The Cat … The Breath

Curling up like a cat next to the fire place,

Closing eyes like kids hoping for magical christmases.

–

Taking a break,

Letting go of any expecting

of me, of you, of anyone and anything.

–

Allowing each to live a life

that means something

not to me

but to the person who has the life given,

No telling “he should”, “she wouldn’t”, “how could they”,

No nudging.

Simply investigating.

–

No forced gratitudes,

Just acceptance.

No “I wish”es,

Only what is.

–

Letting magic in only if it’s there.

Releasing emotions when ready to dare.

–

I am the dog, by the fire place sleeping,

I am the lucky man with a loved one, hugging,

I am the mom over the stove slaving,

I am the book, sitting in a nook, that you’re reading,

I am the homeless on the street corner shivering,

 

I am the breath that keeps circulating,

I am the seeker who keeps wandering,

–

I am the mountains towering,

the rivers flowing,

the stars brightly shining,

the fresh snow falling.

I am the cheeks

that get wet when a child tears up,

then dimple when he smiles.

–

I am the infinite wisdom that catches you as you fall,

when you doubt and wonder,

when you feel there’s no point at all.

–

You are the me, the we, the totality.

If only you could see clearly.

–

But tonight, there are no

“You should”s or “could”s,

no “I know better”s and “I have no clue”s.

–

Just resting,

against the backdrop of a soft music

that plays faithfully:

the humming heartbeat and breath of

each and every

living being.

 

Yasemin Yamodo-Isler, 2018