July 1st, Canada Day, once again sit morning meditation facing out
Vivian’s forest cabin window
today lower back muscles ache, I squirm in chair seeking comfort,
watch a thin trail of smoke rise from sage incense stick on window sill.
Where does that smoke go? Surely to the place where dead souls
congregate–
Heaven & hell a myth invented to avoid announcing humanity’s
humble place in the universe.
Follow breath out nostrils, empty thoughts, let spirit enter soul’s
thin smoke stream.
This morning Vivian’s & my one-year anniversary,
beautiful dawn of lovemaking before breakfast muffins–
last night white-tailed deer spotted in dirt road by cabin,
easy to see with light lasting till 11pm this far north–
then groups of hares hopping across same road, then marble-sized
hail thudding cabin roof an hour.
Back to breath, the thin trail of smoke, maybe I should close
my eyes today?
No, it’s our anniversary, all body energies whisper “remain open,”
how thankful I feel.
Vivian’s siamese cat Sky digs front left claw into my rubber sandal
near screen door
& starts clopping around the room, 3 tiny paws and one man’s
size 12 sandal-
impossible not to laugh in midst of this meditation.
Back to breath, back to thin trail of smoke–
a small gray moth clings to window from outside, unable to cross
transparent threshold & kill itself in the flame.
Inhale, exhale, too many thoughts to empty this morning–
we are not yet anywhere the species we all know we can become.
2001 Skies
Poems
July 2001