Pleased to forget shoes . . .
Bare feet, sunshine parching skin
Wet grass between toes
We knew not from where he came
perhaps out of the air itself
To those who had the sight
his hands, old and wizened
glowed with an aura of azure blue
as did his shoeless feet while
golden light adorned his head
and within eyes dark and fathomless
shone the light of a thousand stars
For many days he dwelt among us
He partook not of water nor wine
neither consumed our food
but lived by unseen energy
He taught us to feel the power
through our heads and feet and hands
that one day we may be like him
Free in body and mind, sustained by air.
He tended our sickness with care
and made us whole once more
He gave to us his wisdom
To eat not of animal, fowl or fish
those creatures you should love
But be content to consume
those that have no eyes to see
the vegetation, seed and fruit
For these beings are your friends too
but created from the beginning
to work with you in harmony
sustaining your body matter
even the smallest atoms of your being
of those parts you have yet no knowledge
To nurture, protect and fortify
against all malevolence and disease.
But be sure, he said, with stern eye
that you follow the Mother’s way
Then she will care for you always
Her wellbeing is yours also
Only by human hand and love
should your food be grown
not touched by machine or denaturised
nor adulterated with unnatural substance
We grew strong in vibrancy and health
Of those remaining with dis-ease
he laid upon them his hands
telling them to know the source
That he was a mere catalyst
the power to heal came forth
from themselves, from within
And they understood and were cured
We were saddened at the parting time
But he told that we had been together
since the beginning of time, grieve not.
There is no separation, we are one
together with the earth and cosmos
Then his body began to fade
leaving only his light which soon
dissolved back from whence it came
I write this, millennia later, remembering,
and bearing witness in dismay to the follies
as we have lost our way and turned
away from the Mother in greed
Endemic sickness abounds where Instead
we should be free from the distraction
of frail bodies and their maladies
To raise our souls to our higher purpose
And so the beacon shines once again
calling the true healers to come forth
to rebuild the garden of life
to purge the darkness from this world
to make well the ills we have caused
for we have made them ourselves
Cleanse the Mother and her children will follow
ageless, strong in spirit, body and mind.
I saw the light brighten
The days lengthen
I saw flowers bloom
Fragrant in colours bright
I saw the awakening
The end of sleep.
I heard joyful birdsong
Sweet melody
The rustle of fresh leaves
Warm wind whistling
I heard the laughter
Of children at play
I felt the chill ebb away
The sun rising high
I felt the morning dew
On lush green grass
I felt life surge through
My feet from the earth
I smelt the new breeze
The taste on my tongue
Of sweet spring water
I smelt the earth opening
Flowering, pushing, blossoming
Senses alive.
I rested in solitude and peace
In a quiet, sunny glade
Remembering winter past
Delighting in the present
Earth and grass upon my back
And flowers all around.
Written for Neha’s Spring Collaboration at ForgottenMeadows
Spring brings forth life
overflowing in the sun
the bounty of earth
and sea and sky
life surges ahead
Baby becomes child
exploring the world
discovering herself
yearning for what may be
limitless in potential
Into summertime
life grows strong
in warmth and light
joy and love spur
the blossoming
Child becomes man
separating from mother
venturing on in hope
searching for love
and joy to come
Autumn, the slowing
taking stock, the shadow
of a future so near
nature fortifies herself
as days darken
The woman settles
becomes entrenched
in life not quite
what was her intent
but so little time left
Winters onslaught cleanses
in wind, rain and ice
laying bare the land
stripping the dream
of summer gone
The man ages fast
his time all spent
as limbs fade and
body weakens until his
return to mother earth
As winter’s chill ends
and new life beckons
the cycle renews
in eternal rotation
of beginning and end
The child is born again
spring brings forth life
THE TREE
She walked alone through the forest
With senses alive, enlivened since
She set foot on the path of truth
She saw the beauty all around
The wonder of nature, raw and just
And breathed deep in its very life
She smelled the bark and wet leaves
The vines that grew beneath her feet
The scent of wild animals near but hidden
She tasted berries and fruits
Her tongue rejoiced in flavours Divine
Even tasted the air with its earthy fragrance
She touched the air, the trees and flowers
And heard every sound, above and below
At one with all she sat by an ancient tree to rest
Her spine eased against the rough bark
And her mind found peace throughout its touch
As she felt the energy of the forest become one
The tree knew her now, touching his soul
And found a way to speak in thought not word
The communion began and her eyes closed
The tree and the girl joined minds as one
Sharing their experience of varied lives
And her sight was raised to a new dimension
She saw and felt the mind of God within and without
The light of understanding blinded her for a time
Until she learned to let go and yield to its power
And then the wonder of true sight the tree showed her
Through ages if time it had stood bearing witness
To the seasons of birth life and death all played before it
She left that place with her heart afire with truth
And the wisdom of an old ragged tree in her bones
Then she began to teach and show others
Far and wide she travelled talking to all who would listen
Not many failed to lend their ear to her words
And those that heard told their friends the wondrous story
When enough understood a time of peace began
The tranquility of the forest known in town and city
As all lived in harmony like the tree and the earth
The mother of life
Follow me
leave the wide straight road
find the narrow winding path
with unknown end
the course of mystics
saints, artists and poets
through age upon age
on the ultimate quest
Come with me
as I guide you through trails
long trod by brave souls
past dark caverns
and bottomless pits
darkness that tempts
along the way
but do not fear
Hold my hand
until we reach the treasure
the unfolding of beauty
fields of light we now walk
in warm sun amongst
soft grass and flowers
of every hue and colour
bright and joyful in life
Follow me now
to the eternal forest
though no sight of sky
there is light, see
from the trees themselves
stop and listen awhile
to the wisdom
of their ancient language
They tell of a time
before time was, before the fall
they have seen all that is
and all that will be
know this when you sit with them
they will give you solace
in grief or pain
these quiet watchers of eternity
Come let me show
all creatures in peace
the bird plays with cat
the chicken with the fox
and deer with lion
free from fear of man
no death nor killing here
true nature returns
Follow me now
to the clearing and sit awhile
speak of what you have seen
recall you left no footprint
remember how all are equal
free from the blinding shroud
of man’s technology
and machines
Now friend you know
I am glad you followed
but this place is not for us
no, you must return
to write, compose or paint
tell, all who will listen, what awaits
when they turn away from folly
to the truth of spirit.
In ages past
we lived free from burden
pain and fear of death
we walked and left no mark
we lived by the energy in the air
in love with the earth and all living things
to this glory we will return
I give you this promise
Go now friend, and show the way
PEACE and LOVE
I immersed myself,
submerged in your infinity
and spread my thoughts
through the depths
of your unfathomable
beauty and power.
I felt the life within you
connected in the fluid
caressing my skin
the same touching all
over vast distances
a unified field
I heard the speech
of whale, seal and dolphin
and sensed them near
wishing to save us
from follies untold
wise ones of your world
I know your strength
in tumultuous seas
I have witnessed
a force unyielding
that none can stop
only a fool would dare
You birthed me eons ago
as you formed all life
in the creative ebb and flow
of tides and storms
the primeval soup of dreams
the womb of mother earth
You mirror the cosmos
as above, so below
all is connected
as you have shown me
we are one life
you, us and the stars.
But it is to you
I must return, one day
when the sun dies
and earth becomes cold
in you will the last voice
be heard, the final breath
I am the beginning and I am the end.