Celebration of Tet, 2004
Stop.
Drop everything
except your breath
and walk toward the altar
like a bride
advancing toward her beloved.
Sit on your cushion
tall and serene,
concentrating
until your heart’s desire
burns in your chest
like a glowing ember.
Then lay yourself
face down
on the earth,
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Celebration of Tet, 2004
Stop.
Drop everything
except your breath
and walk toward the altar
like a bride
advancing toward her beloved.
Sit on your cushion
tall and serene,
concentrating
until your heart’s desire
burns in your chest
like a glowing ember.
Then lay yourself
face down
on the earth,
letting the hard shell
of your mind
crack open,
spilling its arrogance
into the soil.
When you are empty,
stand up.
Breathe three times.
In. Out.
In. Out.
In. Out.
Then leap
into the wishing well.
From the other side
of time,
deep at the bottom
of the well,
a poet will raise his arms,
catching your fall.
His love will lift you
back into time,
holding a ticket to joy.
This ticket
bears a number
that corresponds to a door.
Find this door
and open it.
On the other side
is a path.
Do not hesitate.
There is no mistake.
This is your path.
Straight ahead,
the object of your desire
reaches out
to take your hand.
Emily Whittle, True Wonderful Happiness, lives in Red Springs, North Carolina and practices with the Healing Springs Community of Mindful Living.
