"Le Bonheur". C'est tres bien!

What matters in life?
Do you want to be happy?
"Surely yes" you all cry
but what is this really about
How much of it is a lie?

From dawn to dusk we chase
ephemeral butterflies of lust
dancing glimpses of delight
transient moments of pleasure
Ulimately a disatisfying ploy

What is it we get at the end?
Memories to dwell on
living on past snatched glory
slowly stagnating with age
Is this to be our story?

Essential depth and solidity
The core secret of happiness
This surely is the real cure
fully surrendering the self
establishing "le bonheur"

From here we can be true
We can enjoy serenity and peace
This is the way to bliss
enfolding expanses of joy
wrapped with a universal kiss

A true heart

What is love?
What is a heart?
Why are we so afraid?
Where is the truth the pain and hurt
How are these things shown to us

Unsullied and looking pure
This heart is untouched and clear
of all but self protection and
closed to all others, safe and sound
but unused and frozen from love

A real heart has wounds and scars
each showing giving and pain
a true heart has given bits away
and received others in to itself
making it real warm and full of love

Both these hearts exist in me
As I grow and open myself
I feel the pain and tearing
the scars of giving unanswered love,
the pleasure of bringing warmth
that is genuine and unexpected.

Our hearts are huge oceans
The heart's capacity boundless
mostly untapped and closed.
Open it up and give freely
the seas of compassion
are waiting to be free.

Soul to Soul

Each of us has a soul
Each soul has a mate
The universe conspires
to bring them together

Our physical bodies
temporarily here
souls when they meet
integrate and connect

This level of union
so much deeper
than earthly desire
vast in its richness

Falling into your eyes
my soul sees your soul
deep and still and clear
accepting all benign

Your eyes reflect me
to me. I can see all
I am and we are and
all we will become.

Is this what we want ?

"What was my sister like before the day she left"
She and mum went out and never came back
I just remember being dragged down stairs hidden bereft
I saw your face as the bombs fell, it went grey and slack

Shock wracked your body struggling to shed the tears of grief
hidden in a cellar with me dust covered afraid and unsure
the pain of loss tearing and searing heart flesh - no relief
emotions spent, life corrupted every thought now impure

The anger and impotence to act twisting your soul
I try and help more innocent and more unaware
you want revenge for your loss you want a role
I want you to return to me to live and to care

So again I ask you "Father tell me what she was like
tell me how it was before the bomb took them away"
Tell me father "How it was when we could use a bike
when we could rush outside and kids could play?"

I could see the effort it took to rouse your heart
to look me in the eye and focus on the present
you smiled at me weakly, sighed and made a start.
A familiar story now we both knew how it went

"Son" you say "before the bomb there were trees and grass
You went to school with many children your age
you had lessons together in a group called a class
you were free to roam and explore a joyful rampage

I too play my part and am amazed "Tell me more about the trees"
Father "How can it be like it is now." I do not understand
His head is heavy and sadness returns from memories he sees
He looks at me intently his words studied holding my hand

"Son I am so sorry we choose not to act when we had a chance"
We watched and did nothing . It was happenening under our nose
More nations more powerful weapons a terrible political dance
No one standing up screaming demanding war factories to close

We did not rise up and follow the way of peace
Our leaders self-blinkered lead us on the path to war
We let the world be destroyed the old way of life ceased
Everything is degraded now humanity is poor

The green grass, the bird song the flowers are gone
children grow up in the shadows not running in the sun
The good life before replaced with one so wrong
Hand to mouth living, existance sadness not fun

People are not fish

Toys are for playing
we are people
dont play games with us
we have tender souls

We are not toys
to be dallied with
Please don't use us
fun and abuse and gone

Treat us well please
dont throw out a hook
with a juicy piece of bait
We are poeple not fish

Distance

There is truth in this
There is wisdom so old

How far from others are you?
What is that distance you feel?
How close is the connnection
How strong is the bond

That distance is the same
as the distance you perceive
between you and yourself
the space in your soul

The closer you are to you
the more truth and openess
the more presence for others
the more humility and love

The calling 2

the letter dropped - the bomb went off
and there - there was stillness
cowering uncertain unsure
life stopped in a moment
the before was stuck and the future froze
the envelope big enough to hide in

Staying put is safe no more risks
"stay in the rut, life is OK"
What is all this wanting wanting more
be safe be still child no one needs a man
lift your head up to see what?
What else do you need to see?

who is speaking?
which part of me?

the yearning the pull to leave this place
the ropes bind the wrists chaffed raw
the instinct the calling irresistable
in the presence of this desire

resisitance is the problem
humble recognition of reasons
gentle acceptance of all you are
this is the healing - unity required

together the calling can be answered
one with the other side by side
lifting and supporting each others need
to a place in the sun to succeed

a place of stillness and fun
a feeling of completeness
a life well lived a legacy
peace and gratitude for love

The calling 1

The white condor soars high
above the environment
seeing all and being all it can be
the energy flows and nourishes
reinforcing, present and strong
flowing without arrogence

Along time ago things were different so different
drinking and stress prevailed driven by the envrionment
hollow sad and wasted inside a tread mill rat
with the nose to the grind stone
There was no off

Uniting them both so humbling and compassionate
the curious and interested rat driving the inside
onwards and up into flight and whilst the wings
glide the rat can rest and enjoy the fruit the family

Meaning is brought through recognition
wholeness is gentle and still
growth effortless and possible - fun
the inside and outside become one

Loves Reflection

Sinking down
comfortable relaxing
down easy to let it be
going slowly to the bottom
rock is what i find

What does it take to
stop the slow descent
to see myself reflected
by a true friend's
bravery and hope
for a change in me

What will reverse the trend
spiralling down and raise me up
to release the grief, the loss
to journey on in life

Stop the waste and respect the past
to move on and start being again
the person who was loved
by the person lost rather
than losing the life of the
person still living and loved