A piece of my heart
Became my little baby
She smiles
Rainbows envelop me
She cries
I hold her
The universe in my arms

I hugged a tree
And asked for guidance
The tree whispered

It is not the outside that matters
Only inside
Enter the altar in your heart
Suffused
with the fragrance of love
Light the lamp of silence
Bask in the beauty
Of
Yellow butterflies

Scoop it all up
The light, the love and beauty
And sprinkle it all around
with each word, smile and action
On people, animals and the stars
On the sun and babies
And on the waves and clouds
On toothless grandmas
And little flowers
Keep on and on and on
Living and giving

In that sublime temple
Of God
This creation.

I take a break
From
The push of the past
The have-been and might-been
The smallness and anxiety
The self-deprecation
Pain, despair and futility
Of all my activity

I take a pledge
To begin anew
A clean slate
A total break
From the push of the past

A quantum leap
A jump into the river
Of the future
Crystal clear sweet harmony
Waves of sweetness
My Lord's Blue Feet
In my every cell
Heart beat and breath

Suddenly, somehow
The glorious future
The mindless past
Dissolve

Eternity
Subsumes
All
Forever

An unexpected bubble of joy
germinates in my heart
dances in my throat
and arrives on my lips
as a sweet whisper
Your name

They ask me why i chant Your name?
Is it to gather myself within?
For focus, clarity and mindfulness?

Is it a prayer to God above?
To reserve a spot in His Divine abode.
A place for my soul in heavenly realms?

Is it for my desires manifold?
Health, wealth and family
oh yes! And a little comfort too?

If truth be told,
        My Beloved Divine
I don't know why
         i chant this name of Thine
I chant it once
         And then again
And then again
        And again and again
                     It is so sweet.

The highest choice,
The sweetest and very best
Always and in every moment
Love.
Choose Love.

The highest and the best
But is it the easiest?

In the face of calamity,
Bitter, vicious calumny,
            How to choose love?

In the midst of trauma
heartbreak, anguish and grief
            How to bring love?

How to be a spring breeze?
When broken by disease?

How to be radiant light?
When facing darkness and fright?

Step by step,
smile by smile,
Moment by moment
breath by breath
i choose love.

With Your name as the anchor
My divine beloved savior
I choose love

Again and again
And yet again
To become
Moment by moment
breath by breath

That which thou art
Sweet love divine.

i saw two clouds
Joining as one
The shape of a heart

Rays of light
Shimmered from the corners
Light in darkness
Hope and love

"Is that You, my Lord?"
A gentle rumble
Thunder answered
I took that to be a "Yes"

"I love you too,"
I whispered back.

And so it is
My life
Fulfilled
In two clouds, light and thunder

i keep waiting for you
To come, to call, to text
Tears run down
And you see monsoon floods
Everywhere

A little thunder here
A little lightening there
Won't do

Please come, my beloved
As the radiant shining sun
Dissolve me in the
Light of pure wisdom
Absorb me
In unending true love

In the tenderness of love
Beauty blooms
In the silence of peace
Compassion smiles

In gentle harmony
I am held
And I hold
All of creation
In embrace divine

Faith happens
when doubt knocks
on the door of my heart
a smile appears
doubt dissolves
faith blooms
Is that what they mean by
listening
To your heart?

Do we need to label?
Our Love?
As
Pure-sinful
Attachment-Detachment
True-impermanent

Do we need to label?
Our life?
As
worthless-glorious
success-failure

Do we need to label ourselves?
As
brilliant-mediocre
skillful-simple
Saint-Sinner

Do­ we need more labels?
More boxes?
More theories and analysis?

Or
Do we need
this moment
A hand to hold
A song to sing
A bird to watch
A smile
A breath

Love in our life
Gratitude for all blessings
A knowing
That we are held
In the embrace of eternity

A child of sweetness
All is well
In the magical plan
Of the universe
In tender love

Sometimes
huge drops of sorrow
fall on my heart
like hail from heaven
i miss heaven
heaven misses me.
i miss God
Does God miss me?

Little moments
From the past
Come flitting in my mind
Like feathers
Or flower petals
Or leaves in the breeze
They come, they dance
And flit away
From the white screen
Of my mind

I see, I know, I smile
This too shall pass

The eternal canvas of Emptiness
Freedom
Peace
Silence
Alone remains
Always has been
and
always will

Time enfolds me in layers
like the creases in a saree
the petals in a rose
from childhood to youth
and then on to middle age
then to elder-hood
and then?

To that moment in time
when we are free from time

the rose blooms
absolved from this body
dissolved in eternity
Blessed in the freedom
Of the soul

Envelop me
As a feeling
fragrant love
seeping in my every pore

Envelop me
with Your Being
A satin scarf
draping my heart in silence

Envelop me
with your touch
white foam caressing
the ends of mother ocean
holding, dancing and being

Feeling the touch
Touching the Being
Being that one
True infinite eternity
Enveloped in You

My heart is soft today
Thinking of the suffering
Of all those who are near
And those who are far
The known and unknown
Living beings everywhere
in pain - in their body and mind
Deep within in their souls
in any kind of tears
fears, trauma, heartache

I raise my eyes to heaven
Pray for light to surround them
The fragrance of love
Succor, consolation, respite
Now and forever more

Stories of the past
Let them be
Moments of joy
Fluttering butterfly hearts
Let them be
Drama and trauma
Tears, indignity
Let it be

Like sleeping babies
Tuck them in bed
With a kiss
On the forehead
Let them be

Turn your face
To right here
Smile
In this moment
Eternity unfolds

When you try
To grab
Fleeting shadows
Outside

You always
Come home
Empty handed

Stay within
Unbounded light
Draped
In fullness

Behind the mask
I feel my warm breath
Grateful
For the Grace of life

Behind the mask
I don’t need
To speak so much
Grateful
For the Grace of Silence

Behind the mask
I see her smile
In her eyes
Grateful
For the Grace of smiles

Behind the mask
We hug
With smiles
Grateful
For Grace of hugging eyes

Behind the mask
I see all of creation
In the lap of Mother Earth
Hiding
From themselves
Suffering
Behind masks
I pray
Grateful
For the Grace of prayer

I pray
For front line workers
Leaders of nations
Poor and hungry
Sick and dying

I pray
For people and plants
Gardens and dungeons
Earth and skies

I pray
With folded hands
Streaming tears
Wetting my mask
Grateful
To you
For the Grace of reading

Born of Earth
To return to ashes
In the lightening span
We call this life

I pray
My Master Divine
To make this little light
I call my life
Your own song

Bless the last note
To fall
As dust
At Your Lotus Feet

Early at dawn
The sun beams behind the clouds
"Gentle, my love. All is well." He whispers.

The dews sparkle
They kiss the green grass.
"Gentle, my love. All is well." They intone.

The birds chirp.
From their tree home and the skies
"Gentle, my love. All is well." They sing

The flower bud opens
With sweet magical delight
"Gentle, my love. All is well." She smiles.

In traffic and at work
My heart talks to my mind
"Gentle, my love. All is well." She hints.

And with you my sweet reader
I share this message and prayer
"Gentle, my love. All is well."

Gratitude
The feeling you have
When you win the lottery
without buying a ticket

Gratitude
a smile in your heart
for no reason
or a reason so small
yet a feeling so sweet
Like rainbows dancing
On a snowy night
Amidst sparkling stars

Gratitude is here
Feel her gentle touch

Smile into the sweetness
live in the openness
bloom in the ray
of simple happiness

Sweet is Your creation
Sweeter still art Thou

Grace is every breath
Blessed still
Is the breath
Which
Intertwined with Your name
Holds in that moment
Infinity

Residing in Your name
You expand to fill my being

Every cell dances
And love pours out
To all creation

Filling this vastness
with light
Blue as Your Feet

It is not possible to erase
Those thoughts, that pain
Those tears, that anguish
Each time i touch them
They awaken again
Like fire from a slumber

Let’s dip gently in goodness

In smiles, in God’s glory
In music, in nature
A little bit here
And then some there
Some sweetness
Some love
Some beauty

Dissolving

Moment by moment
The saltiness of tears
Cleansing the anguish
Healing the pain
Drowning in goodness
All darkness and shame

Tears appear once more
Sweet like a smile
Wrapped in inexplicable joy
Our heart blooms
    And offers itself
        At the altar
                Of peace
                        Dancing
                                with love

I accept
Your judgement of me
As true
In your view
And
Let it wash over
As a spring drizzle

For you, me
And all creation
Thoughts, views, emotions
Are just that

A drizzle
Star dust
Fleeting fragrance
Light feather
Seeking and living
Unbeknownst
To even ourselves
In the sweet embrace
Of love

i hold this moment
close to my heart
Hug her
Feel her
Deep within
An unwavering light
A lotus blossom
Of love

Gentle silence
Now
Is all there is
And will ever be

i love You
For no reason
And then again
For every possible reason

i love You
for the clear sky
Blue – just like you

i love You
for the clouds
And thunder
Your Divine dance

i love You
for the rains
mixing with my tears
and taking them across
this crazy worldly ocean
To Your Lotus Feet
where
dissolve
My heart
And soul
From now to eternity

You are so vast
Bigger than the mountains
All the stars, skies and planets
A zillion galaxies and then some more
This entire universe and beyond

Yet, Oh Yet!
sweet beloved mine
how is it?
That You fit completely
into my little heart?

Smile at me sweetly
In every breath
As i chant Your name
Fulfill my life wholly
with minuscule drops
of tender all pervading love

I seek
Purity
Simplicity
Of my heart
My very Being

She smiles at me
As flowers
Calls me
With bird song
Cries with me
As raindrops
Hides from me
As rainbows

"I am as you
Everywhere
And always,"
She whispers
In love, as love
Forever

Pure
Simple
Still
Being

I send you white light
To fill your cells with radiance
I send you white flowers
To shower you with peace
I send you fragrant incense
To  surround you with love
I send you my heart
To join yours
In tears

Gorgeous
Big
Juicy
Raindrops

Isn't it time?
For You to come?

Drink up the tears
Of my heart

Hold me
In Your arms
wrapped tightly
with rainbows
All around

I write
gingerly
With doubt
In the shadow of hope
Smile
In the rain of tears
Light
In the castle of darkness
All is, as is
Just this
Accept
Be

Every life journey
Is a journey of love
Some love a special person
Some their family
Village,  country,
Nature, arts, culture
Science, knowledge
Inventions, ideology,
Religion,
God

Yet why?
these boxes
Special people, times, places
Let go
Expand

Let love arrive
Dance
In every smile
Glance
Breath
Open heart
Pure existence
Love eternal

I rise above and look
At the journey of my life

You were always there
You pushed me
Prodded me
Guided me
Helped me
Nudged me
Carried me
Always and forever
In your arms
From within me

I kept gazing
And still do
Out in the world
Looking for you
Wandering in Temples
Rushing to Masters
Crying, praying, longing

You smile
In my heart
The journey is complete
You and me
Here and now
I love You, my Lord and Master
Eternal Friend and savior
Thank You!

Letting go
Of crowds
To watch the sun set
In the ocean

Letting go
Of what should be
To open up
To what could be

Letting go
Of thoughts
To live in freedom
Of emptiness

Letting go
Of words
To hear the silence
Of the heart

Letting go
Of life
To dissolve
In this very moment

Life
Is more precious
Than likes
Dislikes, fun, pleasure
Satisfaction
Of the mind

A succulent slice
Of the fruit of peace
From the
Garden of eternity
This moment complete
Beyond recognition
In the stillness
Of forever

Holding life
In my hands
Silence
In my mind
Peace
In my heart
I take a tiny step
Towards You
Dancing in the moonbeams
Of love

When you route your life through God
All is always well.

The words of praise and accolades
Are His beneficent gifts.
The treachery, deceit and infamy
Are His divine lessons

Lessons really?
What are they?

Well, actually there is just one
That repeats
Again and again – till we get it.

Open your heart
Expand your mind
Hold all existence
In gentle love

I am a nameless dew drop
On a scent less flower
Longing for my Beloved
To dissolve me in His arms

Fly away oh clouds!
Of dense and dark illusion
Let me cast my eyes just once
Upon the one I love

Before I die
Longing
For His radiant Being.

How to enter
the magnificence
of this moment?

i know only one way
A single ray
into my heart
Your name
This breath
Intertwine
In eternity
All existence
awakens
now
as a tear drop
of pure love

Mind says
This is, that was
So much more
Could be
But
If truth be told
This is
And that's it

Truth is
Life is
God is

Waiting
For me
To kiss His Feet.
Hold Them tight
In my heart
Forever
As His

My heart bleeds
For the trees
We cut
For us
For metro and highways
To join the global race
Of frantic

Helpless I throw
These words into space
Pray for natures’s grace
and
Forgiveness

I wonder
if our children’s children’s children
Will tell their
children’s children’s children

Once upon a time on Earth
There were trees
birds and bumble bees

You can see them even now
In the prehistoric 2-D movies

My thoughts are scattered again
Like a jar of mustard seeds
Fallen all over
the kitchen floor
from the window till the door

One flash of Your smile
They all come back as one
Mesmerized.

First day on the job
I pray
The breeze smiles
Trees rustle
Shower benedictions
Upon me
All is well
Always will be

On the other side
Of challenge
Is
Growth
Waiting for me

To walk
Through the door
Of love,
With love
As love

Love is
As much giving as forgiving
As much offering as acceptance
As much sweetness as tears

A bubble
Of silent stillness
Lifts me
Past doors of illusion
Into the lap of
Emptiness

Dealing with my life
A pandemic
Erupted
In my mind

With every thought
Infecting every other one
Anxiety, commotion
Breathless

Yes, I needed
Quick
A ventilator

Breathing in
Long and slow

Social distance
Between my thoughts

Breathing out
With a smile
I survived
Life is grand

It's a delicate moment
My heart is all broken
And the pieces are scattered
Like a broken jigsaw puzzle
On my kitchen floor

It's all mixed up with tears
And bread crumbs
And dust and plastic wrappers

Please help me
Before the vacuum cleaner
Gobbles it up

I lift my heart
To the heavens
And a gift falls
Within
Poetry

I wonder at the words
The magic of the pen
Wisdom of the heavens

My mind
Rises up
To zones of clarity
With poetry

My heart
Dances
In the gentle music
Of poetry

I bow down
To the heavens
I bow down
To magic
I bow down to life
As poetry

Sometimes the rain drops
are so big and succulent
like mangoes
and tears
and temple bells
at dawn

The parched earth
smiles
and welcomes all
in her embrace
the rain drops
ripe mangoes
endless tears
and mystic sound
of temple bells
at dawn