Tender is the birth of joy.
Though the lies of fear disturb,
innocence will not betray us.
As we move from dark to light
look within and see what rises –
that ray of kindness
in the temple of your heart
will surely save us all.
photograph by Sandy Brown Jensen
Reading of “Temple of Your Heart” with music by Maryliz Smith
What a sweet & hopeful offering!
Thank you, Poet Brother…
Yes. Exactly.
“Tender is the birth of joy” .. .. reminds me of the essence of springtime ~
Meaningful Don, in so many ways immediate in this life. One of those ways is the manner in which your words naturally draw to remembrance the life and service of Thich Nhat Hahn, who surely was a ray of kindness in the Temple of the World Heart. Tender is this new moment of birth available to each of us—innocence of heart and mind do not betray, but unify.
“. . . look within and see what rises;” This to me is the operative line, seeing how the masses are fixed on what is rising in the world, in the Earth as well. This poem is a clarion call to repentance, for turning around and seeing that truly the Kingdom of Heaven, of kindness and governance by love, is within the heart and all around us in the Natural kingdoms of the planet.. Thank you Don.
I seek to live in the temple of the heart.
“…that ray of kindness in the temple of the heart…” is a beautiful first step for so many, to make the instantaneous decision in the moment to simply be kind, the first step to expressing the Spirit of Love. Beautiful, as always, Don. Thank you.
Thank you, Don, especially for these last lines:
As we move from solstice dark
look within and see what rises;
that ray of kindness
in the temple of your heart
will surely save us all.
Which I would like to reserve to put to music.
.
Yes, we do need your reminder, Don, that good things do arise with us. Thank you.
What a lovely image to accompany this tender poem, Don. Thank you.
Moving in sync again, Don.
Loving what rises….
Don — I always save your weekly poem for a quiet moment when I have no distractions. This one was wonderful. I love the tempo with which you recited it. On a cold January day in Milwaukee, this one really hit home to me. Thanks for sharing. Mike
The pointing in this poem come from the depths of wisdom. Beautiful. Thank you.
We are protected and loved and cherished…by this grace…. a beautiful reminder as this day unfolds
Was life changing for me when his Holiness the Dalai Lama said “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” And for us English majors in the crowd, the etymology of kindness is kin. Kindness can change your life in a heartbeat.
Sweet innocence lives and flourishes………I am most grateful!