If I snapped off the future claims
And the past travails from this holy instant of Now,
I can sort of see how something new would break free,
Something fearless, smiling and aglow,
If I could live in that space inbetween,
Then I can sort of see,
How my bruises would be healed,
And my expectations rendered obsolete,
Yes, I can sort of grope for this new domain,
And I can sort of open the door,
Sort of free and straight and star spangled light,
Sort of born again in each moment's grace,
Sort of heaven, sort of nice.
(The title of this poem comes from a zen koan - see http://www.zenstrawberry.com/about/ . It is about living in the present moment. The 'space inbetween' is the present moment between the past 'bruises' and the future 'expectations'. The repetitive use of the phrase 'sort of' implies that, on the one hand, this feels like an easy step to make but, on the other, it is strange and full of trepidation. The fear of who we really are?)
Hello John!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for letting me know about your beautiful and inspiring poems!
Really, there's so much more about leadership that we usually do not see, and your poems contribute to expand our vision. Thank you!
Myriam
Hi John
ReplyDeleteLovely idea....really enjoyed "Biting the Strawberry". Could really hear your voice in it, and I thought the juxtaposition of far-reaching star-spangliness with the humility of your "sort ofs" worked really well. Lovely. Looking forward to reading the others. Thanks!
Liz Hall