when I look at you
I want to see past the surface
of what you seem to be
into
the essence of your soul
I want to see you
as you really are
When you look at me
please don't linger on appearances
but come in
come into my house
have the courage to look at me
Our inner beings are beautiful
and divinely made
why get caught up in the shallows
dive deep...

Did you ever wake up
and after a few seconds
not know where you were?
perhaps several locations
situations
ran thru your mind
before you pinpointed your existence
those few precious moments
from the time of waking
to fixation of place
are so intriquing...
exciting even
its the "not knowing"
that gives that time frame
its uniqueness
if we could take that
not knowing
and the sense of awe
that accommpany it
and extend them
apply them
to the rest of our day
our experiences would be richly endowed

a tired, lonely pilgrim
was I
walking a long dusty road
half starved, half naked
then
I came upon a Gathering
others
similiar to myself
and one kneeling
among them
yet, unlike them
He said:
"Therefore I tell you
do not worry about your life
what you will eat;
or about your body
what you will wear."
I kept on walking
obvioiusly
the group had neither
food or drink
Many years later,
under similiar conditions
I sat with the group
I was hungry for the teachings
of the Master
As I looked around me
the faces I saw
were of children
happy, carefree
except for one...
out there...
on the dusty road
one who kept on walking...

I keep a black plastic bottle
of Hershey's syrup
in my pack
when I get an undefinable yearning
for an unamed something
I take a swig from that bottle
and carefully put it back

things are what they are
and then
things are never
what they seem to be

Saintly Sarah
with a feint smile upon her lips
got a new pet today
a goldfish, bowl and all
She gathers her plastic bags
and fish
and struggles up the hill
Now Sarah can pour forth her love
freely
to her new companion
without fear this time
she won't be battered or bruised
or otherwise abused