[Poem] Prayer

NaPoWriMo-21 GloPoWriMo- 21

The dyadic connection begins each morning—

“Don’t open your eyes upon waking.

Rub your palms together.

Hold them over your eyes.

Open them to the world with prayers,”

Mother would warn each morning.

“Don’t simply step upon Mother Earth 

As you rise from your bed.

Apologize. Give your thanks

To the sun and moon and earth’s kindness.”

 

Thus prayer lay entwined with the acts of the day:

The after-shower prostration, the whispered incantations

The evening bhajan, the prayer before sleep,

The countless observations and rituals of nearly every day—

those were the ordinary days of my childhood.

 

As I grew, it became a constant colloquy,

This quiet parley with divinity

Over all things grand and petty:

The hovering eagle with sacred wings

A cloak, a tether, a wisp of fragrance, 

A rope tied to a clanging bell.

It is a force that gathers strength

Through constant use.

It is the source of all compassion

The heart of incredible peace-

The profound core

 That feeds and swells with oblation, salutation, supplication.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dyadic connection begins each morning -

'Don’t open your eyes upon waking

Rubs together your palms  

Hold them over your eyes

Open them to the world with prayers'

Mother would warn every morning.

'Don’t just step on mother earth

As you jump out of bed

Apologize, say your thanks

To the sun and moon and earth’s kindness.'

Thus, prayer lay entwined with the acts of the day.

The after shower prostration. The incantations.

The evening bhajan and the prayer before bed.

The countless observations and rituals of almost all days-

Those were the typical days of my childhood.

As I grew it became a constant colloquy

This parley with divinity

For all things grand and petty.

The hovering eagle with sacred wings.

It is a cloak, a tether, a wisp of fragrance,

A rope to a clanging bell.

It’s a force that gathers strength

From constant use

It is the source of all compassion

It is the heart of incredible peace-

The profound core

That feeds and swells with constant oblation, salutation, supplication.