Steam

Truly smelling steam
I am a diamond web
blazing grace like snow shine
in black sky moonlight.

Taste the stillness of a thousand midnights
To truly catch the scent of this tea,
expand in all directions and dissolve
like steam.

Mind is a rain
storm. Yet every drop
held in the same space
as desert sun,
midnight snow and
steaming waters.

I am not limited to rainstorm
when mind is rainstorm.
I am before, after, during
as well as all things
happening right now in
storm space, infinite.

Like a bow to a violin
the train strokes the tracks.
Like fire flies in tall grasses
city traffic buzzes.

I am not limited to Berkeley, California
when mind is Berkeley, California.
I am space of the world
before, during and after.
Sitting in the womb
alongside stars and planets.

In seeing what is
happening and experiencing
what is happening, I
am not limited to
what is happening.

Drink this tea
and come home.
You came to sip experience
but you are wasting time,
Rising from the heaviness of your magic
with its steam.

Let steam be an exhale
and sip what is beneath.

Steam is part of the experience,
don’t let thoughts blind you.
This cup of tea–
drink a precious moment.

Things will happen and things happening
have brought about his
uncreated newness.
Be heavy with your tea and
let steam rise.

Drink as if you have no thirst and
will never be satiated either.

This is already gone and this
will never be again.
Do not miss, do not
be carried away with steam–
allow it to rise and
come home with each sip.

It is never too late
to give thanks
It is never too late
to come home

Bless You

Tilting her head
this gray woman outside
gazes into heaven
an orbit in her irises.

Hands together, a prayer
seals her lips and shuts
her eyes

But all this simply
to sneeze.
Bless you, pretty miss.
Accidental gorgeousness,
meaningless profundity