Essence of Sandalwood

As I contemplate

What I am about to write,

I stop to notice

The curling smoke

Of the incense

Just lit.

In its every movement,

There is grace,

As if touched

By a whispered breeze

From most gentle

And elegant lips.

These caresses

Leave elastic reflections

And supple images,

In arching tumbles,

Plaintiff stretches,

And humble bends.

Divine Yoga!

Unleashed.

Whose formulas,

Freed from regimen,

Cannot be known.

And in the lapse

Of an inquiring moment,

The beauty is already done.

Dilemma

Blank page staring,

Staring at me.

Yet I am the author

Striving to be.

Words cross my mind

But travel not through the heart.

Without a beginning,

How can I start?

Blank page staring,

Staring at me.

I’m wracking my brains

But it’s as empty as can be.

I peel off the lines

To find the hidden proof

Yet, there the page remains

Naked, empty, aloof.

Blank page staring,

Staring at me.

Is this how Hamlet felt

Reduced to a soliloquy?

Round and round the head

But never on the page.

This writer’s curse

Has locked me in a cage.

Blank page staring,

Staring at me.

Why is it that I capture

Not one profundity?

Has my mind gone empty

To match the page?

Or could this dearth

Bring forth a Sage?

Blank page staring,

Staring at me.

Maybe it would be better

Just to let you be free.

Not to encumber your space

To satisfy my pride

And bend to whispered words

On which all pretensions glide.

Blank page staring,

Staring at me.

Perhaps I’m guilty

Of some iniquity.

Did I pump out words

Like a whore throws looks?

Maybe what the world needs

Is more trees and less books.

Jackpot

Is it lucky

That the sun comes up every morning?

Or that you happen to be

There to witness it?

How many sunrises

Have happened in your life?

And how many excuses do you have

For missing most of them?

I think you have been lucky

To see a few sunrises

In spite of your sleepiness.

The miracles of Life keep slipping by

Like the mighty Mohawk flowing.

Last night, at sunset, I saw the herons there

Pierce the violet penumbra of ebbing light.

I saw the ducks skate on the river,

Making soft landings.

No one else was there

But Beauty draws me irresistibly

Toward its next encore.

Remember,

Tomorrow’s sunrise

Will bring another opportunity.

Maybe you’ll get lucky!

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Mommy, what would happen

If I went to sleep and never woke up?

Would the stars still shine?

Would the sun come up?

Would my brothers and sisters still want to fight?

Would the mailman run from the dog that bites?

Mommy, what would happen

If I went to sleep and never woke up?

Would they still have school

Or would they board her up?

And what would the janitor do if I wasn’t around?

Would he still sweep the halls

And pick up trash from the ground?

And Mommy, if I slept too long,

Where would I go?

Would I fly off like the birds

Or would I just lie there like snow?

What would really happen

If I went to sleep and never woke up?

Remember when Uncle Nick fell down

And he never got up?

And the ambulance came and took him away?

He’s never been back

But I still have so many things to say.

He used to take me on walks.

And we’d find quarters on the ground.

And then he’d buy me ice cream.

I’m really sad that he’s not around.

Mommy, what would happen

If I went to sleep and never woke up?

Would I ride off to heaven on horses that gallop?

And when I got there,

What would I find?

Lots of old people, some mean and some kind?

I’m asking you, Mom,

‘Cause I really don’t know.

But most of all,

I don’t want you to go.

Mom, do you think that I’m worrying too much?

It’s just that when I’m alone at night,

I’m missing your touch.

I don’t think I ever want to grow up.

Mommy, what would happen

If I went to sleep and never woke up?