Poem – Page 13 – The Narrow Path

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.