Earnest: Keeper

Soft evening;
Rain-freshened air,
Cooling and pleasant,
Time to be present,

Sitting with the body
With all its discomforts;
Sinking into the cushion.
Harkening to a robin’s twittering,

Coming back in
To sensations arising,
Drifting dreamily
And returning, eyes opening;

Examining the gray carpet
Of the group sitting room,
Letting go of seeing,
Feeling nothing in particular.

Footsteps far away,
Reminder of a busy day;
Reflections on what’s past;
Floating off and re-engaging,

Attention seeking;
Finding it again
And losing it;
With it and without it;

Finally standing up
In search of a more stable view,
Swaying gently,
Left-right-left, back-forward-back;

Resorting to slow walking
Before settling back into the cushion,
Ringing the bell
Because it’s time
And tonight I’m the keeper.