Riches in My House

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

These food jewels, strewn about my house and my homeland,

sparkle as emerald green bell peppers, with singing seeds,

and ruby roasted chilis, fingerlings of fire that dance;

the star anise spins licorice memories of fennel forts I've built.

 

The threshold of no-return is at the foot of a climbing rose, peach

and pure pink, cupping all three worlds in its delicate petals,

they cleave my heart before the sacred fragrance even meets the air.

The tuberose, a dream flower first known to this gardener,

this Chauncey, but a week ago,

when in its first glimpsed waxy, white purity,

I beheld the Madonna.

 

Lalla and Philokalia, Hafiz and Thomas Merton, Rumi and Ramana,

my teachers have come in to rest here at this inn by the wayside,

all I have to offer them is laughter, and roses, and licorice.

In hand holding, and cheek brushing cheek, we all are so joyous,

so filled with the moment of knowing each other as sister and brother

that spontaneous clapping, from thee, from me, from roses and anise,

breaks into blossoms of glorious light, starbursts, prisms rippling,

rivers of laughing light, thirsty for hearts to fill up in.

 

With Love,

Mazie

[Guest guest]

Mazie!

 

Another beautiful poem! Thank you!

 

>These food jewels, strewn about my house and my homeland,

>sparkle as emerald green bell peppers, with singing seeds,

>and ruby roasted chilis, fingerlings of fire that dance;

>the star anise spins licorice memories of fennel forts I've built.

>

>The threshold of no-return is at the foot of a climbing rose, peach

>and pure pink, cupping all three worlds in its delicate petals,

>they cleave my heart before the sacred fragrance even meets the air.

>The tuberose, a dream flower first known to this gardener,

>this Chauncey, but a week ago,

>when in its first glimpsed waxy, white purity,

>I beheld the Madonna.

>

>Lalla and Philokalia, Hafiz and Thomas Merton, Rumi and Ramana,

>my teachers have come in to rest here at this inn by the wayside,

>all I have to offer them is laughter, and roses, and licorice.

>In hand holding, and cheek brushing cheek, we all are so joyous,

>so filled with the moment of knowing each other as sister and brother

>that spontaneous clapping, from thee, from me, from roses and anise,

>breaks into blossoms of glorious light, starbursts, prisms rippling,

>rivers of laughing light, thirsty for hearts to fill up in.