 Only Breath
a poem by the celebrated 13 century Sufi poet, Rumi - translation C Barks Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu Buddhist, Sufi, or Zen. Not any religion or cultural system. I am not from the East or the West, not out of the ocean or up from the ground, not natural or ethereal, not composed of elements at all. I do not exist, am not an entity in this world or in the next, did not descend from Adam and Eve or any origin story. My place is place-less, a trace of the trace-less. Neither body or soul. I belong to the beloved, have seen the two worlds as one and that one call to and know, first, last, outer, inner, only that breath breathing human being.
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This poem is dedicated to and honours this beautiful, beautiful Earth in which we live: Mother - by Geri Andrews The Earth is my mother, I was born from her, and in truth, not from any other. I love and cherish her as my own, And never far from her cradle do I want to roam. For when the final breathe leaves this body in which I dwell, She’ll take it back into her womb, so a new life she can meld. How can I not feel humbled and respect her awesome might, There is no point this inevitable fact to fight, But rather surrender, in a state of hope and joy, To relish each passing day and thankfulness employ. The will of life to live itself overcomes all constraint, And seeks to manifest a continuous creation in replicate. Each breathe energising a soul so unique In its individuality, in its very own special mystique. Forever one, forever countlessly diverse, Such is the nature of my Mother Earth. A perfect peace is born of love to nurse, In which all beings are blessed with the ability to converse. Her nature is my true nature, the core of my heart, The place inside of me from where I must not depart. For to lose touch with that ocean of repose deep within Leaves me feeling stranded on a beach of grief and chagrin. So I pray to my Mother and friend Her grace and beauty my soul to attend, That I may any trials or troubles transcend, Have recourse to her strength on which I depend. May I accept the living breathe flowing freely within me, Its delicate indestructibility is my life, is my key. May I continue to thirst for the knowledge of peace in my heart, To feel each day as a fresh new start, That gentle feeling, neither here neither there, Just loving the moment, to care and to share.  An arial view of the Heart of Voh, New Caledonia
Image by xiSerge from Pixabay MIDWINTER TIME
by GA Andrews The winter solstice is upon us once again, The days are short, the nights are long, the air is cold A time for friends and family, A time for cordiality, A time for some good food and wine, A time for peace and joy to shine. The spirit of Yuletide is one of good cheer, To feel love and gratitude for all we hold dear. A time to raise a glass and see in the New Year, A time to greet the future without any fear. A time to hunker down, and rest, A time to wish each other, “All the best!” The earth relents, preparing to restore herself, In the continuous cycle of new and old. |
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