Leslie J. Davis offers “After a Rain: For Thầy” (written while on retreat at Plum Village, France) and “Yield” (written while on retreat at Deer Park Monastery).
After a Rain
For Thầy
I continue the birds sing
Thunder clouds move
Aside the bell
Peals I continue
Breathing in I become
Deeply connected to the blue sky
My words continuously
Trying to be right and sweet
Practice practice
Breathing out this tiny leaf this
Small sigh he has
Impressed himself upon me
Thoughts actions words
Small wonders I continue
Yield
Pushing up against
my calm
my body
my irritation
my kids how they
occupy such a large field of
energy
they discover my edges
some sharp
some blunt
others quite fuzzy
and I too discover
again and again
each time like a new day
awakening from forgetfulness
to these young bodhisattvas,
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Leslie J. Davis offers “After a Rain: For Thầy” (written while on retreat at Plum Village, France) and “Yield” (written while on retreat at Deer Park Monastery).
After a Rain
For Thầy
I continue the birds sing
Thunder clouds move
Aside the bell
Peals I continue
Breathing in I become
Deeply connected to the blue sky
My words continuously
Trying to be right and sweet
Practice practice
Breathing out this tiny leaf this
Small sigh he has
Impressed himself upon me
Thoughts actions words
Small wonders I continue
Yield
Pushing up against
my calm
my body
my irritation
my kids how they
occupy such a large field of
energy
they discover my edges
some sharp
some blunt
others quite fuzzy
and I too discover
again and again
each time like a new day
awakening from forgetfulness
to these young bodhisattvas,
I yield
