Image by romkey via Flickr
The bell of mindfulness
Invited me to wake up
And remember my breath
For just one moment.
I knew the news before
I heard her voice.
This messenger held no
Surprises for me.
Breathing in,
Breathing out,
A transformation takes place.
Breathing out,
And releasing,
Just releasing,
Until departing becomes arriving.
I checked the calendar
To see if today was an auspicious day,
For some reason,
Any reason,
To help me make sense
Of this awaited loss.
This present moment
Was arising and descending
Right before me.
I knew that my dear new friend had,
In one breath,
Become a part of my ancestral heritage
And my future all at once.
I bowed to him with gratitude and honor.
I knew to see his smile again
All I needed to do was close my eyes
And smile as I had when he was
there before me just a few hours before.
I hear my own voice in my mind ask,
“Friend, are you there?”
A full and jovial voice answered
With no hesitation,
“Friend, I’m neither here nor there.
I just am. That’s all we ever are.”
And with a tear and a smile I said in return, using his own words,
“I like it, I like it.
It makes me happy
when someone believes. . . ”
And I knew we were now one.
2003
In Honor And Gratitude For
Thong And His Loving Family
