The Presence

Listen.

It's better than advise or philosophy

for truth is not in the words,

but in the heart.

What I say

is little understood.

And usually wrong.

Speak only

from the practiced presence

of the Mahanta.

.       © 2013 Ardi Keim (concept and draft of 5/8/13)

Stone Soup

When almost awake it is so clear. But without some kind of hook or ladle, it's gone in a flash. Barely a hint of its nourishing savor.






Stone Soup

I live in both worlds now

and my allegiance is fleeting.

Dream Master, help me. I am spent.

Truth shines like the sun

till it sets without a snapshot.

Misplaced in mental obligation,

habit and memory.

 

I must write it down,

or get enough rest and nourishment.

The morning is fresh, but the canary is free.

No concept of one till another flies through –

like migrating birds to the mechanics

of earth revolving.

 

Truth I know is the anticipation

of stone soup.

Then, after many guests

and hours of cooking,

it's back to the heart

till the words are not mine

yet precious as my lover.

 

 

.              

© 2013 Ardi Keim

 

 

Late Summer Light

Two weeks past – a glance from car window to prairie color.

Still I see it, and took this long to write.

late summer light (1)

stripes drawn rich from west
rust tints tan and red
grass bent seed heads
curly dock scepters moderating light
silver shone white from aspens in the draw
as if quaking to would-be cumulus
but not

heads of red clover
burnt chocolate brown
and crisp with insect wings
golden rod tilted till tomorrow’s
deeper shades of gray
shadowed in yesterdays hays
of dreams now spent

rasp-rough trunk of solo ash
in prairie sentry watch
sun-jaundiced leaf on elbowed branch
sensing rest in 4:30 fever
where every morning's due
aspires to starlit skies
then it falls

© 2012 Ardi Keim 9/6/12 (rev. 9/13/12)



late summer light  (2)

Love the late summer light
color and textures rich with insight.
People and plants stressed
and easy to see both sides of good days.
And better ways to show it.

Green in the valley
where river still runs. Slower now.
And cottonwood leaves 
turn yellow to tan.
Tree cover thin as mother's lace.

But it's cooler at night
when we rest in our dreams.
Sea breeze and gulls on the mast.
And hope for tomorrow's meaning.

© 2012 Ardi Keim 9/13/12



late summer light  (3)

Evening news. Talk radio. 
NPR. Press and tube.
To hear and read
the state of things Yahoo.
And yet to be 
and see . . .

Then today. Unplugged.
The heads of shadowed hue
in morning light.
A mourning dove.
Willow--where the fawn walks. 
Red blades on dying grass.
Sumac turning.
It's real.
With true color. 
And right.

© 2012 Ardi Keim 8/20/12 (rev. 9/23/12)

Thanksgiving

What is there but divine expression?
Comes any day. To any Soul.

Is Love.

And is in

The Turning


Treadmill cycles of rest and run
fits and starts, hope and exasperation
exhilaration -- trial in turning
till its weakness and strength
emerges opposed.
Exposed -- this Soul
longing to know
to grow
to learn the mystery
of its own being
in peace, in strife
in chaos and understanding
the unlimited possibility of truth
on both sides till the anointing
awareness of the Giver
is within each.
Divine expression of Love.

.

Happenstance

To all who see the higher cause of art and creativity...

.
by word in verse
with borrowed pen
on paper towel
the sound
the truth
so few could hear
till sung aloud
by one of love, delight
and happenstance
.

All events and circumstance give chance of service and advancement.

.

Sonic Star

It was a still night in winter -- like awakening in another world. A star.

Sonic Star

One star. One light.
Among millions. On a clear night.
Or did the clouds part that instant of recognition?
Vaporized by intent and choices in options.
Thoughts on the meaning of pain
and joy in this moment.
Of contradiction.
Integration.
The Star.
Through the mist.
Among millions.
Reconciliation.
Finding truth through illusion.
Misconception.
Deception.
And the Star is but One.
Or was it imagination that night?
The night of the Star.
Among millions.
One light. Tiny light.
Becomes brighter than
its brothers or its sisters.
Could not glance at the others
so near and far.
See it. Till I hear it.
Sonic Star.
Ember of the fire in the heart of God.
Holy Fire. Glowing white.
To yellow. And amber.
And red. Blue start.
Never doused.
Sonic Star.

© 2011 Ardi Keim

.

Duality and Integration

Stepping Up to Mastership

1. Where am I?
   Recognize position: up-down; cold-hot; left-right, etc.
   Where am I in the world of duality.
   Is the toggle switch on or off? Click or catch.
   Or what position on the rheostat of life’s continuum?
   
   
2. Where do I want to be?
   What position would better serve me, my situation, my community?
   
   
3. Where is the truth in opposition?
   Where is the opportunity? The potential?
   Can I reconcile the contradiction? See through illusion, misconception? Deceit?
   Can I love all that I see? Accept the path of all?
   

.Truth.
. .Respect.
. . .Harmony.
.

© 2011 Ardi Keim (3/26/11)

Shedding the Mask

Before the battle
Donning chain mail and plate
Wrought shield and sword
Gave him comfort secure
Even knowing the enemy
Would claim its portion
In life and limb.
He rode onto the grounds of destiny
With confidence – virile and strong –
Intent on his duty
And the dance of his charge.

But after days of execution
Precise and of chance
Seeing the slain – comrade and foe
A weary portent of final fever
Crept onto the field.
First, more a false thought
Like a glance off the helmet
Or arrows to underbush.
But now, predominating,
Overwhelming his being,
Corrupting his dream.

He wanted to shed the armor
To gain new life
Revive in strength
And mount again his steed
Stripped of all but cinch
Stirrup and grip.
Take flight and annihilate
The heaviness of fate
Of hate and righteous anger
By the lance of light and heart
Is Soul renewed.

The war in the higher world
Is charged with pure intent
By the shock of truth.
No longer the battle commands
Of darkness afar
And deviant deed.
No longer the deceit
of mask and cover.
A new battle rejoined
When was it first?
And when will we march again?

Today, padded and fit
For two more months of winter
And its multiple of worn reality
Of users debt froze fast.
I tire of the mask and cover.
Spring comes as earth turns
Slowly. And lightning strikes
The flyers of false keys slyly kited.
But also it lights
The pine tree of freedom.
Shedding my mask I see.

Really it was just another below-zero winter day that inspired this. It aint Spring yet? No. And other storms do threaten.

Addendum 1/31/09:
If you detect a slight political tinge to this post, you are right. Covering snow drifts with snow seems clean, but the dirt and dog dung is all exposed soon enough. I feel all stimulus plans and bailouts are just a lot of fluffy ferry dust blinding us with false promise and hiding a worse storm ahead. The snow mask isn’t all we must remove. Freedom (economic and otherwise) comes with responsibility—not schemes to pad the pants of the devious and well connected.

I really didn’t intend on getting political and preachy here. If you’d like to have my expanded view see my Share Tree blog and my post on Financial Responsibility.