To breathe,
And yet to hold the breath
A little separated.
To eat,
And yet to hold the stomach
Parly closed.
To look,
And yet to hold the eyes
Somewhat away.

To keep it all at bay
In anxious shielding –
What is this need?

When I could ride the bellows,
Feel the rhythmic pulsing,
Life and death
Opening and closing
By itself.

When I could sing the flavour,
Feel the constant changing,
Plant and seed
Forever transforming
Without my help.

When I could dance the radiance,
Feel the steady cycling,
Light and dark
Rising and falling
On its own.

Why do we watch a made up play,
Thinking we know better,
When all around, lies richness?
Divided from us
By a heart beat, a hair’s breadth
Of awareness.

Songs of Renewal, July 2025