power and glory


let us hop in and play 
turn the tables into chairs the saucers into cups 
the flat into an ashram and a dream into reality.

find the off button and use it
pick up the broadcast of wind and stars
nod to the trees whispering 
lie on the ground
attend your breath 
feel the sun on bare flesh
the slide of water on skin
watch clouds
leaves change colour
notice bees fly 
hear birds singing.

toot toot
climb aboard the earth train
pausing at all stations 
let go of the clock the week the timetable the news the feeds the lattes.

break the habit of thinking of worry of talking
pause
breathe again.
make the moment your ally
it will hold your hand
comfort you
always be there for you .

the moment of Presence never fails
never leaves you,
it is your power and glory 
your hope and redemption
your canvas and paintbrush 
ready to receive your mark 
of the blueprint of you as divine being.

In choosing we Dream tomorrow

rising up like waves activists
press against the bastion
eroding sharp edges
flaking chipping away,
the wall remains sealed
holding tight
against the change agents.

anyone who has ever been part of a movement of protest
knows the drill,
hours days nights plans maps letters
bright ideas, fundraising
tears dramas court cases,
years flowing like the river
banks ever changing,
where once a pool now a sandbar
where once a gurgling rapid now a reedy swamp.

grey hairs threaten
exhaustion depletion anger
ptsd despair depression,
until …
run walk away give up fighting
become a baker or a plumber
retire take up gardening
drink a beer knit a blanket
.

and still after all the blood sweat and tears 
the brilliant campaigns
the lock ons tree sits marches
meetings with politicians
bumper stickers
signs of hope
minor victories
changes in legislation,
the bastion remains.
greater technology deadlier weapons,
coveting more and more Earth
a seeming impenetrable nightmare of coercion and profit.

some activists change stories
slip sideways
stop pushing against
return, reduce the scale to one life
theirs
one choice……. theirs
one hope……. theirs
and from one breeds many.

the virus teaches us this
infection spreads
ever widening its circle of influence.

a smile thrown to a crowd returns
a story spoken around breakfast whispers over social media
a piece of art, a quilt, a poem,
teases and stretches
melding into cells and blood vessels
strengthening resolve
soliciting further inquiry
enabling contagious spontaneous bursts of action
for the benefit of…
for the Whole.

2021 begins
active aware creative open hope full 
in choosing we Dream Tomorrow.