Pour the Wine into the Chalice - Rumi

Because I cannot sleep
I make music at night.

I am troubled by the One
whose face has the color of spring flowers.

I have neither sleep nor patience,
neither a good reputation nor disgrace.

A thousand robes of wisdom are gone.
All my good manners have moved a thousand miles away.

The heart and the mind are left angry with each other.
The starts and the moon are envious of each other.

Because of this alienation the physical universe
is getting tighter and tighter.

The moon says, "How long will I remain
suspended without a sun?"

Without Love's jewel inside of me,
let the bazaar of my existence by destroyed stone by stone.

O Love, You who have been called by a thousand names,
You who know how to pour the wine
into the chalice of the body,
You who give culture to a thousand cultures,
You who are faceless but have a thousand faces,
O Love, You who shape the faces
of Turks, Europeans, and Zanzibaris,
give me a glass from Your bottle,
or a handful of bheng from Your Branch.

Remove the cork once more.
Then we'll see a thousand chiefs prostrate themselves,
and a circle of ecstatic troubadours will play.
Then the addict will be freed of craving.
and will be resurrected,
and stand in awe till Judgement Day.

~ Rumi ~

The Girls

But I Don't Love

Each step I take I see that I am checked.

I say ‘drown me in your Love’

But I do not love.

I hold back in fear of not getting my bit.

I say ‘forgive me! Forgive me my darkened heart’

But truly, I’m not so sure I forgive.

I see the shadows of remembered slights.

I say ‘wash away my mind of arrows’

But I carry the quiver behind me.

Bitterness twists my upper lip.

And You say –

My Love. Lift your head.

Its one thing to give your Heart,

And another to act upon your giving.

One step at a time.

Let me wash you with My Bliss.

Let me shower you in My Love.

And, one step at a time,

You will clear the construction of your mind.

You will see through the eyes of your heart.

You will see without more willing, you are

Already Drowned, Forgiven and Washed.

Be still. Be with me. Feel the Pulse of Love.

Bread of Life, Wine of Wisdom

Bread of Life

Wine of Wisdom

I put the bread into my mouth and

Saw the golden heads of wheat sway.

And She said ‘It is my body.’

I felt the old traitor rise his head around

My leg and say ‘I’m not worthy of thisss.’

She smiled and showed me the digestion

Process. Chewing, the body consuming,

Leaving the waste behind.

The seeds being replanted, into the waste.

The growth is dependent upon the waste

Of the past – without doubt.

Do not be fooled, She said, tucking the hair

Behind my ear.

You consume me – present, past, future -

Entwined.

You are eating the past, right now,

For your future. Your waste will prepare

The ground for your future. Without doubt.

I can not-

Shhh. All in good time. One step. One step.

I look up – and the wine?

Her smile, so gentle.

Is there anything more obvious? Have you

Burst a ripened black grape between your fingers?

Have you seen the skin stretch and burst

And let the liquid touch your fingers?

Have you seen?

I am mesmerised by your beauty. I can barely breathe.

Ruby red – like freshly drawn blood.

Blood is your life force incarnate in physical form.

The wine is mine – drink – feel Me enter your blood.

A half sip is all you’ll need. I am the wine of wisdom.

Drink of me – fill your self with Me. One we are.

Advice on Starting a Blog

Advice On Starting a Blog

• The best thing is, not to think too much.

• Remember, it’s a blog, not a text book.

• What you write is important, but it can be human, with all of the failings we have.

• The first thing, is to write something.

• The second is to find a fun picture. (option but catchy to the eye)

• Most people won’t keep reading if the beginning is boring.

• Keep it short – unless you really have something to say.

• Use bold face when you change topic. Like a heading.

• Find and reserach interesting links to sites you like - like 'how to blog like a pro'.

• The most important thing though, is have fun.

• Welcome to BLOG WORLD.

Men!! They figured it out some time ago -

Lollipops and Roses

Tell her you care, each time you speak,

Make it her birthday each day of the week,

Bring her nice things, sugar an' spice things,

Roses an' Lollipops,

An' Lollipops and Roses . . .

One day she’ll smile, next day she’ll cry,

Minute to minute, you’ll never know why!

Coax her, pet her, better yet get her,

Roses an' Lollipops,

An' Lollipops and Roses . . .

We try acting grown up, but as a rule,

We’re all little children, fresh from school . . .

So, carry her books, that’s how it starts,

Fourteen to forty, they’re kids in their hearts . . .

Keep them handy, flowers an' candy,

Roses an' Lollipops,

An' Lollipops and Roses . . .

Words and Music by Tony Velona, 1962

The Water of Life

The Water of Life

If the water of Life be Love,

Then let me drown in You.

Let the water run its course

Through the valleys of me.

Let it douse all the fires of

Greed, judgement, anger, and hate.

Let it clean away the debris of

Hurt, resentment, pain and fear.

Water of Life!

Let me bath in your waterfall,

Let me swim in your river,

Let me dive to your depths,

Let me float in your fathoms.

Rise, water of life!

Fill the valleys of me

Rise water of life!

Cover the dust that is me.

Let me dissolve into You.

Come and be One with me.

Let loose your cleansing rains

Upon this tired desert.

Sweep me away until I am

No more me, and only You.

On Fear

On Fear

Darkness approaching and foot steps near,

I turn around with mounting fear.

Darkness descending, as sure as doom

A scream catches within, a moment too soon.

‘Tis but me.

The scream.

‘Tis but me.

All I see.

‘Tis but me.

Chained, unfree.

‘Tis but me

Unknowing purity.

The shadows loom at dusk, with light’s descent.

I remember the words I spoke with passion, regret.

Fear, I turn to face you, choked on myself.

Fear – you out run me – it is here I must delve.

I turn, in forged fear –

Tis me.

I see.

Divine Mother

She comes, persistent and demanding,

To penetrate the outer layers of skin and flesh.

She comes from below, from under rocks,

Deep within the dense core of the earth.

Sinuous, thick with life divine, penetrating

Through the confines of the mind.

She comes, with no reason, breaching understanding,

Undulating to music unheard by my ears.

We lay there, her children, her claimed Ones.

Terrified, spent, delirious, tormented, devoured.

She comes with Love, insisting on Her presence.

She comes with Glory, of hidden things.

She comes with Grace, of the past unknown

She comes with Forgiveness, of all that is done.

Sweetest Mother. Blossoming Flower. Divine Grace.

I sit. I feel my heart. Its pulse is Your pulse.

My breath is Your breath. Calm, for the moment.

Awash with Your Love. I am Yours.

(for Dear E)

Fear of the Self?

Fear of the Self?

We were walking down a small street in Melaka, Malaysia. The boys were in front of me, and we were all carrying large back packs from our transport to our accommodation.

We were about ten days into our four month trip. I’d read carefully all of the do’s and don’ts but didn’t feel particularly worried about anything. I thought.

Suddenly, I felt someone behind me. I was sure that they were so close I could feel them and my heart leapt. I let out a scream and turned, quickly to see who it was. But they had moved so fast! I turned again, at this moment, truly terrified.

And then, I realised, that the ‘someone’ was my back pack. My luggage.

How’s that for symbolism?

Perhaps, when you're ready, we could, as an option, put our luggage down sometimes, if not just throw it into the rubbish. Just as an option.