Poem – Page 12 – The Narrow Path

Darkness.

The darkness surrounds me.

Fear consuming every thought.

Anger pulsating through every cell.

Hatred burning into my soul.

Greed filling up my mind.

Do I resist the darkness?

Do I suppress these dark emotions?

No.

I will accept the darkness.

I will honor the greed, anger, hatred, and fear inside me as part of who I am.

But I vow to shine light into the darkness of my soul.

The light of love.

The light of kindness.

The light of compassion.

The light of forgiveness.

I will show the darkness another way.

Abandon Ship!

Unexpected storms.

Unbearable winds.

Unavoidable destruction.

Your ship is broken.

Years of neglect.

Storms breaking it piece by piece.

Abandon your ship.

Let go and go into the great unknown.

Dive deep into the darkness of the sea.

The water is coldest at the bottom.

Unbearable pressure.

Suffocating pain.

Keep going.

As the storm passes, you will see a light.

Follow it.

Do not get accustomed to the darkness.

Do not wish for your old ship to rise from the depths.

Through the pain, we can grow.

Through the suffering, we can heal.

As you reach the surface you smile.

New life has been given.

Gratitude shining from the sun.

As you wash ashore.

You’re full of joy.

Curious about this new island.

Excited about new adventures.

New beginnings have been given.

New experiences to enjoy.

Fighting for Peace.

Fighting for peace.

Shaming for love.

Anger spilling into the streets.

Not an ounce of compassion.

How will they ever know peace if all we show them is violence?

We must show them another way.

The way of peace.

Our life is our message.

The message of peace.

The message of love.

The message of compassion.

Go to the streets.

Go to them in peace.

With love.

With compassion.

Anger can’t stomp out anger.

Only love can.

Violence won’t stop violence.

Only peace can.

Apathy won’t end apathy.

Only compassion can.

Lost at Sea.

A ship is lost in the treacherous open sea. The crew grows more impatient each day; the Captain is worried about a potential mutiny. No land in sight.

Will this be the end?

My crew goes weary.

Mumbling & arguing with each other.

Constantly chattering.

The smell of mutiny in the air.

I observe them from my private charters.

One moment they are angry.

The next they are sad.

Anxious.

Depressed.

Fearful.

Will we ever see land again?

A large wave swells up from the depths of the ocean.

Panic.

HOLD ON!!!!!

The ship creaks and moans.

We survive.

A month goes by.

Food short on supply.

Crew sick and diseased.

Birds of prey circle above us.

The end is near.

Until one day I see darkness on the horizon.

LAND!!

We are safe.

Joy & tears flow into the sea.

My crew dances under the moonlight.

No wave can sink me.

No storm will worry me.

I won’t break to my crew’s demands.

For I am the Captain.

I am not my thoughts. I am not my emotions. I am the observer. The Captain of my body & mind. I will honor these thoughts & emotions as impermanent. I will not sink into the darkness.

Gratitude.

I breathe in.

I smile.

How wonderful it is to be alive!

Joy pulsates through my body.

A smile lights across my face.

My heart beats with compassion.

My lungs full of gratitude.

Grateful for pain.

Heartbreak.

My breath.

And Joy.

Grateful to be alive.

I will smile.

I will laugh.

I will dance.

For life is impermanent.

Thank you life.

Thank you impermanence.

Thank you.

The Broken Dam.

Pain.

Anger.

Confusion.

Suffering.

The pain of loneliness.

Isolation.

Fear.

Building up like water flowing into a mighty dam.

Cracks form.

The wall deteriorates.

Until one day the walls scream in pain.

The dam is broken.

Suffering overflows into the world.

The river mourns.

The birds cry.

Innocent beings swept away by the waves of suffering.

I have no answers.

Only questions.

How can we prevent suffering from spilling over?

How can we live in peace?

How can we heal our nation?

Anchor.

A wave hits.

The wind howls.

A shark lurks in the darkness.

The storm surrounds me.

Will I sink into the darkness?

I throw my anchor into the depths of the sea.

No wave can break me.

No wind can push me.

No shark can hurt me.

No storm will out last my anchor.

Whenever times are tough, I can bring my focus back to my anchor.

My anchor of mindful breathing.

This anchor will be with me until my last moment.

Breathe in. Breathe out.