Dead Whale – July 1, 2023

Saturday
on the southern side of the island,  
just past Leviathan Cottage, 
a dead minke whale washed ashore. 

Word traveled fast;
a steady stream of locals
stopping to gaze,
a sense of awe
permeating the landscape
of seagrass and rocks.

The shape and size,  
contours and textures
of the corpse, 
its briny scent 
not yet replaced by decomposition, 
and especially 
the grand stillness 
of this once living creature, 
emanates a peaceful spirit.

Beached in the bardo state
before body parts disconnect
and dignity surrenders to putrefaction,
there remains
in this plangent reverence
a reminder of what awaits us all,
and the hope
that we too
have lived in grace.

Bloomsday – June 16, 2023

A day in the life
From the morning’s first inklings
Ending with kindness,
Patience,
Forbearance,
And with such comfort and equanimity,
Wandering through life’s many twists and turns,
Perhaps thinking you’re escaping, but run into yourself.

Love loves to love love.
Walking through ourselves, meeting robbers, ghosts, giants, old men, young men, wives, widows, brothers-in-love,
Always meeting ourselves,
To remain humble to learn.

To awaken from a vision as to be born.
Can’t bring back time. Like holding water in your hand.
Can’t change the world, but we can change the subject.

Thought is the thought of thought.
Me. 
And me now.
Be just before you are generous.
Be kind always.
Even in the darkness of your soul,
A darkness shining in brightness which brightness could not comprehend;
As I am. As I am. All or not at all.
…and yes I said yes I will Yes.

Nothing But Experience

Uncommon gestures and embroiled accidents,

Suggestions and half truths,

The rush to be home before dark,

Anything you don’t do yourself

Is hard to handle.


The fiction of our lives resembles dreams,

The importance of fighting for miracles.

There’s a lunatic pride in accepting that

It all starts with nothing but experience,

And for some,

A rich imagination.


Nothing?


Except being

Encumbered by crashing waves of

Chaos,

Conflict, 

Desires.


It doesn’t make any difference.

Shoulder the belief that 

when you escape your past

You’re not about to return voluntarily.

You’re not who you think you are.


Realize the number of imponderables in life.

And,

If nothing else,

Start with the glory of a summer evening by the ocean.