reflective state of my moment (haiku for tonight)

lost in the ego
blinders of my humanness
but nature still smiles

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the Jewish Buddhist

MinusCar is a biking blog I read sometimes. Think pedals and tight shorts, not V-twins and leather. I like his message (usually) and enjoy his writing style. His latest post shares a verse from Jewish Buddhist singer Leonard Cohen. I’m not familiar with Cohen, and don’t really know what a jewish buddhist is, but the verse was shared by one of my favorite authors and thinkers, Parker Palmer. I just recently listened to a podcast interview with Palmer on Krista Tippet’s Speaking of Faith. Maybe the same one mentioned on MinusCar, but I don’t remember the Cohen verse. Here it is, from his song Anthem:

"Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in."

I had never heard of Cohen until today. I was so grabbed by the verse that I looked him up a bit. At first listen, his songs are a bit like I imagine first hearing Bob Dylan must be: an almost unpleasant singing voice that grows on you, with lyrics that open something in your soul and will simply not let go. There’s a movie about him, featuring Bono from U2. Here’s the trailer:

Love this: Cohen on becoming a buddhist monk: “You abandon your masterpiece and you sink into the real masterpiece.”

Grateful tip ‘o the bike helmet to MinusCar today.

 

Garden Surprise at Dusk

Just before bedtime tonight, in between swing set play and  some left overs from the Methodist ice cream social, the girls discovered these yellow beans ready for picking. Then we remembered that the north half of our pea rows are snow peas–great for picking and eating the whole pod. Hope’s excited to pack her lunch tomorrow for Totus Tuus (whatever that is).

Another surprise at dusk for me: an awesome half moon seemed to suddenly appear against the pale blue sky. So I wrote this spontaneous haiku. I guess most all of my haikus are spontaneous–my friend Tim might call it slam haiku. Just whatever words are given.

half moon rises in still blue
solo artist on shy dusk
floating pearl sends rest

 

One beat

A friend just shared this verse with me. It echos my heart, so I share it with you…

This harsh and splendid land

With snow-covered rock mountains, cold-crystal streams,

Deep forests of cypress, juniper and ash

Is as much my body as what you see before you here.

I cannot be separated from this or from you.

Our many hearts have only a single beat.

-from The Warrior Song of King Gezar

 

Sitting in the killing field

A verse that came to me today as I was sitting in a small wood, soon to be cleared away and replaced by a construction site (tree hugger alert)…

Stand tall, touch earth and sky,
touch me in my soul.
Clear the way for more progress,
woods become a hole.
About to be dying, in this arbor killing field.
Soon will come, to finish the job,
blades and tractors, war to wield.

All brush now cleared away,
they stand naked, unafraid.
Still and calm, as no wind
even as they sway.
Not waiting, no worry,
for the coming day.

Not proud, no sorrow,
not anything at all.
Just trees that be,
no more, no less.
Until the day they fall.