The passions of my youth
have subsided

Like rivers flowing
towards an iron karmic sea

Chastened, clarified, sublimated, channeled
into the Ocean of Nectar

I am baptized in
Your Holy Sweetness

Reborn in Your
Pure Ambrosial Love

A splash of egrets across the blue jay sky
complements my morning tea
Impish squirrels chase their furry tails
Our neighborhood armadillo
mosaic patterns glittering on
his prehistoric armor
trudges nonchalantly across the street
Smiling I curl up on the black wrought iron
bench and
watch
The day moon drift
In an opal canoe
over a sea of clouds

Florida's Autumn sunset paints the horizon
with colors almost as spectacular
if not equal to the Fall hues
of a New York landscape:

Royal foliage draped in rich amber,
yellow ochre, jeweled garnet,
rust, and calico maple orange
form an imperial procession
down 5th avenue across
Central Park and through the
metropolitan streets
eventually spreading into the
rustic countryside
of upstate New York

Around this time of year
when gold and cranberry mums
crown the local southern markets
and gardens
my heart turns northward to my
birthplace:

Flamboyant deciduous trees
shed their brilliant leaves
creating a palette of color that
would rival an artist's canvas

I can feel the hint of winter and Christmas
in the brusque breeze roughly brushing
my face crimson

Spicy scents of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger
from Mom's fresh baked apple pie
brings tears to my eyes
a little black girl in pigtails and pink frock
licking her fingers and the plate clean

My beloved roams
in my heart

I feel His silken footsteps
and tender gaze

He waits in quiet coves
listening to my
ardent prayer

I sprinkle pieces of my heart
like petals
for Him to tread upon

He leaves behind a
trail of Lotus blooms

Have you tasted the
azure kisses of my
beloved
and rested your head
on His bonny blue *****

Sweetness of
His divine presence
shoos away
the dark carrion
embrace of death
a distant memory now
cawing, swooping
shadows of a dream
we once walked alone
and confounded

O how my heart jubilant leaps
for every living being
who hastens to His waiting arms
and wastes not a moment on
anything less than
God’s immortal Love

I breathe in
azure air, silk clouds,
ponderous pin oak
tipping his hat of branches
on our morning walk

I breathe in
sudden sound of
dogs barking,
funky sandals, and
sweet kiss of my hubby

I breathe in Love

I breathe in.... God

peacock shimmering
night glades
our sweet Hari
His flute-song floats
stealing the butter
cream of our Love
on all fours
crawling so innocently
but when He yawns
universes spill like
glittering marbles
the entire macrocosm
inside the mouth
of babes

in Your blessed heart
I slumber
a lotus seed
curled up tendrils
drowsy little foetus
nurtured and coaxed
to open and expand my
budding petals


On the lake of
black mirrors
I emerge so shy
at first
watch over me
Lord
guide me to let
only light and love
in
one day I pray to be
a garland at Your
Lotus Feet

Spring how I adore thee
Vernal season and equinox
Eastertide and efflorescence

We have cast off the
clammy, frigid fingers of Winter
that kept us
white and still beneath
the frozen landscape

Dance with us Spring
tie flowers in our curly tendrils
and perfume our
blushing bosoms
with the scent of Your
Wild Love

Lord if there is
Prema in my heart
You've promised to abide
with me
on snowy twilight peaks
far from the pull of gravity
O Gangadhar
Light is pouring down from
places beyond
my comprehension
galaxies, constellations
worlds within worlds
fall at your Cosmic feet
All knowing One
This wait is unbearable

seductive dream
my lashes and tears entangled in yours
the heat of our bodies evaporating
in the morning mists
another round begins
and the coil of flesh
swallows itself
incessantly

The many arms of God
embrace me
a thousandfold caress
as if the sky itself
held me in its
Krishna blueness
and the burning kiss
of the sun
kindled my famished
lips
golden

I plucked Bilva leaves
amidst silver showers
rippling gems fell
from the firmament
a curtain of crystal

Like a rain angel with
translucent wings
the color of dew
and rainbows
I chanted
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya

Fluttering fingers
of the palm fronds
in our front yard

Caress

the vast turquoise bird
flying overhead

O to be able to soar
with you
Sweet bird

Far into the Infinite

close your eyes
see me now
a bright star
falling into your arms

breathe deep
feel me now
a soft breeze
rippling over your lips

turn towards my burning gaze
and walk with me as the
wind sings ecstatically through
the green reeds along
the river banks

I cupped the cool, refreshing, water
pulsing down from the shower head
in my palms
trying to imagine how the
First Americans felt as he or she
cupped the pure, pellucid, untainted water
drumming down
from pristine waterfalls, snow-fed mountain streams
and Heaven itself

Looking out with spacious vision
upon an innocent, nascent America
prancing like a young buck across
the ****** frontier,
expansive, unsullied wilderness

Robed in white feathers of angels
our Native Ancestors guarded and protected
the precious resources of this land with Eagle Eyes
and soaring Compassionate Spirits

Their soft soled moccasins walked in beauty
and left no scars or tracks in the winter snows
under full corn moons
Council fires crackled while
animals and men sang praises to
The Great Spirit and Mother Earth
promising mutual cooperation and respect

From every point on the planet the Sun's voice
could be heard:
"The journey of Life though this world
harmoniously follows a path through the stars"

www.sairapture.com/blood-brothers.html

I blew a kiss this morning
I blew a kiss to the
sun drenched lawn
smiling cobalt skies
tall, dark and handsome pine

Fluffy cotton candy kisses
swirling, sufi dandelion wishes
scattered to the four winds
across the face of sadness and joy

I blew a kiss to you

dressed like a Madras bride
all weighted down in gold
held aloft on a bejeweled
palanquin
I search for the Luminous One
in the eyes of the topaz idol
adored by many
my hands are sewn together in
devotional prayer
and my lips are blue from
chanting Your 1008 Names
my heart has grown
soft as your lotus petaled feet
dancing over the hills of Brindavin
Divine lad clasp me to Your
imperishable breast
whisper the words of eternity
into my yearning ears

Om
Om
Om

words fall empty silent
pained into the altar fires
life without You
an unbearable cross to bear
ash is smeared across my forehead
but not just for Lent
now I wear the tattered rags and carry the begging bowl of Shiva
even the crematory dust of my bones
shiver in the hereafter
for one blessed whisper from the lips of
my beloved

Chain around my neck
hands and feet are bound too
I choke back tears
Ocean of  Samsara
turbulent surf raging
in my eyes

Narayan, Blue Lord of the Cosmos
solar disk circling your forefinger
with very breath I am reborn
a lonely soul destined to die

How I long to wear
the garland of your love
around my neck
imbibe the Prema
that every jivi consciously
or unconsciously desires

Beloved
my heart is a swing
swaying in the pearl gray mist
come sit beside me forever...

You're smoking that cigarette
makes me sad
I watch you from the
lobby window of the hotel
framed with crocus plants
breathe in smoke stacks
pillars of poison
puffing into azure ozone
your once pink lungs
crumble like crematory ash
prayers gush from my heart
put out the fire

The sky appears
as an enormous
blue and white porcelain
China tea ***
the celestial hand of
Lord Buddha
pours happiness
into my heart
koi fish prance in
coral pink circles
prayer wheels hum

and

Life goes on.....

my Lover has cast me
in cold cruel stone


embalmed my burning kiss
encased my telltale heart
and warm caress in
mummy wrappings


buried me alive
with the dawn red blush
of His breath still stinging
my nostrils


left for dead when He is not near
a black ghost garbed in night
and moaning gusts


only the bloodshot gaze of Shiva
only

Breath of air
feel of sunlight
on my mummified limbs  
You wipe the tears
of a thousand eons,
countless lifetimes
and remove the veil
from our mournful eyes

Your face burns a hole in the night
singeing my dreams, visions, bed-covers

Restless Spirit,
holding the moon as my lantern
I star-walk through a vortex
of planets, celestial and terrestrial realms
in search of You...
the Brighter half
of me

the clouds are black
and heavy with your
indigo tears
sometimes I think
your kiss is just a memory
a pipe dream
lost in the thick ***** fog
cloaking this earth
where is the sunlight
and the high slopes
where lovers meet
in the pink blush
of morning
unabashed
eager to linger
forever
in each others
gaze

I found the perfect fountain to
to feng shui our fall garden:


A bronze Buddha seated high on a lotus.
Waterfalls cascade


I wondered what flowers to plant
as an offering and came across
this lovely inscription:


"Blooming azaleas
 in a hollow on a cliff.

A Buddha stands."

A bouquet from my lips to yours
Dearest David
I am so grateful for your love, understanding
and presence

Life can worldwind by like a hungry vacuum
******* up precious moments we can never restore...

...a dance in the moonlight
with your flushed cheek next to mine....

...Sunrise awe on Beacon Street...

...3 sweet breaths...

Butterfly heart dancing around mine
I Love you my darling
you are a timeless gift from God

Last night when I came home, I noticed a very delicious
fragrance enveloping me. The jasmine was not in bloom,
so I knew it couldn't be that stealing through window drafts,
and the incense sticks were long extinguished.

Was it Lakshmi? Her divine fragrance perfumes the three
worlds and I sensed an unusual lightness in the atmosphere.
This morning I still detected a unique aroma, though not as pronounced.

I went outside, in the backyard, to let the dog out and observed two orange speckled butterflies dancing near her doghouse. I shooed them away protectively.  As I did this, they moved over to another location, but one hovered near my hands.

It fluttered around my hands for a good minute. I was able to hear,
witness and breathe in the amazing oscillation of it's fragile wings.
Gorgeous mosaic patterns glittered between the rays of sunlight bathing
our golden communion. I could clearly see its ebony face peering curiously up at me.

Soon a third butterfly joined the party, and a trinity of sweetness pulsated close. After a while they all took off in different directions.

Later, I reflected while swinging in the garden jhoola how wonderfully connected we all are.

This Unity transcends the mental, emotional and physical barriers, preconceptions and dimensions of our ordinary awareness.  

Love has a lot to do with it, respect, peace, truth and right conduct too.

Love bugs smash themselves
against speeding cars in a wild
ecstatic dance
floating, oblivious
through the hot, humid
Florida atmosphere
locked in a passionate
ritual frenzy the sultry red
jewel on their lacy black bodies
glows like neon lamps in the night
"They are so annoying,” my daughter
comments, fanning away a hapless pair that
wandered into our car as we prepared to
drive off
well, I reflected they must
serve some purpose
every year thousands
of love bugs rain down
upon us resembling a
***** black locust plague
they are not destructive
neither do they sting, bite or
cause any really harm
They just want to make love
in the warm, sweet air
I smile to myself
we humans can
learn a lot from
these
tiny embodiments of
prema

Our little teenage babushka
Carina Marie
flaxen haired beauty
with caramel pink complexion
and starlight eyes

I watch as you paint the world
with a vivid imagination and
the rich, dayglo colors of your
palette

Although I do wonder why you
hang cans from the ceiling
and tape a fork to the fan
all with an avant-garde shrug of
your shoulders
and a blasé smile

I see the hidden potential
bursting forth like a sudden
downpour of sunshine

A bright door opens in
the golden mist

In the city of my heart
I have gathered paradise
close to my *****
loose blossoms fall
like strands from well kept tresses
love smitten lips plant
wild unkempt kisses
unbridled fireflies
a thousand fold
on evening's glowing face

Before the dew evaporates

on rose petals misty with tears

and birds seated on lofty branches

sweeten the air with rapturous song



Before the scorching Saturn Sun

at high noon

holding his granite karmic slate

burns us to a crisp

for our sad and loveless deeds



We must awaken early

shake off sloth and slumber



Close to the amber footsteps of dawn

Brahmamuhurtam

Love's breath kindling bright

the embers of Sat Chit Ananda

Eternal Being, Awareness and Bliss



"The function of the Scriptures is to guide people toward living a perfected life on Earth and repeatedly remind them of the goal, which should be nothing short of achieving Divinity itself. But those who spurn the teachings and guidance of the Scriptures and act only on the impulses of their desires will not achieve perfection and divinity, only misery.

" Let the Scriptures tell you what you should and should not do, Arjuna. Know what the right choices are and live up to them. It is simpler than you think. When you or anyone is firmly on the road to enlightenment there is no conflict at all between what you do and what the Scriptures advise." Bhagavan Gita,  interpreted by Jack Hawley, Chapter, 16, Vs. 23, 24

Birds make a joyful noise
Every day their cheerful chirp
Serenades the slumbering world
This morning I joined my brother bluebird
and sister cardinal in joyful carol
What a sweet racket we made
I think we woke up the Divine Mother
Her surreal blue eyes fluttered open
Smiling buoyantly
She blew us a golden kiss

I look up...

Hug the sky

Embrace the utter blueness

Heaven encircles me and everyone

with vast arms

O what a fabulous day

Sunrise cherry blossom petals
swirl and dance at the compassionate,
adorable feet of the Goddess Kuan Yin

Smiling temples hang like lanterns
from dragon faced cliffs
drifting gently through
pastel terraced clouds

"Merciful Mother
how do we dare to
measure the immeasurable
or calibrate the infinite?
Mortal minds cannot
calculate what is
divinely incomprehensible."

Emerald eyes flash in the
mesmerizing, stormy mist
of Maya

Quan Yin's snow lily hands
wipe away our suffering
soothe our furrowed, fevered brows
Her words fall into pining hearts:

"The body is a temple
you are a projection of love.

Love the Earth, love the air
love the water, love the fire.

Love the part of self that is of the ethers."

We hurl coconuts to the ground
circumambulate the Shiva Lingam shrine
at the Yoga Shakti  Ma Ashram
my grandsons little Sean and Alex
tug the temple bell after each round
ringing in the New Year
above, the moon full, white candle
glows
in Shiva’s dreadful locks
and cobras looped around
His sapphire neck dare not hiss
Auspicious One!
drink the halahala  poison of hatred, anger,
lust, jealousy and pride lodged
like an arrow deep in our hearts
churn the ocean of nectar
and awaken the
sleeping Self
cradled softly in a  manger
swaddled, peacefully
within

The huge inflated
Christmas teddy bear
on my neighbor's lawn
holding a red and white
candy cane
opens and closes
his vinyl arms
"Teddy I need a hug,"  I whisper
also opening my arms wide
"In fact I think the whole world does"

star-fall
my wings far flung
somersaults
catching
raven diamonds
evening dew
on the tip of my tongue
eternal companion
so full of divine pranks
tackles me
a pillow fight
peacock feathers everywhere
heavenly Blue boy
tickle me giddy with Love

The heavens softly don
an enormous
gray silk bonnet
adorned with birds, blue curls
white nonpareils and
bits of Queen Anne's lace

My morning jaunt is
s-o-o much more comfortable
when the sun decides
to take a vacation

Toss in a breeze
******* from the north,
earthy pine kisses, friendly
neighbors waving,
a hug from my honey

And I know! I can make
this two mile trek :)

there is dew on my lips
sweet secretions of
an open heart
Oh dearest
hold me while
we listen
to summer rain
dripping down
damp warm navel
of the earth
steamy pools rising
your eyes
the air so thick
with love

Oh God Please

help us
no more war!
stave the 
gushing blood of our wounds

bile, hatred, fear, greed, revenge




Swords drawn, guns cocked

We line up on the side of 
Light or Darkness





Beloved, how can I ask for the end of war
when there is a dark battle raging in my own heart?




The Bhagavad Gita says the real war is within

seething in our hearts and minds
We must first slay the enemies inside ourselves




Yes! This abysmal war has gone on long enough

we've wrestled with countless angels and demons
over the course of many lives, many battlefields


Every pink and golden glorious sunrise
Mercy dawns
a chance to embrace the moment
with all our heart and soul


We breathe in
innocence
a new day
fresh beginning

dark ways are falling
fallen angels
and the smoking embers
of unwritten samskaras
Your Luminous eye
pressed hot, searing against my soul
staring deep down
always
reading between my breaths
beloved
the pain of separation
unbearable cross
may nothing come
between
our
flaming violet lips

I sipped from
Your cup Swami
like a hummingbird
perched precariously
on the edge of the universe
and fell head over giddy heels
into whirling starry bliss of that nectar


...***...
I have never been the same
the world calls me a fanatic
and You a figment of my imagination
But I don't care!


I'm Batty for Baba
Gaga for God
Jumping with Joy for Jah!

It totally blows away

Every speck that we think we are

Our proud plans, delirious dreams,

frightened cries, desperate prayers

Crystal dust settling on the moonlit face

of the Sphinx

All That Remains is God

clay-baked women beat their clothes
clean on river rocks at dawn
cook rice and dal on an open
communal hearth
beneath a natural lantern
of Indian stars

for 20 rupees a day, roughly
half a buck
I have seen men and women tie
rags to cushion their heads
towing heavy mortar
for new construction

yet there is always a
brotherly smile gleaming
and sisterly hands eager to share
what meager provisions earned

these are no feeble folk
no fashion slaves or mere mortals
melodious bhajans mingle with
the sweat from their brows
and mantras, leelas of God
echo through the
Taj Mahal temples of their hearts

I raise my bhakti glass to the
backbone of India
Her kundalini rising
innocent, humble
village peasantry
true priests
gopikas and gopalas
who actually live
the Vedic life

it’s the strangest thing
everyday I suffer from
amnesia
some sort of blackout
I can’t remember….
can’t quite grasp…
something I’ve forgotten
a faint shadow haunting the
outer limits of consciousness
I open my eyes and the
world rushes in
deliciously, sensuously
like the hypnotic aroma
of arabica coffee beans
and other seductive
voluptuous, delectable
tantalizing novelties

So, I chant Your name
light candles, meditate and
pray I’ll remember

who I am

Immersed in God ecstasy
and orange robes
the true bhakta’s thoughts
are always on God, for God
and of God
armed with pure love
the slings and arrows
of maya, good, bad and outrageous fortune
are averted
God and His beloved
whirl across the bhakti path
dancing with Rumi, Kabir,  St. Francis  Meera Bai
and all the beautiful bhaktas
for eternity

From the navel of God
I swirl forth
helix petals unfold
the dew of His love
glistens
in the naked morning mist
sun splashes across daybreak
I fan out my wings
like an eagle
expand my chest
take a deep blue bugle breath…
exhale peace, love and good wishes
a sweet fragrance
just for you

David makes me a friendlier person
sometimes..... I am as aloof
as the Himalayan
mountain range
my head in the ethers
spinning in absolute
sparkling space
glassy stars
pellucid galaxies
cascading around me
my loving hubby
brings me down to earth
I feel the lush loam
warmth of humankind
and gather the world around
my fireplace
singing bhajans
chanting sweet Oms