In Your Light

July 16, 2016 by leximagines

When I look at you
delicate unfolding
there is more, always more
a breath of flight
alights unseen until
I exhaust what I only
choose to see

You unfurl not in
beauty as I would define
not in softness but
in strength until I move to
see more deeply
beyond what I think
You are there, also

In wind I
watch you bend
air passes over me
through me
fills me with grace
until all I can do
is bend myself
to the ground
in reverence

From Your hand
sky to dust
air to earth
rain to sea
Your face passes by
each moment
an invitation to be
held in delirium
if I choose
intoxication
over pride

May I
launder my soul
in Your clemency

May I
rush into Your arms
cowardliness relieved
of its stand

May I
be the Joy that is me
Your gift passionately
entrusted

.
.
.

Author’s Note:

Je suis epuise.

Before this line came across my Face Book page from Huffington Post earlier in the day I wrote:

“I am exhausted. The killing, the violence, vicious and unsympathetic politicians, lost souls who don’t know how to love themselves so they wound others – I must step away from this or drown in the mire. We must move forward in love – love all – even the vicious. It’s the only way out of this. There is no separation. We are all One. Until we put down our own wants and needs and demands to have it our way, we won’t see that we must release into the unknown with trust and love the beautiful souls we are so we can see that Light in others. There is no other way. Put down fear, hatred, condemnation, anger, the smugness we Americans seem to think is our right. There is nothing to “win”, no need to be the “best” or “right” or “number one.” Be love and sweetness even when people say you are crazy. You aren’t. You are simply following the root command – love one another. Period. And your ripple will join others. And the world will change.”

Until we truly see the beauty in the world and know, really know and understand, that it is within us, we will continue to harm others as we walk through our day. From small quips, to manipulating others, to killing someone because they don’t believe what we believe, the world will continue to turn this way.

Instead, look deeply inside yourself. Blow away the smoke. Spirit awaits you. Forget the books, the mentors, the words, words, words, words. Put down the study. Still yourself. Listen to your Heartbeat. It’s the same one inside ALL of us. Do no harm to yourself, and you will not be able to harm others.

Amen.

smoke
choreographed by MATS EK
performed by SYLVIE GUILLEM e NIKLAS EK

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Lost and Found

May 28, 2016 by leximagines

I lost my religion…

…and found God

I put down the book
too many words flew at me
I read it through
sought their meaning
tried to unscramble code
designed by those
who deem themselves
the only ones who know

I stepped out of grey clouds
covering me with verity
I knew the rules
followed the letter of the law
ignored with guilt and hid
from those who judge
right from wrong

I took off my watch
too much time
spent in
defense

I let walls crumble
my lifted ego dropped
fractured into shards

A pause for breath
boundless freedom found
I don’t have to be
anything
but me

Now I peel layers
to reach the epicenter
one fragrant petal
at a time

There awaits
one canon for all

My beating heart
my dearest friend
my Beloved
always there

There the source
no addendums
explanations
no middle men to confer grace
no fear of doing something wrong
no ceremony where perfect words
grapple in contention
where right dogmas altercate
where gods’ egos clash

It is as simple
as yes and no
no shades of in between and
more difficult than it seems

As the gentlest shaman offered
…remember the root command
love one another…

I now know how to stand
begin anew
one simple movement
one simple thought

love God
love others
love myself

As I breathe out,
God breathes in
an immutable espousal

here I begin…

Author’s Note:

For more on this poem, visit JOURNEY/lex.

Doubt

April 1, 2016 by leximagines

Day One

Doubt

I stand on riparian ground
that place between
two more certain realities,
liminal,
solitary but exhaling
into One, the way of being.

When I look for you,
feel where you should be,
listen for your words
that have faded from my space,
I cry out so you will hear me,
come back to take my hand
and dance again.

Remembering you are Source.
I still myself, rest assured
that you are Always.

Renegade partners, we
One ourselves,
a geography of
trust and transformation,
an ocean of fidelity where
there is no room for doubt.

.
.

Author’s Note:

Singularity. Alone. Renegade.

It is important to remember I am not the same person I was.

As I stand in that place within what was and what is and will be, a liminal time and space, I must remember I am never alone.

I am looping over and over again who I was, with who I am creating, and who I will become.

All of me is where everything exists at once, but not yet fully understood.

Take my hand, we are renegades, all of us One and Beloved, in this great dance.

There is no room for doubt.

Lexanne

Once more I must credit Grounded by Diana Butler Bass for the inspiration. I’ve borrowed some words and, most definitely, ideas. Her book is transforming my life. Much, much gratitude.

Renegade – Kevin “K.O” Olusola

Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.” John 20:29, The Message

My place is the Placeless, my trace is the Traceless ;
‘Tis neither body nor soul, for I belong to the soul of the Beloved.
I have put duality away, I have seen that the two worlds are one;
One I seek, One I know, One I see, One I call
~ Rumi

Diana Vishneva – Beauty in Motion – F.L.O.W. part III

Welcome!

Happy first day of National Poetry Month!!!!!

Today I celebrate by sharing the full reflection from my weekly newsletter – Journey/lex.

I would love to share this weekly journey with you. You can subscribe here.

Tomorrow I will post more information how, if you are in the continental U.S., you can win a free copy of my book of poetry, Filters.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Take Your Poet To Work Day

July 15, 2015 by leximagines

Today is Take Your Poet To Work Day sponsored by the delightful folks over at Tweetspeak Poetry.

Today, Rumi joins me on my travels. I am a teacher on summer vacation so he is along for the ride. First up, practicing the piano. Lunch on the deck will follow. Then rehearsal of The Magdalene, which is coming up this Sunday. And finally, a meeting with Fr. Scott. I’m sure Rumi will be a welcome guest to our meeting.

It’s not too late for you to grab a poet and take her or him with you. Also, while you are there check out the GIFs created for today. They are a hoot.

Oh, and just for the fun of it, here is one of my favorite Rumi poems, The Guest House, translated by Coleman Barks:

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Lead Player

September 14, 2014 by leximagines

a woman becomes
the Lead Player
and now the sensibility
can be no other way

how far is it I am willing to go
to be extraordinary
or am I already
finely crafted well enough
perfect
just not aware
that there will always
be those in my imagination
waiting for me to bite
taking me astray

there will come a time
no
now
when I must thrust
the stake into the ground
stand in refusal
no longer matching my life
to someone else’s rules

I am no longer afraid
to rewild myself

the road will not be clear
until I act with beauty and courage
to acknowledge that helpless something
deep inside me needing to be loved

I take the first step
and in each
the road appears
that much further from
the fog machine and fire rings

I wait no more for others to lead
I reach down and find bliss
gifted to me as to no other

and the yellow moon
peering three quarters
from behind earth’s shadow
casts enough light tonight
for me to see my way

.
.
.

Author’s Note:

Tonight at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts I saw the touring production of the Broadway revival of Pippin, forty years after I saw it for the first time on Broadway.

It was 1974 and our high school drama club took a trip to New York City. Pippin was the first Broadway show I ever saw. Also, the night we attended was the very night Ben Vereen returned from a severe accident. We didn’t understand the excitement. Afterwards, we did.

The show has been retooled to be set within a circus, with a few updated references, and a new ending. It has been polished to an even brighter diamond.

My poem is a found poem using some words and ideas from an interview with Stephen Schwartz, Pippin’s author. Also from Mary Oliver’s Wild Geese, Rumi, Rilke’s Letter To A Young Poet, Wendell Barry’s A Timbered Choir, and from Facebook, the folks at Evolver Social Movement, The Spirit That Moves Me, and Goddesses.

I am going through what I might say is a transformation right now. I needed some strong words, images, ideas to help me find the courage to take that first step. All of these fine artists and souls are reaching out to me and guiding me right now.

Much gratitude.

Photos of the Galleria from the balcony of Auditorium Theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Come With Me

February 1, 2013 by leximagines

He said
come with me
and I did

Stepping into white slippers
flat, satin
giving him my hand to hold
not grip or pull
but hold

We’ve danced a long journey
towards the stars
under the smile of the moon
the breath of the planets
warming our hands
clasped together
comfortable as one

The familiarity of
my fingers wrapped in his
we move
our heartbeats
the music of life
resting for a moment
here or there
one taking the lead
now
and the other
then

And as the years greet us
with challenge or a spark
a loss or gain
we reach together
to bravely touch
the gift given

For we are one
one heart
one soul entwined
a smile
a sigh
we touch Infinity

.
.
.
Author’s Note:
Happy’s Valentine’s Day.
It’s a love poem for this month’s entry for the 100 Sweet Blogger’s project on Tweetspeak Poetry and WordCandy.
Send some sweetness of your own this month to someone you love. Just go to WordCandy. It’s easy as pie.