The Dawning of Enlightenment

Ho’opuka e-ka-la ma ka hikina(The Dawning of Enlightenment) — 17th century Hawaii, anonymous Ai, Ai, Ai.Ho’opuka e-ka-la ma ka hikina eKahua ka’I hele no tumutahiHa’a mai na’I wa me Hi’iakaTapo Laka ika ulu wehiwehiNee mai na’I wa ma ku’u aloHo’I no’o e te tapu me na’ali’I e E ola makou a mau loa laeEala, eala, … Read more

Saturday Slow Time

A Blessing for One Who is ExhaustedJohn O’Donohue (1954 – 2008) When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic,Time takes on the strain until it breaks;Then all the unattended stress falls inOn the mind like an endless, increasing weight, The light in the mind becomes dim.Things you could take in your stride beforeNow become laborsome … Read more

Saturday Poetry

Innocence (The Sun) © Osho Zen TarotThe Summer Day by Mary Oliver Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear?Who made the grasshopper?This grasshopper, I mean– the one who has flung herself out of the grass,the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back … Read more

40 Years of Pride

In loving celebration of the 40th Anniversary today of the Stonewall Riots.Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. — Ralph Waldo Emerson I AM RAINBOWBy Oshumare Nijiof the Sri Chinmoy Centre Looking in a puddle on a semi-rainy dayI saw myself but dimlyimperfect, … Read more

For My Faerie Sister

Happy birthday yesterday to Alruna: The Flowers by Robert Louis Stevenson All the names I know from nurse:Gardener’s garters, Shepherd’s purse,Bachelor’s buttons, Lady’s smock,And the Lady Hollyhock. Fairy places, fairy things,Fairy woods where the wild bee wings,Tiny trees for tiny dames–These must all be fairy names! Tiny woods below whose boughsShady fairies weave a house;Tiny … Read more

Sunday Poetry Selection

He’s there among the scented treesby Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941) (from The Lover of God, translated by Tony Stewart and Chase Twitchell) He’s there among the scented trees,playing the notes he has taught you.Too late for embarrassment, shy doenibbling at the forest’s edge,shawled in deep blue shadows.He’s calling you. The flower of your soulis … Read more

Happy Mother’s Day

segment from the mosaic mural Tonantzin Renace by Colette Crutcher,16th St. near Sanchez, San Francisco, California A Love Note from Your MotherPsalm 135 – From Earth Psalms ©Angela Magara To my dear children:Give praise for the beautySay the names of birds, of trees, sons and daughters,with highest honor.Extol the lands and the seas between.Give praise … Read more

Bringing in the May

Narcissus by John William WaterhouseSONGby Thomas Hood (1799-1845) O Lady, leave thy silken threadAnd flowery tapestrie:There’s living roses on the bush,And blossoms on the tree;Stoop where thou wilt, thy careless handSome random bud will meet;Thou canst not tread, but thou wilt findThe daisy at thy feet. ‘Tis like the birthday of the world,When earth was … Read more