Category: heart

resistance

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, gratitude, heart, mind, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, simple pleasures, spirituality, Surrender2 Comments

resistance

sometimes the mind
resists dropping
into the heart
defiance?
fear?
I push back my chair
step outside as dawn
brightens the sky
the morning chill
kisses my ears
sparrows chirp
squirrels stuff seeds
into their cheeks—
inexorable,
day has come again

this simple act
out of my chair
into fresh air
sniffing lemon flowers
pungent sweetness
fingering pea pods
my heart settles
and pluck returns
I can meet this day

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

his fuzzy self

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn awe, Daily reminders, gratitude, heart, Love, Musings, PoetryLeave a comment

his fuzzy self

he darted
around the oak
then up,
swiveled and stared—
he, upside down
as though the easiest feat
we eyeballed each other
a squirrel in a suave black suit,
an old woman in motion,
we eyeballed each other—
tugged from thought,
captivated right here
by his sleek, shiny self
my mouth made an O
I’ve never seen his kind
decked out in charcoal
his tail flicked and danced
he started and stopped
paw poised,
as though ready to flee
then settled in for
proper consideration—
his thoughtful eyes
did he see
menace or friend?
I saw friend

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

the tryst

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, chilla/test, Daily reminders, feelings, gratitude, heart, light, memoir, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, spirituality, suffering, Truth1 Comment

the tryst

with a nod to Robert Frost

a promise I made
while still in the ethers,
before the glint
in my parents’ eyes,
an agreement—

no matter where
I birthed or who
my people turned out
to be, I pledged
to hunt for truth

plopped in a family
of rabid unbelievers
pushed me to probe
for like-hearted friends
with a similar promise—
I longed to grow up
and leave home

once on my own
it took a long time
but I found them—
a tribe where my tryst
was commonplace,
they all understood
we longed for epiphany
and the groundwork
for heart opening began

mine had snapped shut
so it took a long time
but at least I had
friends on the journey—
and that has made
all the difference

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

missed it

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, Daily reminders, gratitude, heart, light, loss, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry4 Comments

missed it

I missed first light
stubbed off the watch
that rumbles me awake
nodded back asleep—
this day’s dawn
is gone
a minuscule thing
but a loss

a chiding whisper
lazybones
whose voice is that?
gone forty-five years
my father come to visit—
and this, his first dispatch?
then I remember
sticks and stones
can break your bones
but words
can never hurt you

useful, but not true
unless you construct
a fortress—
I whisper back
with the warmth
my heart holds,
I love you, too—
all this
from missing dawn

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

bell

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, consciousness, Daily reminders, heart, Love, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, pathless path, Poetry, spirituality2 Comments

bell

I invite the bell
again and again—
toll me awake!
I envision a belltower
a resonant bell
a prayer of sorts,
although what
could I ever pray to?
I launch prayers
into the void
chock full of
knowing and love—
the bell resounds,
sonorous
the echo reminding
I’m already home

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

toy squeaks

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn awe, Daily reminders, dogs, feelings, gratitude, heart, joy, Love, Musings, parenting, simple pleasures, treasure2 Comments

toy squeaks

to the left of my desk chair
a rhythmic squeaking
my un-housetrained pup
is gnawing her starman—
soft and five-pointed
the fourth dog to work it
she discovered the squeaker
last night in her crate
smart girl

no starman at bedtime

my rhythm’s been broken
and quiet is shattered
I’ll write with distraction
until she matures—
but here is the upside
she’s a sweet cuddlebug
I’ll trade some months
of disorder
for a decade of affection

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

daylight

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, feelings, gratitude, heart, light, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, simple pleasures, spirituality2 Comments

daylight

I wake into day
instead of the India ink
that precedes first light
overslept
missed dark’s quiet
missed the first breath
of light dusting the sky
it’s not even seven
the day’s in full swing
where is my quiet?
that still point before
the world awakens
the dark well
waiting for me
to sink down
drench in
its luscious hush

the gift today
asks for welcome
doves cooing
texts dinging
flash of bird wing
and thieving squirrel
no dark well
instead sunshine
kisses the treetops
good morning!

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

so much broken

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, Daily reminders, death, heart, loss, Love, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, spirituality, suffering3 Comments

so much broken

bones here and there
my heart, many times
spirit, at least
one, two, three

is this the path of love?
this way
of brokenness
we greet each day?

life rent me
so I see the shape—
the disorder required
reveals the whole

an onyx crow picks
squirrel from the road
Cooper’s hawk nabs
crow—life’s wheel

the rabbit-gray dawn
signals rain,
branches bow
then break in rising wind

perfect symmetry—
be born from knowing
live out our lives
die into knowing

the gift that’s given—
we are shattered
in a hundred ways
and remade again

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

feast

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

feast

in the longer view,
a finger snap
and life is done—
savor the spread
that is yours alone
the benediction of early light
and holy kiss of dusk’s dying sun
share what you can
spill paint onto murals
and let words flood—
your face thrown back,
spin in spring rain
the world needs you,
your voice, your scope
none other

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

huge silence

On By Amrita Skye BlaineIn Awakening, awe, consciousness, Daily reminders, gratitude, heart, joy, Musings, Non-duality, nonduality, notes from self, Poetry, Silence, spirituality, Truth2 Comments

huge silence

There is a huge silence within each of us, beckoning
us back into itself. —attributed to Meister Eckhart

it’s always there
waiting to be noticed
the fathomless well
calling me inward
into the heart
of the heart
I swim down
deeper
find silence’s support
how it buoys
how it thirsts,
welcoming
those who remember—
held by the depth
thankful, I bow

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