blame

blame sits tight
between worlds
sealed
with a cork,
between you
and me,
between words
said and not said,
between eyes
shunning and
looking through,
between fingers
pointing and clasping
what's unreal;
blame sits tight
between worlds
dying to meet
and merge,
in a celebration
of not what is
yours or mine,
but what is ours.

love seen, unseen

and I said to myself,
'be like the roots
of a large old tree -
never resting
in the steadfastness
of a ground
held tight,
for that's not how
you can grow;
move out,
far away
from what feels safe,
grope in the darkness
of a world
where you cannot hold,
but are always held
by the breaking
of new ground;
and as you grow
those tiny wings
that bore through the earth
who nourishes you,
seek out the strength
of your own being,
in the becoming
of all that is embraced;
for your home
is not where you first
took root,
it is in all that you
seek and return
with love,
never once imagining
to reach the blue sky
that feeds you
with its unseen love.'

look

look.
look into those crevices
with eyes that pry open

the dark and mysterious;
look.
look into those wounds
that smart with the salt of tears
washing them in a quiet embrace;
look.
look into those weights
that bear you down
when all you want is to fly;
look.
look into those thoughts
that want to rush in
to fill up and meld every pause;
look.
look at what you want to look at,
what's in your purview,
what's in your slack;
look.
look into your own eyes
as you look into the world,
yes, you always have a choice.

and so I look into these eyes,
that often rest in the cracks
where new life throbs,
waiting for its time, to rise.

the elephant in the room

I don't want to hide
behind my words
this time,
words woven as usual
like a silk sari -
smooth, elegant,
pretty, flowing,
drawing you into
her mysterious folds,
letting you drape yourself
in whatever way you choose;
for sometimes,
like today,
even poetry
gets in the way
of the world,
when what must be spoken,
must be spoken out loud,
for there is no other way
sometimes,
to see and honour
the elephant in the room.