Author: Amrita Skye Blaine

Skye Blaine writes fiction, memoir, poetry, and blogs, developing themes of aging, coming of age, disability, and awakening. She received an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University in 2003. "Bound to Love: a memoir of grit and gratitude," was published in 2015. Her novel, "Unleashed" came out in November, 2017. "Must Like Dogs" was published in 2020. She is included in twelve anthologies—including four poetry anthologies—and in national magazines: “Yes” and “Catalyst.” She teaches memoir to older adults privately.

loan

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, death, feelings, joy, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, simple pleasures, spiritualityLeave a comment

loan

holding hands,
fingers intertwined
sun warm on
your back

the sweet-tart taste
of fresh-squeezed
orange juice
slaking your thirst

splashing cool
stream water
on your face after
an autumn hike

the first, rich
scent of rain
on parched ground
after a dry spell

your precious body
your one and only
earth suit

all of it
all on loan

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

camaraderie

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn awe, children, Daily reminders, feelings, memoir, Musings, parenting, Poetry, suffering8 Comments

camaraderie
1976

hunched on a hard chair
in an airless room,
I cupped my head
in my hands and wept

to save his life
they would saw
through his breastbone,
his chest as small
as my open hand—
stop his heart,
rebuild the inside
staple him shut

a presence beside me
her hand a mere moth
dusting my arm
she murmured,
here—for you
offering a fresh-lit
Marlboro bearing
her kiss of lipstick
I accepted the gift

glancing up, four
others—all mothers,
waited
us, too, one said

presence

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, consciousness, Daily reminders, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Silence, simple pleasures, spiritualityLeave a comment

presence

it is most native
most basic
and yet elusive
right here
but goes unnoticed
the treasure
the pearl
right here
what watches?
what’s aware?
not a mystery
right here

try this:
walk
into the woods
sit
sit for a long time
until the woods,
stilled
on your entrance,
relaxes
the first bird darts
and calls
squirrels bicker
and in the understory
the fox slips by—
this, right here

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

be yourself

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry2 Comments

be yourself

you are the gift life wants—
precisely as you are—why
else would you be here?

unpack your role to play
throw open the door
let late afternoon sun
warm polished wood

your feet feel the planks
find your center
wriggle your shoulders
and dance—
waltz or boogie or jive,
your way

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

before

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn awe, children, Love, Musings, parenting, Poetry, spirituality, suffering2 Comments

before
1974

before—
sunshine centered
on me
my life, my curiosity,
my need

unintended,
you showed up at dawn
screaming, so skinny
five weeks too soon
I recognized your eyes

enormous, innocent,
squinty in first light
they locked on mine—
you knew too much
you knew what was up

after—
white coats, stethoscopes
windowless hallways
cardiac cath lab and blood
fear clutched my bones

mama-grit flared
your eyes made me—
you broke me
am I grateful?
fifty years on, the sun

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

no gate

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn MusingsLeave a comment

no gate

great story
the gate between
here and there
here and awakening

awakening is
not over there
if anything
it is here

no gate no path
no separation
between one state
and another

hug your beloveds
ruffle your dog
there is nothing
to do but chuckle

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

come home

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, death, kindness, light, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, simple pleasures, spiritualityLeave a comment

come home

as I elder into old,
noticing is called back home—
be gentle here, it says

rest in slanted sunshine
close your eyes, eavesdrop
as birds tuck in for night

reflect on what’s involved
in autumn’s harvest
how to put it all to bed

I ask for yields of kindness
and gleans of gratitude
to fruit my shortening days

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

think about:

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, joy, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, spirituality, thoughtsLeave a comment

think about:

think about moss
how it knows to cling
on the north side of stones
for moisture and dark

think about songbirds
who bathe away mites
in an icy birdbath and
still pipe joy

or raindrops that hang
translucent in sunlight
in our rock wall’s
rosemary cascade

this week, Daphne
and daffodil—soon,
they’re done, then
plums shower white

how life is changing,
changing, yet flows,
ever an unceasing whole—
I think about that

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.

water of life

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, heart, kindness, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, spiritualityLeave a comment

water of life

soothe the whining
hound tied to a pole
outside 7-Eleven,
his limpid eyes
trained on the door,
drop a quarter in
the meter gone red
the simplest act,
greet the man
stacking apples
and smile

spirit streams
an atmospheric river
always here
pouring in, around,
and through
it is us, all of us
abundant and fresh
drink in what we are
open
to its cleansing flood
then share

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.