the sun is shining
and everybody is smiling

no clouds in sight
everybody is happy

oh what a wonderful day
it couldn't be better

perhaps i could buy you a present
or we could just laugh

later that day...

what am i to do
i will surely die

there is no future
nothing to look forward to

it is all bleak
like the weather

oh what can i possibly do
but cry

i was in deep in meditation
when they came

i was still - concentrated - at peace
when they laughed

i was giving thanks to lord buddha
when they smashed the shrine

i was reflecting on the law of karma
when i sensed him near me

i was feeling loving kindness
when he struck me

i was seeing all life as one
when i fell

i was generating compassion
when the sword came down

i was contemplating impermanence
when i died

another saw the trees
with white jewels
and this was beautiful too
but not in my poem

i saw the endless
snow and sky
now I am washed and fed
and looking back I remember

water flowing under ice
snow settled on top
like the body breathing
the blood flowing

snow smoothed out
by the wind of change
ironed and swept
like a silk dress

i thought joy was sadness
because it contained tears
but now I know true joy
having walked this way today

if you want something
many books and people say...

ask yourself
what do i want
and then meditate on it
chant for it
believe it will happen
tell yourself that it has already happened
and it will be so

what do I want

i want more sunshine
i want a larger house
i want a different job
i want more free time
i want more money
i want more kids
i want to be young again
i want a different personality
i want to be free
i want to feel secure
i want to be happy
i want world peace
i want anything else
but this

i want - i want - i want
endless torment
what about instead asking the following simple question
what can I give

in the month that is not in the year
in the day that is not in the month
in the hour that is not in the day
in the minute that is not in the hour
that is where I want to be
in your arms

is it spring yet - he asked
yes - i lied - it is spring
he was pleased with my answer
and he could rest

will they manage without me
yes they will i said
his body calmed - what remained of it
and he could relax

i cannot take food - i cannot hold it
while there is life you can eat
he ate drank and enjoyed
for a moment he was again king of the table

have the birds come yet - it is quiet
i have some music - are we allowed
we listened
and there was comfort - even joy

what awaits me - he asked
i cannot answer you that
you will have to trust now - it is time
and he was able to trust and - at last - let go

nothing to fear my love
nothing to fear

take all the love songs sung
and tunes played
all the love poems written
books put together
all the gestures made
small and subtle
large and bold
all experiences of reverence - worship
sacred texts
paintings of love's various forms
nature's outpouring of love in
fields and forests and trees
mountains and birds and lakes
the earth itself
the universe itself
take all of this
add them - multiply them
and still it does not add up
to a small fraction
of the love I feel for you

the sun shines on us as we love each other to pieces
and then dissolve

the rain falls on us as we mix and merge
and fall and rise

air fills us as we push and pull
and give and receive

oh what love - what divine love
we experience and wrap ourselves up in

what would i do for love
what would i do
i would climb a mountain
but not too high
i would swim an ocean
but not too far
i would throw myself in the snow face first
but not in a crazy way
what would i do for love
what would i do

the stocks were dropping
but they carried on shopping 

the news was shocking 
but they carried on shopping.

governments were hopping
but they carried on shopping

the earth was rocking
but they carried on shopping

the sea was rotting
but they carried on shopping

fish stopped plopping
but they carried on shopping

volcanoes were popping
but they carried on shopping

the world was stopping
but they carried on shopping

situated on a hill
surrounding florence on one side of piazza di s. maria a marignolle
there was a church
a small church
a simple church

most days the piazza was empty
the church doors were closed
and there were no people in sight
nothing
emptiness

one day there was a christening
jubilant piazza
church doors open
many happy and expectant faces
proud parents

one day there was a wedding
busy piazza
church doors wide
many joking and laughing guests
shrieks of joy and delight - confetti - happy couple

one day there was a funeral
frantic piazza
church doors ajar
gloom - misery - tears
wailing crying mourning relatives

situated on a hill
surrounding florence on one side of piazza di s. maria a marignolle
there was a church
a small church
a simple church

who am i
where do we go when we die
what is the meaning of life
when will we learn
which path should i take
why are we here

who said that
where shall we go
what is the time
when will you be home
which shoes
why did you do that

never thought it would happen
but I have started forgetting people's names
in particular - the famous
but never mind - there are ways round it...

that blond chef who swears
that brainy woman who left that show after many years

that footballer who shagged paris hilton
that actress who adopted loads of children

that model who got done for assault
that small scottish woman who tells people what to eat

that tycoon's daughter with all the money that she can't touch - or perhaps she can now
that little girl who hid in the cupboard - I think she was dutch

that couple who gave all their children funny names - she's dead now
that bearded bloke who does planes and trains

wife used to be in pan's people - writes musicals
that fit swimmer who won loads of medals

those three fat blokes - or are they- that sing opera - one of them is dead I think
that Indian guy who knows everything - something chopra

who needs names

when i was about three - i swallowed a fly
i don't know why i swallowed a fly
but later on when I was a little older
i swallowed a spider to catch the fly
not wise i know - but that is what i did
and later a bird to catch the spider
already losing touch with that inside
then a cat to catch the bird
then a dog to catch the cat
and so on and so on
with first a goat to get the dog
and then a cow to chase down the goat
and then a horse to nab the cow
i don't know how i managed to swallow all of those things
you would think i would die - but i did not - I have not
i survived - insane but alive
looking back i wish i would not have swallowed that fly
but i just didn't know better in those early days
there is so much to unravel now