Devour: Drinking in

Relief and ease up well,
As rest replaces restlessness
And energy is replenished,
Making way for further exertion,

Meanwhile nature arranges a blizzard,
Reveling in the chaos
Snowflakes come out and play,
Performing a celebratory dance upon the wind,

And after watching this show for a while,
I put on one of my own,
Moving about the kitchen
Measuring out ingredients and chopping vegetables;

As the snow piles up,
So do the contents of my cooking pot,
My colourful answer to
The weather’s gray and white display;

We work together at our respective tasks,
Spontaneously, joyfully,
And as the stew comes to completion
The snow slows to a trickle,

And sitting comfortably with my tray
I take time to observe the frosty display,
Fluffy drifts blowing
Creating spirals in space;

Then I turn to tasting the results of my efforts,
Savouring the many flavourings,
Appreciating the varied textures
And the simple satisfaction of a carefully prepared meal;

But soon now I will join the outdoor festival,
Donning my winter gear
And stepping lively,
Inhaling deeply the invigorating air.

Devotional: Uninhibited Awareness

The frigid weather returns;
So much fuel has to be burned
To keep everybody warm
In the face of the oncoming storm,

Meanwhile, the heart remains steady,
Hospitable to all that’s on,
Receptive to the changeable climate within,
Offering comfort to the churning inner winds;

Mindfulness is the ally in this,
For then not even the slightest flutter is missed
And attention can be directed
Towards whatever’s amiss

And from inside the awareness,
From this vibrant process,
So often now there’s such bliss,
Such joy, such delight,

Happiness gushes forth and energy abounds,
The joy in this consciousness
Fills the inner screen
And leads to such peace;

Not sure how this happened
But the ease keeps increasing,
Especially each time I apply
The metta phrases

But often even when
Merely coming from
The awareness direction,
And enhanced by not clinging;

Letting go of form,
Of feeling, of perception,
Of thought and consciousness
Brings about a lightness
That is wondrous to behold!

Devotion: Staying on Course

Now taking time for silent sitting,
Drinking in the quiet, settling,
Bathed in ease,
Fully alert and at peace,

Gradually opening attention to all that’s present:
Heat and tingling in the body,
Vibrations in the ears,
Previously unnoticed background sounds,

Traffic roars far below,
Doors open and close,
Footsteps patter on tiles,
Ventilation system hums;

Then metta phrases flit through mind,
Gently massaging the inner clime,
Slowly compassion grows,
Sheltered as in a greenhouse it glows,

These tiny seeds planted each day
Sprout the next,
Bursting upward through the soil,
Filling open space with vibrant colour;

Results already visible from
The regular application of this effort
That first began with metta towards myself
And spontaneously enveloped all beings;

Like a plant growing towards the light
Mind recognizes what’s good for it:
When it discovers something beneficial,
It reaches keenly in that direction

And upon careful inspection and experimentation,
Finds its way into a haven,
A place from which it can turn outward
And calmly face the world’s raving.