when we open
our hearts
wide enough––
beauty enters &
life is
beautiful
we lived
in an italian palazzo
with windows welcoming
light & angels & buddhas
from every direction
open windows
breathing sounds &
smells & tastes &
touches
heavenly manifestations
of perfection––
the bite of bitter coffee, the
pungent smell of garlic, the
seven swimming
fishes––
luscious fruit & a paring knife
always close at
hand
every day we feasted in
the open air or toasted the heavens
with the gods
from the first
light of morning
music filled the air
& the piano attained
kensh?
were we living with
the spirit of brahms or with
brahms?
the master of the
mansion was a wise, kind
smiling man who
ruled
hand-in-hand with
his mistress of great stature &
radiance––
father & mother of
a school for mindful
living & a home for pilgrim
souls
the master taught us
to verify
reality
& awake into
rationality¬¬––
to live well & prepare
for transformation
he experienced great
suffering––
a year of great suffering
in the protective arms of
his love
like socrates
he faced death without
fear as
conscious witness
of his own
dying
arriving at the center
of a wild, open
universe of
freedom
he blossomed
into wisdom &
everywhere