Pained

Pain, pain go away

Come again another day

If you really have to!

What is pain

This feeling so disliked

With discomfort, anguish 

Turmoil and more?

But wait…

Is it not ultimately a balancer?

A reminder?

That our painless moments

So easily forgotten, 

Are so very priceless.

So letting this shower of pain,

Much like the rain,

Drench me right now

As my body defaults, 

And my mind revolts,

Leaving me not knowing whether 

To succumb to the noise,

Or smash out of the bubble

With neither quite possible.

I return to a stillness

Where there echos an ancient whisper 

Where my breath becomes my umbrella.

This place is my solace,

My palace without 

Walls, fortresses,

As no defense is necessary.

Simply boundless

Cosmic and ethereal, 

Putting back into place 

The futility of any fight.

Letting go

Unclenching 

Relaxing 

And with a flow of peace

The light of gratitude returns,

Darkness withdraws 

And with clarity, pain can be understood 

And even managed. 

Inferno

Innocent sparks ignite

A simple flicker to a glow of a flame 

Then a roaring fire to an acreage eating blaze!

The oxygenated wind 

In her bewildered dance

Is she swirling in a rage? 

Or like the birds

Horses, dogs and cats

Squirrels, skunks 

And even every man;

Is she obsessed in her flurry 

To escape?

Not knowing herself 

Her power 

Her realm,

She laps up the terrain 

Bring insufferable heat

Suffocating smoke and ash.

Man’s effort to defend, to fight

To save, to rally together 

Brings forth the hour of humanity.

Apocalyptic carnage 

Leaves molten metal,

Literal dust of all wood

Brick and mortar 

Homes and lives 

Emptied, destroyed, obliterated. 

Not a trinket left to salvage. 

What is this?

A lesson to be learnt?

Explanations galore!

From Politicians

Geophysicists 

And every pundit and priest.

‘But hasn’t it happened before?’

‘Oh but never so destructive,

Never as bad as this!’ 

They say.

Perhaps we encroached 

A little too far

In deserts, mountains, coast lines.

Where man is not exactly sustainable.

This planet, 

This space

For the span of your lifetime, 

Is a ‘rental’

We forget.

It was here before us,

And will be for sure, 

Here without us.

So put aside 

The finger pointing, 

The grievances 

The many explanations.

With coming together,

Understanding our nature 

Our opportunity,

Let hope and innovation flourish

Unity lead,

Humility and compassion serve

And respect be universe.

*”It is in the ‘darkness’ 

Of devastation, 

man made(war) or not,

Is when we need the ‘candle of light”

*paraphrased words of Prem Rawat

Fall

Fall time, fall years

Culmination of beauty

Wisdom

Perspective.

Immersed and surrounded

By a depth,

Only time can give.

Riches,

Only experience can gather.

Gratitude,

Only surrendering reveals.

The fine lines 

The atrophy

The forgetfulness,

Ceases to grip 

As anguish begins to melt.

What comes, will pass

What hurts, will fade

And peace is found,

As the cyclic natural of all

Comes to light.

And most of all,

A returning

To a consciousness.

Floating with a birds eye view

Disengagement from drama, trauma.

All that’s created here 

To be left here

Returning to a neutral purity.

As we came, shall we return.

No baggage,

But definitely not empty handed. 

As what was the purpose

Of this interlude

Between birth and death, 

‘Life’ as we call it, 

This opportunity, this experience.

To have take form of the ‘Source’.

And then to walk, to wander,

To wonder, to revel

In this creation 

Beyond comprehension. 

What minuscule chance 

We have to exist

Where galaxies and universes reign.

Yet here we are.

Be sure to query and question,

To spark your thirst 

To to find your why,

And finally ‘KNOW’ thyself.

As your ‘fall’ fades 

And the winter will ensue 

Be sure to have built 

The one relation standing firm to the end.

  • What’s Wrong With Hope

    What’s wrong with Hope

    Poor health, wealth

    Decaying relationships,

    Stuck in the mud 

    Of the societal mind.

    Driven to hoping, 

    Wishing

    Praying 

    Waiting.

    Hoping for that brighter day

    Bringing the better job,

    The perfect mate 

    The greater joy, the best life.

    For the more vulnerable 

    Addictions numb the pain,

    The Isolation

    Anger, resentments.

    Hope, the ultimate excuse

    For avoiding the only truth,

    The present

    The now.

    We are so close, yet become so far 

    From each breath,

    Each whisper of love 

    The unseen cradled embrace. 

    Conditioned to see 

    Only the picture of happiness

    Made of material abundances,

    Independence, successes and achievements 

    The list goes on and on.

    But the essence of you 

    Remains hungry,

    Starved.

    The glitter dissolves, 

    Even becomes sickening 

    Lacking vibration 

    And vitality.

    Hope not for a better tomorrow,

    Hope for today

    The light to ignite 

    Your flame, your fire,

    The ultimate defense

    To all that’s smothered 

    And shattered your being.

    Don’t lose this battle 

    On this one, is built the war, 

    The war of life. 

    Be your own warrior, savior 

    Sit not and hope.

    Stand, run if you have to 

    But done whither 

    In hopeless hope.

  • Independence

    Independence Day

    Liberty! 

    Justice! 

    Freedom!

    All corner stones of a great nation right?

    Independence of thought, will and action

    With an unalienable liberty for beliefs, customs, values 

    Most importantly, the practice of prayer in a God of your own understanding,

    With equal justice for all men

    And a freedom for the love and pursuit of joy and happiness.

    Vibrational words 

    Marked by human sacrifice 

    Now parrot-like repeated 

    With what understanding?!

    For a moment 

    Put aside national independence.

    As a citizen in your own body 

    Do you know your own voice?

    Or is it drowned out by the noise 

    Of your conditioned, ego driven mind?

    What liberty do you strive for? 

    Have you considered the company of your silence,

    Where your heart beats and leads; 

    Not the burdens of duties, obligations and expectations.

    Is there justice in your existence 

    For the proclamation of life 

    A celebration granting acknowledgement of breath, 

    As, is it not, the foundation of every living moment?!

    And freedom!

    What freedom has been denied?

    When here we are 

    On the ONE planet, Earth

    Amongst a plethora of stars, galaxies and the cosmic web.

    Such great qualities in life have never been acquired

    They have been GRANTED.

    The artificial boundaries, barriers,  

    Conjured and conceptualized, 

    Giving man seeming power over one another. 

    Results ??

    Trials of war created 

    Supposedly treaties signed 

    Societal order, developed and sustained?

    What evidence of the painstaking history 

    As today with loss of the individual’s 

    Self awareness, consciousness, 

    Nurturing of dignity and gratitude.

    What do we have left!?

    If you need to fight 

    Fight for and then surrender 

    To your inner glory

    Where resides the greatest source of

    Of all wisdom 

    Giving you your liberty, justice and freedom

    Once felt, each man will become your brother 

    Each foe, seen as your troubled friend.

    Differences dissipate 

    As the power from within cannot be unseen.

    Attend, practice 

    To that which shows you your way, 

    Let your candle never be dimmed 

    Allow your joys’ greatness reign over any challenge.

    Reclaim this independence, liberty 

    Justice and freedom; 

    Your God given rights from birth,

    All the way through 

    To the very end.

  • The Final Sprint
    With the heart thumping, pumping
    The mind continuing it’s spinning, revolting 
    The spirit seeking its home, it’s peace;

    And those first freedoms
    To feel joy,
    Gratitude 
    Most definitely still present;

    We find ourselves 
    Curling up at the edges,
    No longer able to stretch the limbs and tendons
    Color fading to the hue of lifelessness.

    Here nearer to the final ‘wall’
    The essence of life 
    Ever present, its gentle rhythm
    One breath at a time.

    Held in your mother’s arms
    Then your lover’s, 
    Always your creator’s,

    You’ve always been held.
    This your mission
    Was to be known, felt and realized.

    This journey, challenging and intriguing,
    Scratching your way 
    Through the concepts, doubts 
    Asking again and again

    Am I worthy?
    Did I do enough?
    Was I enough?

    Look no further 
    As each gifted breath 
    The only proof.
    Yes, you are most worthy.

    Relax, breathe
    Let the organic material 
    Of form, both yours and society 
    Ebb away.

    Full circle 
    Back to the beginning,
    Breath, heart beat,
    The rhythm of life.

    Swing and pulse 
    With and in it,
    Here the dance started 
    Here it shall end.

    One and the same 
    For all who have come.
    What makes the difference?
    Nothing more or less, than the bridge.

    This mortal state 
    Allowing acknowledgement 
    Of the immortal essence.
    Nothing complicated, yet it is 

    The all encompassing,
    Love! 
    Feel it, accept it, like nothing else
    Vibrating in your every cell.
  • Retirement

    Laurie


    So many paths crossed,
    Personally
    Professionally.

    May times
    The lines
    Have blurred.

    Why?
    Open acceptance
    Active listening,

    Sparking trust,
    Becoming
    A confidant.

    Inspiring possibilities,
    Nurturing
    Unfurling others’ wings.

    You leave
    A legacy
    Of time, dedication.

    You traveled
    Selflessly
    And not alone.

    Endless recruiting;
    Had a family
    Not of blood

    But of a greater testimony,
    One of voluntarily
    Empowering.

    You leave behind
    A force!
    Women believing

    In themselves,
    Each other,
    The value of team.

    Co-worker
    Boss
    Friend;

    More the ‘Godmother’!
    I embrace
    Applaud

    Value
    Appreciate
    Our paths crossing.

    Now sail
    Into retirement.

    But my friend,
    Your ‘work’ of forging sustaining relations
    Is not yet done;

    As this remains your core characteristic,
    And retirement does not stop the clock;
    Only where you go.

  • Truth of Confusion

    Truth,

    What is.

    Confusion,

    Everything else..

    Concepts

    Perceptions

    Conditioning.

    Fear

    Guilt

    Insecurities.

    Imagination 

    Learnt behaviors

    Expectations.

    All run you wild 

    Physically

    Mentally.

    Driven by 

    Cortisol

    Adrenalin.

    Slowing, 

    Applying 

    The brakes 

    Takes 

    Practice,

    Self talk

    In kindness,

    Forgiveness

    Self worthiness.

    Truth,

    You are.

    Confusion,

    Transient attributes.

    Whether 

    Actual

    Or not.

    Truth,

    Your are dynamic.

    Confusion,

    You want definition.

    Truth,

    You are free.

    Confusion,

    You feel tied.

    Breathe

    Breath.

    Feel 

    Flow. 

    This the 

    Only

    Possible

    Truth there is.

    You

    Need 

    To know.

Volcano to Sun

Hollow and deep

Bubbling and boiling 

Brewing beneath the surface 

Puffing, spewing, pouring 

Mount Vesuvius, St.Helens, Kilimanjaro.

Eternally ignited 

Sizzling globe

Furnace of power 

Brighter than bright

Our greatest star the Sun.

Both ominously glorious

Nature’s universal creations

Gargantuously majestic 

Purpose essential 

To this ecosystem of life.

Qualities of both

The Sun

The volcanoes 

Beholden in each and every human.

Some bright and glowing 

Sharing their light

Impartial, inclusive 

Rising above the nonsense.

Some are shy, reserved 

Yet their depth can be sensed

As power resides 

At the core of their being.

With the stroke of kindness

Peppering of understanding 

The human can rise

From dormant volcano 

To enigmatic candle.

Shared is this earth, this time 

So realize, capture 

The preciousness 

Of this merciful gift of existence.

What an experience, this human life

From mundane and tiresome 

To privileged and magical

As the switch so simple

When each breath, each moment 

Is valued as priceless.

Glitter or Gold

All that glitters is not gold

We’ve always known.

So what is glitter? 

And what is gold?

In this life we are constantly striving,

Striving to add bows

Bows, certificates, accolades

This glitter is the distraction.

The more the merrier 

Driving, fueling the adrenaline 

From morning to night,

From day to year

Year to a lifetime 

On goes the madness.

All the while the true gold

Is buried deeper and deeper,

With layer upon layer  

Of all that’s gathered and acquired.

A temporary happiness

Fleeting feelings of fulfillment,

Come and go 

Until an emptiness howls.

And then the, truest work 

Of digging, unlayering

Must begin to uncover the forgotten gold.

Much like an onion

Each peel removes the debris

Bringing you closer

To an ancient knowingness

Here at your core 

Laying in wait 

Your treasures are found 

A warmth, a love

A peace, a strength 

A home, a union 

At last 

The gold!

Hanging on by a nail…

So much weight,

On your shoulders

On your back.

Hunched over 

Broken down

Beaten by your own mind.

For the love of God

For the love of life,

For it can only be for love.

Hang on by that nail

Or that thread,

But mostly, by each breath.

So generously delivered

Without request

Without any demands.

Let yourself receive 

This love supreme,

That will never be understood, only felt.

For no matter

Any circumstance,

It is loyal

It is faithful

Just to you

Until the very end.

Beautiful or Ugly

Reality is ugly 

Affirmed with every 

Innocent cry of pain and destitution 

From wounds in overt and covert wars

Perhaps in the mind

Perhaps in the surrounding society 

Deep seats fears 

Hatred and vindictiveness 

Ugly driving forces

Consolidated by generational

Indoctrinations

And medias’ unforgivable trends

Repeated through history 

Where is the beginning?

Where is the end?

Flip the coin

And bear witness 

To strength and a kindness

Revealing unimaginable 

Selflessness, courage

Generosity 

The many helping hands 

Not nations

But singular persons

Reaching out 

Risking their own lives

Listening to the call

Of consciousness 

Righteousness

Their humanity’s voice 

So is reality 

Ugly or 

Beautiful?

With the founding factors

All within 

Each and every human

What is your reality

Ugly or 

Beautiful?

Despite the circumstances 

What are you nurturing

Do you even know you can make the choice!

The Third Season

Anatoliy Misuik, Autumn Breath, 2022, Lviv Ukraine

The morning air

clean and slight crisp.

The golden orb

slower to rise.

This third season

closes what has been amassed 

with a serene gratitude.

Gentle and as abundantly as the falling leaves.

Yet opens the door 

to reflection and consolidation,

giving rise to fortitude 

needed to step into the shorter darker days.

Maturing beauty surrounds

with swaying wheat bushels.

Rich solid gourds and pumpkins 

adorning doorsteps and mantles.

Summer fruits dwindle,

as hearty fall veggies

gathered for soups and stews 

await crusty bread dipping.

This the season 

of closing in onto the self.

Comforting for some.

Frightful for others.

For your own autumn’s coming,

collect the savoring of memories 

rich and robust for growing closer 

to your inner core.

As this, your core, will never dwindle

decay and dissolve. 

And as you await your winter

fear not the cold or isolation.

But welcome the comfort,

Companionship

of that which you has seen you through 

each and all of your seasons.

To be or not to be…. Worthy

Guilt, fear

Successes, failures

Right turns, wrong turns

This is the noise between the ears.

Always questioning your worthiness 

To bask in your wholeness

Where divinity awaits you.

This is the very distraction

Obscuring your passage

Creating your barrier

To your inner self and awareness.

It is here that the infinite is united

With your mortality.

Here ‘now’ allows

The ultimate experience 

The experience 

The millennia took

In the creation of you.

So ask not of your worthiness

Your presence 

Dictates your absolute claim.

Breathe in this life

It will take your breath away

Let it make you breathless.

By the most precious of realizations awaited

You are worthy

Be humbled by your opportunity

Be awed in your gratitude.

Grasp every moment

New as dew

Fresh and crisp 

And just as transitory.

So capture and be focused

As night will come

And you’ll need 

Your own light

To carry you without fear.

Only possible for having already 

Met your creating divinity.

BOB

Never you can forget 

If ever you get to meet our Bob 

A man from simple beginnings 

Traveling across the Atlantic pond

From the midlands of the UK

To the West of the United States

Always one to make use of his God given gift

His hands, his strength, his determination 

Husband to Uma

Obsessive, possessive but all and only hers.

Father to Misha, Sheema, Beena

Father-figure to Ricky, Reena, Angie, Tejal

Dada to all the grandkids close and far… 

You wear many hats

Switching as your audience calls

Reliable for your brüt honestly 

Known for your no fuss ways

Humor unpredictable 

Behavior always a scary surprise 

Beloved by young and old

Sort for by friends and family

We congratulate you

On your big Seven Zero!

Life, we know has delivered its ups and downs

Here’s to smooth sailing now

Ride any more bumps 

As if steering your first car, the Mini

And feel the blessing of life

Cruising through your veins 

This journey is only yours

Thank you for letting us join in on the ride 

We love you ol’ man♥️

Just in case you didn’t know!