Also & Both
Chaos and quiet
in this moment, in this place,
present side by side.
Silence is not ‘hush!’
Dialogue is not debate.
And both have their place.
…
Brightness and darkness,
vital, indispensable.
Each taking their turn.
…
Yes, welcome this, that.
Silence and music and noise.
Yes, light. Yes, shadows.
…
In the still silence,
the cat purrs and the dog snores.
Delightful concert.
In busy bustle,
sellers and buyers haggle.
Stereo background sound.
…
Good news and bad news
may be mutual imposters.
Curiosity, yes!
…
Bittersweet, and, both.
Chiaroscuro combo.
Ah, complexity!
…
The ordinary,
familiar and commonplace.
How mysterious!
The quotidian,
mundane and well-known by all.
Extra marvelous!
…
A muggy picnic,
a hot and sticky outing.
Yet, sensational.
…
While sense of smell gone,
flowers still are beautiful,
soup still savory.
…
Vacated eggshells.
Earnest humble offerings.
Inert, still alive.
…
Insignificance,
along with magnificence,
sharing time and space.
The superfluous
and the indispensable,
coexist now here.
…
That which commences,
quite often comes to an end.
That is how it is.
That which makes us proud,
also, the regrettable.
May we learn from both.
…
Ebbs, flows, spirals, loops.
Ups and downs, setbacks, detours.
It’s not linear, no.
It is it as is.
And it could be otherwise.
Essence, potential.
…
Everyone in, out.
Fences, borders, a mirage.
Everyone out, in.
Not one left outside.
Room enough for everyone..
All-inclusive deal.
…
Inner and outer,
Mobius strip. No start, no end.
All is truly one.
…
To laugh and to cry.
Falling asleep, waking up.
Opening, closing.
…
The soul is tender,
gentle, shy, soft, and also
tough and tenacious.
Soft belly, strong back.
Inhale, exhale, and repeat,
until doing meets being.
…
To pay attention.
To inhale and to exhale.
Not rocket science.
…
Hot, warm, cool and chilled.
To inhale and to exhale.
To live and to die.
…
Encircled by rings,
passion, ire, fire flames
keep us safe and fed.
Fire flames burn, scorch,
also keep us warm and fed.
Twofold, double-edged.
…
Split lengthwise in half,
the core no longer hidden.
No dualities.
…
Branches in strong winds,
waving hello and goodbye.
Simultaneously.
…
Burnt, peeling, rotting,
old, faded, falling, failing.
And still beautiful.
Slow, hobbling, wobbling,
weak, teetering, tottering.
Limping, getting there.
…
Through light and darkness
we walk, we fall, we go on.
Step by step by step.
Alone, together
we learn, we grow, we keep on.
Little by little.
…
Accepting, acting.
Allowing, and resisting.
Receive and respond.
Accepting, acting.
Depending on conditions.
Both helpful and wise.
…
What? When? Where? Why? How?
‘Depends’ is likely answer.
All is relative.
May, may not, depends.
A definitive 'maybe.'
Cannot commit yet.
…
Thinking this and that,
we ponder, and we wonder.
Reasoning and faith.
With deep emotions
we are born, and we live on.
Joys, also sorrows.
…
So much suffering!
Harm, hurt, loss, grief, destruction.
Do we feel hopeless?
So much rejoicing!
Awe, joy, love, resilience, growth.
Can we be hopeful?
…
Earth’s inhabitants
rotate, translate, together.
By bang, luck, fate, grace.
…
Everyone belongs
in the Earthling family,
an inclusive club.
Earthling membership,
free to all born in this orb.
Non-transferable.
Lucky to live here,
cherishing Earth’s benefits.
They will expire.
…
In the deep, deep depths
there is darkness and danger.
Also, profound peace.
In the tall, tall heights
there is coldness and harsh winds.
And a glorious view.
In grand depths and heights
there are risks and the unknown.
And closeness to God?
…
Stars, other planets,
and every single earthling.
Neighbors, all of them.
The true beloved,
the victim, the murderer.
Siblings, all of them.
Deep serenity,
great joy, painful suffering.
Teachers, all of them.
…
We all make messes.
We drop crumbs as we move on.
Even birds, blossoms.
We all soil something.
We drip sweat and tears and blood.
Even cute babies.
We all break plates, hearts.
Living leaves a littered trail.
Even sages, saints.
…
On the middle path,
all can be manifested.
None is excluded.
…
Firm, and flexible.
Open, and bounded enough.
And, both, middle way.
