even knowing where we am going.



We can make the choice
To stop, to breathe, to be and

Walk slowly into the mystery.

Somewhere deep within,
     there exists a firmer, simpler, warmer
          human being.

This human being trusts.

This human being accepts both
     the limits that give a human dignity,
          and the talents that the world awaits.

Somewhere deep within
     there lives a purpose that cannot be shaken,
          a love that no longer fears.

And a wisdom that ennobles life.

This human being expresses both
     the instrument,
          and the profound expression of life.

Events occur that we do not want to happen,

     However, we have to accept them.

Knowledge exists that we do not want to know,

     However, once learned we do not forget.

Some people we feel we cannot live without,

     However, we must let them go on their journey.

Distance tests love. Many fail,

     However, for those who understand,

They have an answer;

     True love.

Distance between two lovers

     Does not create obstacles.

Rather, it becomes a reminder,

     Of the strength of true love.

Who understands the mysteries of the poppies
      when you look across the red fields.
Or hear the sound of long thunder,
     then bask in the saving rain.

Everything beautiful,
      the solitude of the single body.
Or sometimes, too, when the body is kissed
     on the lips or hands or eyelids tender.

Oh, for the pleasure of living in a body.

It may be, it may one day be
     this is a world haunted by happiness.
Where people finally are loved
     in the light of leaves.

The feel of bird wings passing by.

Here it might be that no one wants power;
     they don’t want more.
And so they are in the forest, old trees,
     or those small but grand.

And when you sleep, rapture, beauty,
     may seek you out.
Listen: there is secret joy,
     sweet dreams you may never forget.

How worthy this being, this imperfect human body.

If, when you are there, you see women
     wading on the water and clouds in the valley.
The smell of rain,
     or a lotus blossom rises out of round green leaves.

Remember there is always something
     greater, and, yet, more humble than ourselves.

I’ve begun to travel light.
As I start this journey.
Preparing myself for today,
Since tomorrow is out of sight.

My tiny home is new;
Equipped to travel far and wide.
Warm and dry;
Sheltering me for years.

So many things I held onto.
I no longer need anymore.
I'll understand myself better
When I reach the far shore.

Having cleared my pathway,
Tomorrow dawns a better day.
Self-imposed burdens
Will suddenly wash away.

In the stillness of this night,
I’ve begun to travel light. 

Sometimes I long to be the woodpile,
Cut-apart trees soon to be smoke,
Or, even the smoke itself,

Sinewy ghost of ash and air, going
Wherever I want to, at least for a while.

Neither inside nor out,
Neither lost nor home, no longer
A shape or a name, I’d pass through

All the broken windows of the world.
It’s not a wish for consciousness to end.

After a while, you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining the soul.
You learn that love does not mean leaning,
And company does not mean security.

You learn that kisses are not contracts,
And presents are not promises.
You begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and eyes open.
With the grace of an adult,
Not the grief of a child.

You learn to build your roads for today;
Because tomorrow is uncertain,
And futures fall down in mid-flight.
You forgot that even sunshine,
Burns if you get too much.

So, plant your garden and decorate your soul,
Instead of waiting for delivered flowers.

You learn, then, that you can really endure.
That you really are strong.
And you do have worth.

A red brick chimney
     protrubes from a gray roof.

Like a periscope;
     these homes are all submarines,
          on these urban ocean floors.

Maybe we are deep sea divers,
     with trees of waving kelp.

As we walk these trenchs
     serving as our streets.

With each step we swim,
     breathing water.

And somewhere far above
     is real air, with a bright sky and sun.

We could see so clearly,
     and look down
          at the murky depths we left behind.

Sajjad Rizvi suggests the “very notion of Abrahamic religions is arguably Islamic” – and explains how he sees the relationship between Judaism, Christian, and Islam:

The Quran presents Abraham as an adherent of Islam, but here “Islam” means the primordial faith that connects humanity to one God and leads in turn to Judaism, Christianity and then historical Islam as proclaimed by Muhammad. There are some who view Islam as a faith that supersedes the two earlier monotheistic religions. But I think it’s more useful to understand Islam as a religion that is self-conscious about its relationship to Judaism and Christianity and explicitly takes account of their scriptures and traditions. Almost all the prophets of the Quran will be familiar to those who know the Bible, and the Quran explicitly refers to parables, ideas and stories from the Bible.

The common roots — and inheritances — of the three faiths make it useful for us to think seriously in terms of a Judeo-Christian-Islamic civilization and heritage that we all share. The development of philosophy in Islam also shows a common tradition of rationality. Anyone with a basic understanding of the categories of Aristotle’s thought employed by Christian and Jewish thinkers would find many of the arguments of Islamic philosophers and theologians familiar. The great Islamic philosopher Avicenna (10th-11th century) developed a metaphysical notion of God that had a tremendous impact on the Latin west: the idea that God is the necessary being required to explain the existence of every contingent being.

From The Dish, Andrew Sullivan. http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2014/10/01/the-father-of-three-faiths/  

I learned not to set my heart on anything.

I looked as if I have had my share of loneliness.

I guess this is all right.

When you’re scalded, touch hurts.

One of the scalded recognizes another.

And touches…carefully…always.

We are both haunted.

Part of the beauty of our bond

     Is our mutual willingness

          To honor the integrity of our former lives.

Empty inside,
     Hard to breath.
          Difficulty sleeping at night,
               Cannot close my eyes.
Unpleasant thoughts that repeat over and over again.

I want to return to a normal day,
     With bad memories slowly fading away. 

          My cries go unanswered. 
Asking why this happened?

So now I know...what it feels like to lose a loved one.


This is for a friend suffering the pending loss of a family member.