Thursday, May 19, 2011

Another cloth for the Cloutie Well

This cloth came all the way from Canada. Lynne of Ragzedge Arts sent me a strip of cotton from a painting drop cloth which she decorated with stamping and penned swirls. Thanks Lynne. Hopefully the rain will stop soon so I can walk out there without getting soaked.

I picked up this anthology of poems from the library. Roger Housden has thoughtfully selected poems around the theme of "Risking Everything." He says in the introduction that these poems can "send us tumbling out of our familiar world...down into unknown landscapes where we may find a new life we never dreamed..."

This poem by Kabir (1398-1448) sounds contemporary to me.

Breath

Are you looking for me? I am in the next seat.
My shoulder is against yours.
You will not find me in stupas, not in Indian shrine rooms,
nor in synagogues, nor in cathedrals:
not in masses, nor kirtans, not in legs winding around your
own neck, nor in eating nothing but vegetables.
When you really look for me, you will see me instantly---
you will find me in the tiniest house of time.
Kabir says: Student, tell me, what is God?
He is the breath inside the breath."

7 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

This just goes to show that God is God no matter what time it is.

Robin said...

Lynne's scarf is absolutely beautiful and it will enhance the already-magical Cloutie Glen!

The book looks so intersting...the poem so meaningful - and true.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Umā said...

I love that poem, I have a kirtan cd by Ram Das that includes him reading it..and I love the line "I am in the next seat." I've promised several people mix cd's lately and have not followed through very well but if I ever stop procrastinating I'll make one for you too, and include this poem.

sukipoet said...

thanks M. That'd be cool.

Lynn Cohen said...

We had a conversation around this very subject last weekend my grandson/son/and I.
With permission I will copy this poem and send it to them to share.

The cloth hanging is so lovely too.

Lynne with an e said...

I so like the idea of having a little something of me all the way over there with you! Some sun here at last; I'll try to blow it in a southerly direction towards your place.

"The breath inside the breath": A reinforcement of the popular admontiton to "just breathe."

sukipoet said...

Oh Lynn, I just talked to Kabir and he is fine with you using his poem. LOL. Ok, am ready to be taken to the loony bin. Yes, do copy the poem. I know Kabir won't mind.