Bump: Blundering into Freedom

I slept badly,
And based on this result
Concluded how my day would be
“My day is shot!” I decided,
But how foolish as
I hadn’t even gotten out of bed.

Then I noticed that
As “my day was shot!”
I chose to cook breakfast,
Which takes longer.
‘Interesting, let’s see what happens,’
I thought.

Although I was less productive
Than I would have liked,
I completed the usual tasks,
In the usual time and way;
So I would have to say,
‘Same difference.’

The exception to this plan
Was the freedom that I found
When at last I meditated;
It was present in everything and everywhere I looked,
I felt downright unhooked
By this unexpected insight.

Thus, no matter how I wake up
I can never tell
What kind of day I will have.
Why then, do I think I know?
Why not, just get up and go?
Perhaps I will get that tomorrow.

Seeing freedom is one thing
But how do I live it?
Perhaps I will not discover that either
Until I stop looking for it.

Bull’s-eye: Centre Stage

Ten days of back pain,
What an ordeal,
But what a chance to practice
With all my methods.

Today’s a little better (so far),
What a relief,
But I’m keeping up my vigilance
For the next development.

There’s something else
Coming at me from somewhere
I hope I can be ready;
All I can do is prepare.

I’m dancing on air
From this bit of ease,
But clinging will sink me.
How can I release?

It’s so difficult to realize
This peace is temporary,
But it’s the key to my progress
To give up this fantasy.

I’m reluctant to look
Outside this dream,
To perceive the reality
Of perpetual fragility.

I don’t want to let go
Of this warm feeling.
When I see it leave
I will likely grieve.

There’s so much to mourn
On this lengthy journey.
At every turn I take
There’s another goodbye to make.

Bulletin: Body Talk

Exercising mindfully
With pain
Is interesting.
I’m rarely more aware
When I’m active,
Than when I’m moving
The body in this fashion.

The reaction is often
Quite unexpected,
As is the reaction
To the reaction.
It’s always a surprise
Which parts hurt
And which feel comfortable.
Plus, so many times I complain
And it’s so often the same
That I wonder why I bother.

These habits of mind
Are so well established
And hard to stop
That during this process
My compassion also
Gets a work out.
My loving-kindness
Gets trotted out,
My equanimity develops,
And my patience grows,
In response to the challenge of
Having and caring for an aging body,
Being with this fragile frame,
This temporary state of affairs
That all too soon will be
Replaced by some other process.

All of this I notice
When I exercise
In this mindful way.