Editor of Poetry for the Inner Journey, Lest we forget war is not normal, and The Book of 4-Liners. Engineer, academic, inventor — turned poet.

Jul 28, 2016

Spontaneous Protection

Sometimes I envy the earth -
its times of light and dark
of dawn and dusk
come predictably — on cue.
I can be prepared
stoking up the fire on an Autumn night
watering the veg early on a Summer’s day

but cycles of inner light and dark
dawns and dusks of the heart -
they are unpredictable
coming like a thief in the night … or day
catching you unawares … tearing you apart

which I suppose is the test …
not to be thrown by a sudden spark of light
or an unexpected plunging into despair

it’s at these times something arises spontaneously -
a plea, an acceptance, a resolve, an “aha!”
teaching … what is truly prayer

and when the cry surfaces from so deeply inside
you know for sure that external circumstances
can’t take you for a ride.