the next time

the next time you walk by a petal on the ground,


remember... 


it's only there because the flower opened.


exposing itself not only to weather and wind,


but also to the warm light of the sun.


becoming fragile in its singularity as the bud loosened.


bearing itself not only to the animals who might make a meal of it, 


but also to those who might become awakened to its impermanent beauty.


and all because the flower opened... 

in pursuit of peace

people i care about are struggling with different things -


big things... 


it leaves me feeling helpless... 


sometimes stamping words is enough,


but today it felt cold... 


so i heated the metal to glowing red


and folded it...


and heated it to glowing red


and opened it, gently...


creating not the crisper edges of most of my leaves,


but a soft opening form like a petal... 

as the night progressed, they began to turn into a small pile

like offerings... 

om shanti shanti shanti