Nature Talking

walk the beach

feel the sand

the warmth, the coolness 

the radiant graininess 

wisdom doesn’t come

floating in with the tide

listen to the shells direct dial

hear the ocean

what does it tell you?

talk to it, it’s listening 

see the stars

they see you, yes they do

wonder what they are thinking 

when they look down on us  

make a wish

look for constellations, tune into their stations

50,000 watts on your am dial

get lost in the darkness

let it entomb you 

let the stars guide you 

the stars know all

they won’t lead you astray

That Was Then

some things are better left unsaid

cups on red

1 2 3 look at me

a curtain of uncertainty 

you’re not going to the shopping mall

you just sitting in an empty hall

your eyes are in a criss cross

your mind now just applesauce 

you used to play the music loud

waving arms with the crowd 

but now it’s all long gone

you’ve forgotten the words to that song

that’s the way it sometimes goes

now side by side with only those

that do not know, that do not care

that you once wore flowers in your hair 

once sang for love, sang for peace

marched with throngs in the streets

sat in full lotus, did your zen 

but this is now, that was then

now you’re just a curiosity 

not half the soul you used to be

lonesome living in your tiny room

and feel the bristles of the broom

sweeping you into the black dustpan

to be tossed away now only sand

all you can do is stare at the wall

oh the irony of it all

Your Way

Don’t think your way is the only way, or the best way, merely that it is your way. Your way is your way. Have it your way, not somebody else’s. There are ten ways up the mountain. Some of which are paths that can't be seen from the valley. They all get to the top. Take your time. Hike your hike. Ride with care on your funky mountain bike.

Some have an understanding so great, it’s not understood. Sometimes when you stop trying to understand, you will understand. Without understanding, you understand. No need to say a word. If you know, you know. Zoom by and pass go. Often, it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission.  

We don’t all need to go the same way. Let others go their own way. If they get there they get there. You got enough to think about. Make sure you stay on your path. Make sure you get there. It all ends up the same way. All rivers lead to the ocean. All roads lead to Rome. Life is a dream walking. Death is going home.

Sweeping Corners

let me slide my way on out here

be on my way my way

call the shots; 9-ball side pocket

there’s only so many words

only so many notes

so many chords

so much time

so       what

what’s a man to do

but hit the highway __________

go where the hurricane of fate takes him

buckle up and hold on to the bar

through the loopy loops

the sweeping corners

the esses, the bus stop, and the carousel

go where he wants to go 

it don’t come easy

if it comes at all 

a year full of friday the thirteenths

blood moons

Birds Are Singing

hear birds singing, why do they sing
nothing to be happy about

a cool morning but so uncool

I see a wooden fence barely standing 

held up by waterlogged half-rotten posts

thick orange yarn, rope, small lengths of chain

an old style long white extension cord

to keep from falling down 

like the drunk stumbling out of a bar at closing time 

grabbing at rails, door handles, walls

to keep from face planting and turning his nose

of the part above his eyebrows into a bloody mess

tall logs from a fallen tree fill in the gaping gaps

keeping the dogs inside the yard

see my boot outside in yard

laying in the grass, the victim of a dog

who at least didn’t chew on it 

Candle

if I had a candle 

on this gloomy, moody night 

to put in the window

always thought it looked cool on cold nights

a signal to the wandering traveler

to see a lonely candle in a window burning away

on one of my sojourns in the evening 

in the rain, in the snow, I don’t care

on one night per year (I don’t remember which one) maybe November 1

you’re supposed to put a burning candle in each window 

to commemorate the dead of the family 

sounds cooly anotherworldly

turn off all the lights and bask in the glow of candlelight 

frightening the neighbors at the sight

must be some kind of devil worship thing going on

at the house of Alexander they would think

and I would let them think that

so that they keep their distance 

Hut

where I’m going? what?

crunching leaves meditation hut

haven’t used much lately 

sauna in the summer

cooler temperatures are here 

I’ll use it more to hide

from the world/from everybody

there’s lizard poop, maybe rat poop

the rats don’t come in there much anymore 

since I removed the doors 

they prefer a private room

knew we had something in common

some leaves in there from last year or years further past

some new ones from this year WELCOME!

old jar of incense bought at a Chinese store downtown

it must have had like 100,000 sticks in it

been using them for years and there’s still a lot left

dented and patinaed tin of candles and matches

couple shelves where some antique tools used to hangout

now gone to that great toolbox in the sky

old broom worn down practically to the nubs

soon to be swept away itself 

I once waved it at a black bear who surprised me

while I pretended I was in deep silence 

fortunately he wasn’t too big or menacing 

high-tailing it over a fence

spiders and snakes crawl and slither by

opossums meander past

squirrels jumping branch to branch

in the big oaks and pines 

some dead wood on the roof I leave for decoration 

Rhythm

Turn off the lights. Maybe maybe burn some hypnotic incense, or a candle. Sit quietly. Let your mind decompress, unwind, loosen up. Unravel and disentangle. Find a rhythm that relaxes you and let it play. Go for walks at night and look at the moon. Look at the stars and the constellations. See the planets. They see you, yes they do.

Who can guess where a snowflake will fall until it touches the ground? Who knows when and where the next raindrop will fall? Voices can be heard in the whispering winds. When the pines sigh and the leaves on the maples shake, it is speaking to us. Communications and communiques in beautiful language of nature 

Let things flow within you as naturally as the water flows down the mountain. Into the creeks and rivers and all the way to the sea. Let the rocks and trees and seas and mountains be your anchor. If you understand the love letters sent by the rain, the wind, the sun, and the snow, there is no need to read anything else. Real teaching don’t come from a dusty book.

Dateline NOLA

it was pretty quiet that night on Bourbon St.

not many people walking around

the music was turned down, then off

let ‘em work on the victim in peace

a stab wound, a fatal wound 

the drink will flow the blood will spill indeed

rooted in randomness

police cars all around

that tamped down the festivities

how dare they?

a fire truck washing down the sidewalk

hide that unsightly blood

tonight it’s back to normal

loud music, loud people

the liquor will pour

who could ask for more?

life in the French Quarter goes on

except for the guy who got slashed

and was D.O.A.

Your Mission

Make it your mission. 

Keep it simple.

Keep things simple. Simple as possible. 

Declutter your life. Get rid of those things that hem you in. Be patient. All good things come to those who wait. Patience isn’t easy. It can be hard in this world, but do try. Be in control of your emotions. Don’t let others be in control of them. Take it easy. Take it easy on yourself if you occasionally slip-up. It happens. Don’t beat yourself up over it.

Go with the flow~~~~~~ but don’t get carried away. As much as you can, ride the tide ^^^^. Don’t get swept to where you don’t wanna be. Flow over or under the dam or logs in the way. Flow over the banks if that’s what it takes. Color outside the lines and don’t get locked into the confines. Make sure you still have control. Find harmony in all things in the universe. It’s there if you look for it. 

Drift quietly like clouds that pass through the sky. Change as effortlessly as they do. Clouds are sometimes high. Sometimes they’re low, so just let things go. Throw the dice. Be white, be blue, be gray...just be...be what you be. Don’t let others decide your colors for you. Show your true colors. Don’t be afraid to let the sun shine, or to rain or snow sometimes. It keeps things interesting.