a hawk sits naked in a cedar tree

paul gauguin

bathing in diamonds 

a child of fire, bathing 

in diamonds. golden water on 

a clear night. bare 

mountains in the fire and in 

the bath, a ridge crowned 

with the blaze of diamonds, 

cursed with bathwater 

and the breath of gold. 

the night is blessed. 

the fire child is blessed. 

every moment is a gift. 

now the child, still burning, steps 

out onto the rusted shore, 

dripping diamonds, 

dripping gold, 

dripping fire. 

even the water is burning. 

james lee jobe

In Buddhism, the fundamental analysis is that most of our human suffering comes from grasping after that which is passing.

James Ishmael Ford, “Finding the Ox’s Footprints”

photographer unknown

the highway that you hoped for 

the prints of the fingers are a tiny highway with a high toll 

lined by flowers and the sounds of children playing in a courtyard 

say something 

say toll booth 

say tag  you're it 

this highway is far longer than your finger 

and your dreams are more expensive than any toll 

a hawk sits naked in a cedar tree waiting for you 

beneath this tree the earth overlaps 

with the noise of your humanity 

the sounds of you living your own life 

your fingers are clenched in a fist 

and the children have fallen silent 

this isn't the highway that you had hoped fo, 

but friend 

this is damn well the highway that you are on

james lee jobe

Real peace is not simply the absence of violent conflict but a state of harmony: harmony between people; harmony between humanity and nature; and harmony within ourselves.

Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi

albane simon

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