Songs Of The Village

When My Mind is Full

2007-08-15T01:43:00.002-07:00

When my mind is full
I often go for a walk
And walks take me far.

Often, it’s as if I go back in time
Where all is untouched by industry
‘Tis when I see the young monks at play
Their robes—brilliant saffron; sun kissed
And their laughter in harmony with the bird’s song.

Often it’s as if I walk into a glimpse of the future
Or at least what the world would look like
Should we learn to lay down our arms and biases.
Tis when I see the elder monks at peace
Their robes—a wise hue of brown; wind blown
And their presence in harmony with the wind’s song.

Often, it’s as if I walk into a more conscious present
where life is lived with full awareness.
Tis when I see the monks close to my age,
Their robes becoming; deliberate like the night
And their laughter in harmony with my own soul’s song.

When my mind is full
I often go for a walk
And walks take me far.

After a Long Day

2007-08-15T01:43:00.001-07:00

Tis night and I am weary
From the battles of the day
My mind has slayed demons
And kept dragons far at bay

And yet the toll of struggle
Has upon me laid its claim
And I, the weary soldier
Upon my bed, shall do the same

Yet before I fade to darkness
A prayer rises from my soul
That come first light tomorrow
I emerge…whole.

Yellow Moon

2007-08-15T01:42:00.000-07:00

Tonight I biked past the lake
And a yellow moon.
T’was dark outside and I knew
I would not be home soon

Yet I felt no fear or worry
Looking upon that yellow moon
For such a site was worthy
Of making lost hearts swoon

And swoon I did as I biked
Past the lake and the moon
For the scene brought a song to mind
Of which I still hear the tune

And the tune is that of a sweet song
Perhaps inspired by the same moon
Seen by a poet long ago
Who then chose not to come home soon

Excuse Me, What's Your Name?

2007-08-15T01:40:00.000-07:00

They come out of nowhere
As if from some enchanted game
The village kids come asking
“Excuse me, what’s your name?”

No time to think about it
Nor wonder from where they came
The village kids come asking
“Excuse me, what’s your name?”

Take whatever route you wish to
Every road turns out the same
When the village kids come asking
(Every day they come asking)
Yes, the village kids come asking
“Excuse me, what’s your name?”

Who you are does not matter
Be you man or be you dame
The village kids come asking,
“Excuse me what’s your name?”

Your mood does not matter
Be you ill-tempered or be you tame
The village kids come asking
“Excuse me what’s your name?”

No method to the madness
No rhyme, scheme, nor aim
The village kids come asking
(Everyday they come asking)
Yes the village kids come asking,
“Excuse me what’s your name?”

As I, in Solitude Lay

2007-08-15T01:38:00.000-07:00

Twas neither star nor moon
On that May night
As I, in solitude lay

Absent too was children’s laughter
That had earlier filled the day

Yet as star and moon and the heart of youth
Were absent on that night
I, in my solitude
Embraced all their light

For the moment of peace I felt that night
As I, in solitude lay
Was filled with the grace of heaven
And the joy of a child at play

The Village Has a Song

2007-08-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

The village has a song
If you sit still and strain your ears
You will not hear it.
Rather, awake with the rising sun;
Breathe the morning air and
Feed the monks;
Proceed to that which you call your work
And be ever mindful of the “now”.
And when the time for that which you call work passes,
Wait patiently for the night
Amidst the gentle swaying of the hammocks,
The laughter of the children,
The delight of spices filling the air,
The lazy gait of homeward bound cattle.
And as the crickets chirp louder with each house light turning off
You can be assured that you have heard the village’s song.
After all, you danced to it all along.