January 2024 – Picking Up Roots

Surroundings

the softest pink-gray clouds
stretch across a pale blue sky;
they drift slow
into oncoming night;

below, we are an army
of harsh light and rolling wheels
littered across an artificial backdrop
in a hurry to move on -
to get where we are going -
to the place we want to be;

in our hurry
we miss much of the world,
so vast and mysterious,
if we were paying attention
we wouldn't have time to see it all;

we owe it to ourselves
to stop looking elsewhere,
to open our eyes 
to all that surrounds,
to let it's beauty touch us,
and let us know
we are where we belong

Stars

do not be shaken
by the noise;
the world cries power
into the night sky -
everyone wants to be
their own shining star -

don't fear walking alone
into the dark;
you don't need to shine
to be a star

Inspiration

how does the mind find clarity
when it is at its foggiest;
in the darkness before dawn
or before fading into sleep
are the times
when meaningful inspiration strikes;

these are the moments
when the mind is relaxed of its cares,
too tired to hold up the walls
penning in its fears and restrictions
it runs free,
tripping down whatever paths it chooses;

the most difficult practice -
a wonderful gift -
is to understand
how to free the mind
from these self-imposed shackles,
to let it free
to dance in the daylight