untouchable

I make mandalas
with flowers
and leaves
and shells
and presence.

I never stopped to think,
to question
anything,
as I made them -
there was no need.

and then suddenly,
in an unruly ocean
of teeming thoughts,
a mandala formed
where my eyes turned in;

a lady was creating a mandala
with flowers
and leaves
and shells
and presence;

adding things,
taking away things,
as she pleased,
and yet, every petal,
leaf and flower,

remained unchanged -
beautifully whole,
alone, a-part and together,
forever touched,
yet untouchable.