At a time
As we enter this hot chocolate we disappear—you, I, us. If only for an instant. At a time. We approach the narrowing as of an hourglass, little expecting it to open to a wider world on the other side—wider and brilliantly dark.
:- Doug.
A dark garment
In hospital I found myself slipping into a dark garment that felt comforting, as well as brilliant. This is my day. And it stays. And I am heartened.
:- Doug.
hot chocolate grows cold
We should be willing to let the physical hot chocolate grow cold as the other hot chocolate sucks us into mystery, as we slip into its cone of presence. Trust this radical silence of voice and soul and essence. Trust the empty space and the longer now.
:- Doug.
Desire for knowledge
Desire for knowledge, e.g. when I search the Web: that is called curiosity.
:- Doug.
untrue image of your friend
You have an image of your friend—it is largely untrue or imagined—to find where, lose all images.
:- Doug.
losing in conversation
Dark is when we fear losing ourselves in this conversation. But to lose oneself is to find our friend, and to lose ourselves, even our together, is to find something inestimable.
:- Doug.
A dog hears
We are surprised when a dog hears us before we speak, when a person hears us before we speak, but each happens—probably to you, too. So why our surprise? Both the surprise at being heard, and your own speaking another’s mind are commonplaces. They are ways two pronounce us one.
:- Doug.
Other side of light
What are the possible ways to be one?—Am I you or me?—Remind me now. Why is it so dark—on this other side of light? What is the question a dying woman asks about this other side of light—this other light?
:- Doug.
Footprints in the Windsm # 2510–Placid in hospital
Footprints in the Windsm # 2510
Curiously, I was placid in my spirits, tending a little to elation, the whole time in the hospital. What is the right word? Tranquil, serene, gentled, free, peace, content, blissful? Yes, blissful comes close: grace and favor, gentle and kind, in addition to merriment and happiness. There was a sense of dawning happiness. Even though the one people mover managed to lose my note cards (I had two good poems, and who knows what else). In the days since I have felt my mood being more and more toward the joyous side.
Please pass it on.
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A just prayer
“God,” the pray-er began
“We just. . .”
As he went on I counted,
Collecting his “justs:”
Surely a just prayer
But let not your teeth
Get stuck
In justice
Or pretending to little requests
There is a hidden more
Back behind all those “justs:”
He did not trust his god,
Had to put in his order
From some imagined menu
With only some delights
For his unlearned palate
Imagining a limited god.
:- Doug.
Not length of conversation
The point is not the length
of conversation
nor the mere dropping
of veils
More
other
taking in
each of other
—finding us—
of same substance
and holy
:- Doug.
Darkness in the flavor
Darkness
in the flavor
of the stew
portends blending
of ingredients
us
flavors aromas textures rising
:- Doug.
