To Join the Living
Spring is rising as mountain snows melt, seeking out what lingers of melancholia and fear stored in winter dark. We launch into the river, skirting between freighters, under steel web bridges, finding our pace in the wind driven chop. Time to come out and feel the urge of falling water, the hot touch of sun, […]
Beyond the Door
Cleansed of stress and ill feeling, root fed and purged, I relish the inner space, the sympathy with what rises. Deep green has touched the earth though cold winds stir the sea and spring waits while the ancient balance holds the churning wave, the tall swaying trees. Letting go I am found, emptied out I […]
Steady Voice
The winds are up from the south pushing white caps over gray water, a Pacific storm reaching over the Olympics and Vancouver Island to the inland sea. Most of the shorebirds are hunkered down, Canada geese tucked into lee cover, otter laying low in thorn lined bowers. There’s excitement on the wind, as if the […]
To Pillar the Deep
Before the altar of morning, with the rise of spring in grey cloud rain, the soul rests in silence, steady and full as the sea. The long arc of history compressed to a tremor passes through bedrock, yearning for the unmoved. To pillar the deep, strengthen the stillness, heart and mind become quiet as leaf, […]
Into the Garden
The songs I sing to keen budding branches filled with winter and darkness of root, I silently sing them, the trees only hear me as they ready to open in cold March air. From out of the earth-tomb the beauty of color, feast for the sky gods and we in our task to break the […]
Melody of the Stranger
Just this morning, with the sky full of rain, I turn to the edge of light in the far distance. Cranky as a crow I open like a spring bulb, and go where I have not gone for many years – to the rim of a canyon, the edge of a waterfall, where the earth […]
Born through the Plum Tree
Wisdom beneath the earth born through the flowering tree in the soft color of life, bearing the burden of snow as it rises with spring’s urge, hungry for the light.
No Telling
No telling what will appear when the wide arc of earth slowly turns to meet the sun. A muddy tangle of clawing vines, the sweeping bend of a broad river or the flow of peace from one darkened window waiting with thanks for the coming light. […]
Dare to Appear
My eyes so full of plum trees and their pale pink beauty, the weight of gravity seems to fall away. Rooted to the ground old branches swell losing their dark comfort, daring to appear in the gray March sky. Each flower born from the earth’s deep knowledge, unveiled and risen in the warmth of first […]
Winter Hymn
Rains and settling dark softly soak the city. In the mountains forests rest white and undisturbed. Snow laden trees, streets washed clean, the timeless hymnal open to the sky in the deep throated song of winter.
Myrtle Tree
Smoke rises into clear skies, the morning cool and bright. Yesterday’s weight drops like a long heavy train uncoupled from the engine of desire. Thankful for the deeper healing, I rise from dark rooted soil wet with winter’s love, to greet this day, open like a myrtle tree in spring. […]
Spark of Life
Across the heaven a line of light opens the day, while another marks the night. Beneath the skies we sleep then wake, alive to the morning. The voice of God rises tender and sweet, a green sprout of corn to comfort us, while seeds of the eternal take moisture from the well within, and a […]
The Heart’s Desire
Songs of going down will have to wait. The drawn curtain pulled back, a window looking out on an uncertain sea, waves steep and frightening. What has never been will be, what corrupts finds no solace. The old psalms comfort but new music rises. There, off in the distance, a hand waves, a door opens […]
Hammered Gold
Part of me is held by earth, part follows the wind with the gray clouds of winter. I race with high geese, follow the crevasse of night until light breaks and with folded wings I return to the cold wet land. Straining for freedom, desiring the cave, I am loosed and unloosed as ghosts tell […]
To Light the Dark
Across the miles and hours of time, we connect on lines invisibly woven throughout the earth. I speak to you in your sorrow, to what is broken and may never repair. Our bodies are scarred but wounds do heal. To make the muscles work, the nerves continue, we build a fire of our construction, release […]