poetry

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.

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.

Mat-Eternity

Beyond the nursing

Diaper changing

Feeding, bathing

The endless list of verb-ing

A mother subliminally shares

The deepest bond 

Where emotions are perceived 

Dreams, aspirations are known

Fears and regrets are soothed

She is a super hero

Magical strength

Far reaching vision

Always recognizing 

All you need

All she can do 

And to do it 

With an unshakable love.

How does the saying go?

Mothers are angels

Without wings 

Sent by God

How fortunate 

That each and everyone of us 

Is-was blessed

Not without but with our very own angel.

And even when

No longer Earthly

She stays close to our heart

Whispering day and night

Sweetness second to none

Encouragement and praise showered as

Only a mother can and will.

So hold your child

Cherish your mother 

As everyday’s a gift 

And take not for granted 

To mother or be mothered.

Goodbye

How did you manage

In such a short time 

Two weeks of my time

Give me a life time of yours

Approached with anxiety

Perhaps even trepidation 

A nervous excitement 

A sort of delirium 

With the softest of landings

Then scooped into the Shinkansen 

The magnetism began

As the tracks journeyed straight to my heart

With each embraced tradition

Whisking matcha tea

Adorned in geisha gowns 

Surrendering into healing Onsens

Stepping bowed headed

Into Shrines and Temples

Ringing bells

Unfolding fortunes

Tasting pickles

Slurping ramen 

Drinking plum wine

‘Gochisousama’

Back now in my own land

I savor my mochi

Cook my own ramen

Soak in my bathtub 

Feeling a loss

Harboring a longing

Miss feeling your kindness

Your welcome each morning

With awe for all your humility 

Your grace, your simple joyfulness

I kneel and surrender 

In thankfulness that we met. 

The Geisha

The Geisha

This artful entertainment,

Began in the 7th century 

With male exclusivity. 

1751 saw the entry of females

From where developed a most respected Japanese female professional.

Historically by the strikingly beautiful,

The most obedient and apt 

For learning and discipline, 

As many a sacrifice required. 

From physic maintenance

To unquestioned availability 

With renouncement of any personal life.

Learning of the arts,

Developing intellectual prowess,

All for the utmost professional engagement

Yet individualized and tailored hostessing.

Once taken/sold into a Hanaachi, Flower Town,

Becoming part of an Okiya*

Training began, sometimes as early as in the pre-teens.

As a maiko*

Learning to dance, sing

Perhaps play the samisen*

Navigate the host and his guests;

Each geisha working to develop

A customer base

Loyal for her particular services.

As such, Mineko Iwasaki, 

Became the most renown giesha

At the young age of 21years. 

Today, a mere 1000 exist 

Primarily in the Gion district of Kyoto.

With white powdered face

Stature of a queen, 

Maided by her maiko

Chauffeured to her teahouse.

An upheld culture,

By those even more dedicated 

Than their predecessors,

To a heritage and history

As modern technologies, tourism,

Misunderstandings invade 

Their traditions and values.

Privileged to witness

Such an art, a dedication 

By women with stout independence.

I’m humbled in their presence 

For sustaining a feminine standard 

Of the highest integrity and honor. 

Japan Waters Teach

In secluded Teahouses, 

Shrines surprising on any given dori,

Onsens, lakes and glistening stalactites;

Water everywhere is revered…

Quenching

Rejuvenating 

Exhilarating 

Purifying…

Immerse into Onsen waters,

Healing heat and minerals

Weightlessness teaches trust

Promise of nature’s caring protections.

Teahouses simmer waters ceremoniously,

With ‘Harmony’ between the articles and the environment 

Utmost ‘Respect’ of the process

Precision and care for ‘Purification’ 

All with ‘Silence’ and concentration.

Passing though a Tori, shrine after shrine 

Welcoming water wells and baths

Offer cleansing of the body,

Both inside and out.

Hosted by Hozu-gawa River

Floating along oar by oar,

Accompanied by scenic trains, birds

Along embankments and bridges alike 

Until a squeezed passageway

Between silver grey boulders 

Rocking and splashing,

Rapids, cool and drench…

What of this liquid

Colorless

Tasteless

Yet infinitely irreplaceable!

Unique to the Pale Blue Dot.

I hold you in my cupped hands,

You kiss my surrendering lips 

You run through my veins

Synchronized to life itself.

Anticipating Japan

Islands pieced together 

Around lakes, mountains 

Hills and plains

From snow topped Mt. Fuji, Arashiyara Bamboo Forest and Nara Park 

To Hiroshima’s peace bell

Nature’s delights to human demolition

The sword of the invincible Samuri

The demure and enduring Geishas 

Monks, priest, their shrines and temples

From looming Tokyo SkyTree Tower and TMG building

To the frenzy of Shibuya Scramble  

The amazement of Team Lab Planets

To the tranquility

Of Cherry Blossoms in Sumida Park

Languid picnic-ing with sips of sake….

Ahhh the Red Sun awaits 

With promise of Onsen waters 

And endless matcha and Butter Butler pastries…

Can’t wait to meet you 

My brothers, sisters 

Of a culture, language and history

That’s already captured my heart!

The Hidden 

Source of all creation,
Sort for in disguise 
As power, status,
Accumulated accolades and acquisitions. 

Fluid yet omnipresent,
Like the soft drizzle of rain
Slowly, flowing and circling 
Back to the seas.

We are that drop
Manifested of love
Looking for love,
Lost in the storms.

How delicate this play,
A scavenger hunt designed
Clues strewn in your path,
Undeniable beauty 

In every bud, petal
Baby, cub,
Ancient story,
Familial feeling.
 
Filled with an intrigue
The search is endless,
Yet the prize sits
Literally under you nose.

If the thirst is sincerely evoked 
The universe concedes.
With every stardust particle 
Your true love, the union

Uncloaks, lays naked
And embraces.
Here is heaven on earth
And the game of love

Is truly afoot.
As now the longing and satiation  
Can be played each day
With lover and love 

All in one abode.
Know the temple, your own being 
Feel the beloved ,as home 
Is completely where your heart is.

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