rough patch

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn anxiety, Awakening, body, Daily reminders, emotion, feelings, grief, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, suffering4 Comments

rough patch

sometimes
for no reason
I go topsy turvy
anxious, rebellious,
uneasy

on the outside
no obvious shift—
the inside, squall building
storm clouds in the west
and wind gusting

outside and inside?
strange demarcation
as though one
is apart from the other

so I watch thoughts
arising
choppy waves in my ocean
they grasp at storyline
try to make sense
of conditions

best grab an umbrella
rocking chair on the porch
settle in for the show
weather is weather
it rolls in and blows out

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

pocket

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, consciousness, Daily reminders, emotion, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, pathless path, Poetry, SilenceLeave a comment

pocket

reach in my hand
pocket is empty
and it’s dark as
pitch inside
feel around
be tender
with all that’s unknown
the space has texture
and feel
don’t see what to do?
do nothing
no thing
simply sit
not knowing
and wait

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

when I fell in love with dawn

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, communion, feelings, Musings, Poetry, writing4 Comments

when I fell in love with dawn

two years ago today
I knuckled my eyes—
for the first time
in a long life
rose in the dark
willingly
(therein the surprise)
and wrote a poem

the move
from prose to verse
began six years before
a gradual shift
longform slipped away—
with curious shivers
I watched it go
sensing
gone for good

sparer   leaner
much to learn
in so short a time
I cannot separate
poems from dawn
one demands the other

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

when?

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, communion, Daily reminders, feelings, heart, kindness, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, pathless path, Poetry, suffering1 Comment

when?

You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know
how soon it will be too late. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

it costs nothing to be kind
the contrary is true
like the ocean’s
unceasing rhythm,
goodwill toward others
flows back
it saves me, this choice

there’s no call
to be sharp or aloof
look around
everyone has freights—
the cost engraved
in shoulder slump
bluster or frown

hearts read this braille
suffering’s silhouette—
tender a smile
word, or touch
tender the tender
if you’re timid, try
breaching this threshold
like muscle,
it strengthens

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

moment out of time

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn aging, body, Daily reminders, dogs, fear, Musings, old age, pain, Poetry, stories4 Comments

moment out of time

walking the path
watching the dogs
fly over the field,
I pitch forward
nose grinds the dirt
and grit in my mouth
hard landing
on last year’s titanium

pain ratchets through
I lie there   waiting
on the old body’s report
warily flex my banged hand
repaired wrist seems to work
rotate the shoulder
it throbs
but no spiking spear

then my husband
by my side
sweetie, what happened
take it slow
I unfold on the ground
with the help his hand
make it up on my feet
nothing broken
scrapes and bruises
badly shaken

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

every day, something

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, body, Breath, children, Daily reminders, feelings, grief, heart, Love, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, pathless path, Poetry, prayer2 Comments

every day, something

I no longer choose
to watch news
but it oozes in
malignant
headline here
car radio there
snippets overheard
while waiting

Taiwan earthquake,
aid workers bombed
child migrant drowned
in the Rio Grande

the choice seems stark
do I stay open
to these assaults
or snap shut
in self-protection?
neither the solution

so I live with the grief
pray
drink the dark
into my heart’s kiln
transmute
grim to love
and float it out

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

tincture

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, beauty, communion, consciousness, Daily reminders, emotion, gratitude, grief, heart, light, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, pathless path, Poetry, Silence, simple pleasuresLeave a comment

tincture

Let me bathe my soul in colors; let me swallow the sunset
and drink the rainbow. —Khalil Gibran

when I can’t find
my footing
and my spirits are low
sunrise’s bloom
or sunset’s blaze
slides down my throat
the tincture of grandeur
buoying

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

misunderstanding

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, Daily reminders, emotion, fear, feelings, grief, loss, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, questions, suffering2 Comments

misunderstanding

I don’t think the common thread that runs through humanity is greed or power….
It is this binding agent of loss. —Nick Cave

when one country
swallows another
fracturing families
crushing spirits—
I assume our nature
is greed
disgusted, think only,
failed species

but what if I’m wrong
maybe this lust
is grounded in fear—
we know we lose all
so lash out

outcome, unchanged
but I soften

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

today, an old friend

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Breath, emotion, friends, heart, joy, kindness, Musings, Poetry2 Comments

today, an old friend

for James

we’ve never met
not face to face
yet reading your poems
sending you mine
my heart swept wide

paths finally entwine
you’re here where I live
and we’ll meet today
what’s the cadence
of your breath
the depth of your gaze
is your walk quick
or attentively slow?

so much we don’t know
and yet, an old friend

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

every one of us

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn aging, Awakening, awe, chilla/test, Daily reminders, feelings, heart, loss, Love, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry2 Comments

every one of us

In my old age, I have come to realize that everybody
on the planet is recovering from something. —Jerry Stahl

the nature of living
for humans, at least
lessons and learning
to navigate

over the decades
gathered my tools
as I trekked
compass, sextant,
binoculars—
most crucial,
my heart’s barometer

2024 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.