In the first breath of light,
the empty trees are filled with black birds.
With a scatter of wings, a swirl of cacophony,
they let the wind come to rest.
Snaged on a branch to catch its breath,
the breeze composes
its calligraphy for clouds.
In stillness, we become as we breathe.
Let the pulse take you in.
Out of the silence, exhale.
Breath, a lullaby rocking.
The diaphragm wings
formed to lift us up
feel the air slid through pinions.
Find a oneness - a nesting eddy
waiting to be released into the river.
Inhale the wonder as an inner Light
cleans the shadows of fear.
Quiet, the brush of breath fills the silence.
We become blackboards
waiting to be written. The scribble,
notes of nonsense, memos of misery,
the engraving on our skin washed away
as the exhale of breath clears the beach.
The even pulse of wings pulls us
fills us with a darkness where we are
wrapped in our birth. Inhale comes
full of awareness that energy flows
through us, joins us to a river,
brings us to an aliveness and we connect.
This breath, then the next breath --
the strength of the earth feeding life --
the air a broad space for growth
and still we breathe with the rhythm of oceans.
So still, so quiet, we feel the One
draw upon us, and a voice welcomes us.
Filling ourselves with air, we find
the immediacy of creation stands free of time.
The black birds return. We understand.
The trees are filled with their sheet music.
Where the blue drapes the mountains
we see clouds move to clasp the cloak to peak.
A car crunches in the drive way.
Company breaks a smile on our heart.
We rise to break bread and share water.
12:09 AM
09/11/08
Eye doctors and home
Alexandria, VA
Author notes
I am glad you gave us more time 
I had a hard time ending this because when I am truly still in meditation, weither in Meeting or in private meditation, I never want it to end.
A contest entry
- Breathe........A Morning Quickie (48 hrs) by poet2angels.
550 points, ended September 14, 2008, 13 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think, what it makes you feel, how you are moved.
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
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"Find a oneness - a nesting eddy
waiting to be released into the river.
Inhale the wonder as an inner Light
cleans the shadows of fear."
Those breaths taken during the "meditation" process are shallow, scant, and evenly inhaled and exhaled. They bring forth light, revealing the true essence of peace.
Your poem delivers those nuances with great urgency. It think it is impertinent that we all take a few moments a day to settle within ourselves. Thanks for the reminder.
Much Love Always ♥
Renee
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I was taught to follow the out breath. Then, quite naturally after a pause, we inhale. The air floods our lungs, our diaphram relaxes and collapes. Then, again we follow the breath. Feel our diaphram spread its wings, follow the energy from our heels or if seated from the base of spin out into the universe.
Yes, we become grounded in meditation and less availble for falseness. Always here, my friend.
Love, Tom B.
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Contemplations ascend here. Again, I find the opening focused in setting with light and colour. Air is the major player here and due to my beliefs, I can relate well to its metaphor as used. Air~the element of music, mind, meditation and visualizaton. All these components seem to have their moment here.
As we grow older, the moments of silence are those
that are as necessary as those moments of self-acceptance. Blue
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First time I have succeeded in doing something like this. I am finally far away enough from it to begin viewing it objectivly and still close enough to be in touch with my subjective intent. It needs trimming.
I think visions of light, color and symbol pull us toward meditation and away from simple contemplation. Least, this is my hope. Silence is a space of creation and thus sacred.
Thanks for your comments.
Love, Tom B.
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How very wonderfully beautiful this is!
Sigh...
A truly breathtaking piece of poetry, my friend!
All the best to you! -
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Thank you. This is the first poem for meditation that I have found I could keep and print. So I am getting better. I am sure that it needs much improvement. If it touched you and you enjoyed it, I am blessed.
Love, Tom B.
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Nice work with this Tom!Good descriptive piece of poetry. You "breathed" life into this. THANKS!
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thank you. I hope to do better in the future. The way one breathes and the attention placed on following the breath can provide great results.
Peace & Light,
Tom B.
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this piece is filled wth beauty and relaxation.
"Find a oneness - a nesting eddy
waiting to be released into the river.
Inhale the wonder as an inner Light
cleans the shadows of fear. "
this is the part i like.
as we connect to the the ebbs of the ocean, as if they were the ebbs of time.
thanks for sharing
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I wanted to create a poem that would lead a person into a meditation. I am glad that for you, I have, in some small way, succeeded.
Love, Tom B.
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When we breathe in we must encapsualte the good, exhale those stale, and tired ways of behaving and thinking. There is depth here Thomas. I feel each breath. You never cease to amaze me with your use of language and metaphor. I wish you well in the Comp.
Always ♥
Renee
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Thanks. Meditational poetry as opposed to spiritual poetry is an interesting discipline. I still have much to learn. Thanks for cheering on my efforts.
Love, Tom B.
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your words, as always,fill me with delight and wonder.
good luck in the contest i bow in awe of your talent
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Thanks. I am glad they touched you for that touches me.
Love, Tom B.
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i would love to hear this spoken for it gives that beautiful floating sense of calm and peace,it sort of builds itself and washes over you as you read it. Just lovely C
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This is my most successful attempt at a guided meditation. Follow the out breath. When it ends you will naturally inhale and then again follow the out breath. As thoughts arise and all the stuff the mind creates, say simply, "Thinking" release your thoughts, return to your breath.
Love, Tom B.
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This is gorgeous!
"they scroll the clouds
with a calligraphy of breath.
In the stillness, breathe."
The entire poem speaks of us , the dwellers in this beautiful place in nature...and we don't want your poem to end...so beautiful it is ....so enchanting....
sigh~
Lynda
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We become blackboards
waiting to be written. The scribble,
notes of nonsense, memos of misery,
the engraving on our skin washed away
as the exhale of breath clears the beach.
I felt a presence of perfect peace shine on me last night. I was given solace, and for the first time in a long time, I didn't wake up with thoughts racing.
And I know it had everything to do with whatever benevolent spirit you sent my way. I know it was you, because it was through this poem here that I let it in.
Thank you Tom.
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You experienced some of the power of a centered meditation. When you are centered and grounded in the body, you are in touch with your Creator and able to hear. You are no longer depended on the creativity of your mind to try to find a way out of the maze. Instead, steady and at peace with yourself. you are will to allow it to appear before you. At rest, you are far more powerful than in a mental race.
Love, Tom B. -
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Whatever it was. . .
It was a watershed moment for me. I couldn't read this write all the way through, the first time, and commented such. I became mentally and emotionally immobilized.
Scary.
I came back this morning to give you the comment your work deserved, this time I didn't cry a single drop.
I've meditated to some degree all my life.
This wasn't it.
anyway,
take care,
jin
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Serendipity, then for an epiphany. I am blessed to have been part of the equation. Thanks for sharing this with me. It just reinforces in me my sense of how we ( you and I, the world) are all connected and while we are not our brothers keeper at the same time we are responsible unto each other.
Love,
Tom B.
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