fear not the silence, know thyself

silence within, without
no pressure to be
anything

when silence comes

a peace settles
in my soul
my body

I am present
with who I am

I accept the wisdom
that is buried
deep within

I visit this place often
and the rush of life
slows

to let me know
I am alive

It is what it is

Hands outstretched
for water

that priceless element
of Mother Earth

faces filled
with despair
lips cracked with
thirst

asking for water

we see water's power
we have growing respect
for this ancient element

we talk of nothing else

watching its power
invade our
meager attempts
to contain it

it doesn't try to humble us
but succeeds anyway

putting us in our
place

which needs to be
changed

if humankind
wants to live along side
this magnificent
intricate,
can't-live-without-it
substance called
w
a
t
e
r

we have a god

we have a god
not spelled with
a captial "G"

we have a god
spelled o i l

we pay homage
with our lives

we spare nothing
to accumulate more

we panic when we
fear there's not
enough

we don't care the
source
as long as
we don't go
without

the visionaries
speak of using less
to save our future
from being filled

with constant thoughts
of how and where
we can get more
than our share

of the total that
should be used
by all on earth

we care little about this
as long as we
can make and take
ours vehicles
our trips

some would say
the sacrifice
is being made
in human cost
in desert lands

wake up, O people
this god
demands much

my prayer for water

if water is pure
then human bodies
will reap the benefits

when water is defiled
humankind is defiled

I pray without ceasing
that water
will find health


and the beautiful
molecular structures
made as a result
of human love

will once again
be with us

Drumming for the good of all

a new drumming circle
four men and four women
balanced

our intent was to drum for health
and well-being of people
strangers to most of us

the drumming began
each listening to the beat
adding our own rhythms

to the ebb and flow of vibrations
felt through the skins
of our drums

we lose ourselves to
become one in sound
adding our thoughts
to the collective consciousness

as the drumming subsides
we feel the intense
energy in the room
we revel in its power

we are thankful we can
drum with like minded
people
who know
the power

of the drum

I would say...

I would say that human behavior has caused water to destroy. I would say that the "collective consciousness" of humankind and planet earth are intricately entwined in ways we are beginning to discover. Life responds to life. We respond to earth and she to us. She carries the burdens of human misery and human shortsightedness. We are not separate, but one.

A vision that includes humankind must also include our habitat or we will parish.

water hears

water lying stagnant
impure, defiled

human flesh
joined as one
with water
that left its
boundaries

we curse its name
shake our fists
in rage
at what water
has done

but those who
know water best
know
that when love
is spoken
water reacts

to make itself
intricate
and beautiful

human words
fill the air
with all that
is vile
and then
we wonder
w h y

water
responds with
distruction

hear what was said

what have you spoken
in the travisty of distruction

would we know your words
if we heard them

or have we ignored
for too long

not recognized the wisdom
in your actions

some would say you speak not
that only ancient peoples
believed these things

but I say, you have been
speaking and will continue
until those who hear

translate your actions
into words with meaning