I. “Found and Lost”
Jesus on a flying bird
old time pictures
speaking their words
sound impossible to deny
Get up in cold morning sun
see my breath
as I get up and run
trees swaying
white stone power
wilderness names
memories
a past that can’t be refound
creation master poetry
American bird
writing true stories
lost on a highway home
uncommon Gandhi
stenciled sketches
self-portrait Walden sinking below
G.I. Joe Gibson
crooked prairie
horseshoe Willie Nelson
rolled up remote control reality
Tibetan prayer flag mind
scratch paper feelings
Karate Kid startups
resonator trees
tribal apple
“It’s okay not to be okay”
Everyone is welcome
all can be served
screen porch solace
dog day dancing
local Francis
singing saint
always Gubbio
present in our lives
Cymbal silence
harmony joy
we all mean well
golden eternity
Kerouac bandana boxcar
in the key of consciousness
swamp folk pick up the slack
I still miss you
all this time you’re gone away
all these pictures are the memories
of the feelings we want on display
but tucked inside
a book on a shelf
there’s a mirror
to my forgotten self
nestled in words
and tangled in thoughts
an image
a lesson
being taught
The horses will gather
games always play
we found what was lost
to make it one more day
because nothing is promised
endurance has a cost
resilience is a rosary
glitter jar capo delight
turkey feathers
guide us
to all that is right
II. “I Want To Give You What I Hope You Want”
I want to give you words
but I don’t know what to say
so I sweep the floor
clear the desk
and file away
our debt
and burdens
in file cabinets
and under rugs
and behind couches
and in the corners of closets
and anywhere else we can tuck
a little sorrow away
because a wedding is hard
but being married’s a miracle
and being happy
(whatever that means)
is elusive
and exists only in moments
and the rest is life
so we’ll put that aside
for now
knowing of course it’s there
not pretending it’s not
but just setting it down
for a minute
to make space
for a moment
between us
to remember
that it began
on a lake (called Ossipee)
in Cabin 18
in a place called Freedom
where nature was a classroom
and now
here we are
over twenty ourselves
learning on our mats
to live life off them
so it’s nice to look back
and it can be fun to dream forward
but for now I’ll settle
a breath is enough
just a moment
for four eyes
to see two eyes
to become one eye
and to keep remaking our world
remembering we can do it
because we’ve been thousands of miles
and created three kids
we’re capable of change
because we can breathe
in and out
and make the world anew
do the dishes
mow the lawn
pay bills
and maybe even rub each other’s feet
(once in awhile)
and be in love
with the little moments
that made us
friend lover husband wife mother father student teacher
and this next one
we’re about to have
right now
because this is all I can ever give you
which I hope
is all you ever want
III. “My Vision of Your Vision of You”
Align
self and future
find the right
glorious body
learn
enhance muscle growth
teach
in the morning
respect yourself
protect the world
be home now
with moth and eagle
banana smoothies
waterfall plateaus
and prayers
for authenticity
the seeds of self-compassion
balance
shine
going up
going far
clean
consciousness
lumin
lion
starfish
inspiration
I am
Sawyer
the next generation
crossword puzzle potential
sea kayak
giraffes and
joy—
tree hugging
mudra eating
karamalicious
Joy.
By Ryan Allen
for MRN
