Poetry

Say Good Morning to God!

My student blossoms
and beautifully opens
in Trikonasana,
strongly rooting
and arching into a backbend--
her fingers shining brightly

She roots
and explodes radiantly
and organically
in exquisite body prayer,
as her voice spontaneously
and blissfully proclaims:
"Say good morning to God!"

(@ Still Point Mind and Body - Lower Level, Takoma Park MD)

Immortal Beloved

words elude
      self-expression

but they cannot
      possibly surpass
the truth
      and simplicity
divinely inked by Beethoven-
a prayer whispered
for all posterity
to the Immortal Beloved

ever thine
ever mine
ever ours

(@ Takoma Park Rec Center MD)

* * * * * * *

The Banks of the River

We come to our mats
Invited into greater alignment–
To find balance
And the recognition
Of our true nature

We come to our mats
Invited into greater alignment–
Supporting the flow
Of our deepest essence,
Like the banks of a river

We come to our mats
Invited into greater alignment–
And we are encouraged
To let ourselves freely flow,
Pulsating and teeming with life
Sustained by the banks of a river

I come to the mat
In pursuit of greater alignment

From the banks of a river
I step into the flow of my essence
And true nature–
Forever reflected in
The deep and rich current
Of grace

The Playground of Lila

"Go into the garden
of delight!"

My teacher invites us
To explore the magic
Of Divine Play

She invites us to taste
The embodiment of Lila,

We are led into poses
Exploring them playfully,
Aided by Divine Shakti energy,
Breathing in each
And everyone of us–
Into the deepest recesses
of our bodies.

My teacher says:
"Let the Shakti breathe into you–
As you!"

I came to class this morning
To have my spirit nourished

And like an exquisite homily,
So many gems of wisdom are dispensed,
Falling on the altar of my awaiting heart
Like snowflakes–
I long to capture them
And possess them,
But they are not meant to be confined

Instead, they melt in my receptive heart–
Morsels for my soul,
They become an elixir for my sustenance

We are invited into the realm
Of Divine Play–
The playground of Lila,
Place of immortal bliss
To taste the Mystery,
And experience the lightness
That will draw us to the mat
Over and over again–
And someday set us free

All is One

My heart is overflowing with Grace–
      hands in Anjali Mudra,
pressed against my breast–
      and the Cave of my Heart.
Hands that commune in Reverence,
      and in Silent Anticipation
of the coming Salutations to the Divine!

A mudra–
      a simple seal
is but a Benediction–
      a Solitary Witness
to the Ineffable merging
      of the self into Self.

Hands and arms reaching up to heavenly realms
      in Hastasana,
in humble Praise and deep felt Gratitude–
      then touch the floor in Uttanasana
in total Surrender
      to Divine Grace.

Each movement–
      Is but a Meditation in Motion–
My body becomes a Sacred Temple for the Spirit.
My Essence dissolves in an act of total Immolation.
I am now only the Expression
      of Ecstatic Bliss!
What joy is this!
      that entered my Life–
      with no solicitation?
      Birthed out of a Simple Surrender
      To Divine Will,
      A moment of Sheer Grace–
      Such a total Gift!
Which came in a way most unexpected.

My heart opens–
And Love explodes exponentially in Anjaneyasana,
      Radiating from my Heart Chakra,
Energy flowing from my Core–
      to the farthest Corners of the Universe.

All is One!

Flowing with Grace–
      Pose after pose.
My body is Sacred Space,
      Moving in Time
which is both Sanctified,
      And Eternal.

All is One!

Exhilaration!
Hands embrace once more,
      in Anjali Mudra.
My Heart is Inebriated,
      wanting to burst out of my breast!
I cannot contain
      the surging Currents of Energy–
which Spill into the Ocean of Divine Love!
I drown in the Intoxicating Elixirs
      Of Divine Bliss–
What a Gift of Sheer Grace!

All is One!

Stillness and Movement

"Yoga is the stilling
of the mind into silence."
– Patanjali

stillness flows into movement
and movement dissolves
      into stillness,
      and I
rest in the silence
      between them

stillness and movement
      ebb and flow
      in me–
and in all things
like two lovers blissfully engaged
      in an eternal dance

my practice on this magnificent spring morning
      joyously teases
coaxing more from me, playfully evoking
      both stillness and movement–
alternating between both
      evading and seeking,
parting and embracing
      like Shiva and Shakti–
merging in deepest union

final thoughts from a wise teacher
enable me to find that place deep within me
between stillness and movement
      where my little self
      full of judgment
lets go and releasing, surrenders to
      my Higher Self–
      the Goddess within
who truly knows that SHE
IS always enough and full

      finally, sitting
between stillness and movement
      at the end of practice
I find and taste its delicious fruit:

SILENCE

The following poems are from the forthcoming volume: Doorways to the Divine: Poems of a Spiritual Journey.

To Swim in Their Sea

I step into the pool of Infinite Grace

I come before my teacher
And my teacher's teacher–
And a legion of women teachers
Merging into One–
To drink of their Infinite Wisdom

They feed my body
And my soul
In ways they will never know

I come into their presence
To imbibe from the Ocean
Of their Sage Insights and Intuition

I come with an open heart
Wishing for nothing more
And nothing less–
Than to be graced
To swim in their sea

Love is the Only Prayer

Love is the only prayer
That ever needs to be proclaimed
Or recited fervently

Love is the only prayer
That every action should reflect
And every word should exclaim

Love is the only prayer
That should ever be embodied
Or enshrined in the soul

Love is the only prayer

The Doorway to Hanuman's Heart

I go to class and unexpectedly sit
at the feet of another teacher
I have never studied with

her words are gentle
and beautiful
and feed my soul
on this overcast morning

we open the doors
to the altar of our hearts
and listen to tales of Hanuman,
who exemplified selfless devotion

my body is more unyielding today–
I try to open more deeply
in awe of Hanuman
who ripped open his chest,
exposing his heart
and his great Love

I too, feel
that I have ripped open my heart–
leaving my essence exposed
and vulnerable–
not wanting to ever go so deep inside
and be hurt and disappointed

I think of Hanuman,
and the wise souls who have counseled
that suffering for others
is both redemptive
and the ultimate act of devotion

I teeter on the edge
of a precipice–
surveying the remnants
of the broken chains and ties
that previously bound me–
fruit of very deep inner work

I bow in simple surrender
as I am blinded by the light
shining from the doorway
to Hanuman's heart–
inviting me into its embrace,
there to find true solace
in its sacred fold

I Cannot Breathe

I cannot breathe–
I am still in the Divine

Once my breath
Was taken away
As I was sucked into a whirlpool

But it was not my time to go

I still remember the first breath
After nearly drowning–
Hungry and urgent

I cannot breathe–
I am still in the Divine

But now I am full
With an Infinite Roaring

My Yoga

even though
I return from an inspiring class
and a delicious practice–
buoyant and radiant
after a profound opening
in many Urdhva Dhanurasanas,
my body still wants to do yoga
desiring to move
in fluidity and grace–
my spirit seeking self expression

like a geranium
expanding out of its pot–
growing its limbs,
spreading its leaves,
and offering its blossoms
towards the light so Divine,
so my arms and legs–
and my whole embodied essence
longs to express and shine
Divine Light,
coursing through me
as my yoga

Oneness in the Present

I embody Oneness
in the Present Moment

I experience
The Present Moment
In a state of Oneness

Oneness
Is Now

Now
Is One

We are One
In the Now

One
Is Now

One

No Words

I go
to the land
of no words

I am called
to the place
of no thoughts

such a long ride
to no words

and farther still
to no thoughts