Hundred and Fifty Seven 8.16.16 Danna Faulds Just For Now Just for now, without asking how, let yourself sink into stillness. Just for now, lay down the weight you so patiently bear upon your shoulders. Feel the earth receive you, and the infinite expanse of sky grow even wider as your awareness reaches up to … Continue reading Poems and Stories (145 Poem) – 10.13.16 — 9.14.16

Twelve - 10/13/15 Ellen Bass If You Knew What if you knew you’d be the last to touch someone? If you were taking tickets, for example, at the theater, tearing them, giving back the ragged stubs, you might take care to touch that palm, brush your fingertips along the life line’s crease. When a man … Continue reading Ellen Bass – If You Knew

Ten - 10/11/15 Ellen Bass C22 At gate C22 in the Portland airport a man in a broad-band leather hat kissed a woman arriving from Orange County. They kissed and kissed and kissed. Long after the other passengers clicked the handles of their carry-ons and wheeled briskly toward short-term parking, the couple stood there, arms … Continue reading Ellen Bass – C22

Eight - 10/9/15 Walt Whitman, Song of Myself #24 "Walt Whitman, a kosmos, of Manhattan the son, Turbulent, fleshy, sensual, eating, drinking and breeding, No sentimentalist, no stander above men and women or apart from them, No more modest than immodest. Unscrew the locks from the doors! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs! Whoever … Continue reading Walt Whitman – Song of Myself No. 24

Seven - 10/7/15 Mawlana Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī Slave of the Moon I’m the slave of the Moon; talk of nothing but moon. Or brightness and sweetness. Other than that, say nothing. Don’t tell of suffering, talk of nothing but blessings. If you know nothing about them, no matter. Say nothing. Last night I went … Continue reading Rumi – Slave of the Moon

Six 10/6/15 Kabir Breath “Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat. My shoulder is against yours. you will not find me in the stupas, not in Indian shrine rooms, nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals: not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding around your own neck, nor in eating … Continue reading Kabir – Breath

Five - 10/5/18 Mary Oliver The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac (Part III) I know, you never intended to be in this world. But you're in it all the same. so why not get started immediately. I mean, belonging to it. There is so much to admire, to weep over. And to write music or … Continue reading Mary Oliver – The Fourth Sign of the Zodiac

Four - 10/4/15 Rainer Maria Rilke Rise up rooted How surely gravity's law, strong as an ocean current, takes hold of even the strongest thing and pulls it toward the heart of the world. Each thing – each stone, blossom, child – is held in place. Only we, in our arrogance, push out beyond what … Continue reading Rainer Maria Rilke – Rise Up Rooted

Three - 10/3/15 e e cummings may i feel said he may i feel said he (i'll squeal said she just once said he) it's fun said she (may i touch said he how much said she a lot said he) why not said she (let's go said he not too far said she what's … Continue reading e e cummings – may i feel said he