MAHĀKĀŚYAPA SMILES*
What meaning lies beneath that muddy pond bottom
an emerging lotus blooms
What meaning the breezing air
carrying the clouds along
What meaning this fallen raindrop
clinging to a maple branch’s underside
What meaning the smell of autumn leaves
crisping under foot
What meaning a waterfall splash
sounding over moss moist rocks
What meaning silent snow
blanketing the land
What meaning soil
rife with nutrients and microbes
What meaning deserts
ablaze under the mid-day sun
What meaning the night sky
awash with stars
What meaning your beating heart
*The Buddha gave a wordless sermon holding up a white flower.
None assembled understood the flower sermon except Mahākāśyapa.
The Feel of Infinity
she kisses her father’s cheek
her beauty of being, reflected in his shining eyes
the ones that never thought they’d see a day
when he’d have a young daughter to kiss his cheek
she must long to kiss that cheek once more
the faded black and white image is sepia toned with age
but I know every color
every texture of every feature
every stitch of clothing
she’s got a hold of his head
from the beard of his lower left cheekchin
with one toddler-fingered hand
to the back of his neck with the other
planting a fantastic smooch on his right cheek
just above the beard line
her down-turned nose
pressed candy-store-window-like against his cheek bone
his smile shimmers
out of the sweetest, happiest glow he’s ever felt in his life
his head tilted against the pressure of those lips on his heart
tow-headed toddler sitting with ease, butt to elbow, in the crook of his arm
her legs and body snuggle close to his upper torso and shoulder
her cherub-round cheeks echo the smooth curve of his bald crown
both pink-skinned
hair –
hers - soft, fine, and golden brown
his – soft, fine, and rust red
in remnants just above and behind his ears
meeting at the back, below the crown
his beard and moustache provide a pleasing balance to the cranial form
those coarse hairs with flecks
like dappled sunlight on earth through leaves
his wire rimmed glasses in the style of
late 80s early 90s professor
aviator shaped but not shaded
that orange t-shirt
sporting a well-loved brand
the logo partially obscured by their comfortably lopsided embrace
“Re
ese’s
UTTER CUPS
at Tastes”
her smooth, still-new skin
bare legs, arms, and shoulders
framed by that pastel swimsuit with the playful ruff
her eyes fixed on his
sparkling with the infinite joy only the doting father of an adoring daughter can ever know
she sees it
and will carry the memory of that cherished expression
elicited by her mere beauty of being
those two in an eternal-bliss-moment
Missing
No chime of wrens
No wisp of snipes
No trembling of finches
No pitying of doves
Survivor stretched starlings
Playing at Hitchcock
Twisting flower dead heads
Scavenging winter wet window boxes
Hunkered battalions line snow heavy branches
Feeding skirmishes attack peanut chips, cracked corn, seed bits
Gulping speared suet gobs
Feel the final rush
Ten thousand pairs of wings in unison
At last surrender to an Anthropocene Age
All murmurations silenced
A thin withered line of snow
On the lonely river birch
Rosalie’s Hope
1.
Following a restless night
I woke and heard birds singing
welcoming me to another day
I hope you heard them too
I saw clouds blocked the morning orb
but its gentle tenacious light filled the air
and soothed my eyes
I hope you saw it too
I could taste the arrival of spring
the earth and air
holding on to a lingering chill and hint of a promise
I hope you could taste it too
I could smell the memories of all I’ve loved
sweetgrass, grandmother’s garden, and my baby’s breath
I hope you could smell yours too
I felt the soft warmth of bed covers
and of those who are always with me
even in their absence
I hope you feel them too
2.
I listened all night to your voice
sung by crickets and night birds
under a moonless sky
lit with chandelier stars
This morning I knew
you would not want me to miss
a moment
Light that starts each day
trickling through green leafy layers
casting morning shadows
on smooth grey maple and rough black hemlock skin
Every flower I gaze upon
draws me back to thoughts of your sweetness
wrapped in a vision of orchids dancing delicate
under rain’s dripping caress
on an otherwise still forest floor
Nature’s sounds forever your voice in my ears
her sights – visions sent from you
all her sensations – the joy of you in my heart
3.
I woke with an image of you
in my mind’s eye
walking through shafts of light
breaking bright among pines
so tall that only their great straight trunks
were visible from earth’s sweet vantage
You moving in that easy strong stride you have
when taking one of your long, beloved walks
One hand reaches up
to touch and stroke your own hair
in that shy, self-conscious way that you do
Your full-bodied smile permeates all
while reaching out from the depths of your entire being
a beam that radiates from you in every direction
warming everything and everyone
touched and washed by your glow
a light that will forever illuminate the deepest corner of my heart
That place will never be dark as long as I hold you there
Starlight
The sun is our star
Imagine it
like all the others
in the night sky
Starlight so close
it casts
leaf shadows
across moss
Starlight so close
it warms our earth
lifts water in the air
making rain
Starlight so close
it feeds
every green thing
a million miles away
From further out
it twinkles
in the night sky
of other planets
Caroline de Mauriac 