Touched by your tears,
I hold you,
letting the hands of my heart
sing tenderness
as simply as
the deep quietness
within me.

Life comes, this time like a teasing dancer,
kissing my still-to-closely held fantasies into a blinding fire.
Then how you ruthless test my will to purify
the addicted, the outward-yearningness within,
still harbouring
the insane hope of personal 'survival'
on this journey.
And how you laugh as I wail in grief,
as I lose 'myself' in your Shiva.
Well, Destroyer of Illusion, you want this plaything?
I must say it's getting to be more of a pain than 'I' can bear....
make me a cheap offer....
you might get lucky.

Only because I too have run away from love's call
can I understand and have the compassion to endure
this impaling.
Only because I too have denied my own courage
in favor of my habit of comfort
and then tried furiously to bury the nawing, disturbing voice
of my own imprisoned consciousness
can I bear the cross of betrayal
without insanity.
And only because I have been given to see
that this crucifiction is my reward
for living a life worth living
can I recognize the kiss of God's love
in your abandonment.

For Sally....

Ripping my heart with Nowness, you die,
leaving me to join untold other mourners,
all who held you as soulfriend.
It was a good ride though, wasn't it.....
in the kingdom of pure hearted compassion,
you were my Queen,
she who always knew the true in me,
no matter how I tripped over myself.
Well, Sally my dearest friend,
as the tears dry and then flow again,
I am immeasureably grateful and humble
for the grace of your life kissing mine....
As you travel beyond the beyond,
may I, with what life is left in me,
thundershower all Beings with your diamond love seeds.