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Say Yes
Say yes to everything:
the moldy bread, the empty kettle, the dying fire;
yes to the anvil on which your life was forged;
yes to what you have wanted, but not gotten;
yes to what you have waited for, but not seen;
yes to the tattered edges of your cloak,
and your belly bloated with hunger,
while swallows feast on insects near the temple gates.
To everything say yes.
Poem © 2020 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Whirligig #272
More Writers’ Pantry #26 at Poets and Storytellers United
More The Whirligig #272
More Writers’ Pantry #26 at Poets and Storytellers United
Is God Asleep
1
I choke on soot, my homeland shudders;
“Is God asleep?” the prophet mutters.
2
With fire on my tongue, how brave can I be?
Braver than ships exploring the sea?
3
Mine are the questions that no one answers;
At half past midnight, I join the dancers.
4
With reverence and gratitude I pause—
The white wolf takes me gently in his jaws.
Couplets © 2020 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Whirligig #270
More Writers’ Pantry #24 at Poets and Storytellers United
More The Whirligig #270
More Writers’ Pantry #24 at Poets and Storytellers United
Three Couplets
I.
Daylight, and the drunk man falls forward on his face;
He lacks a map to guide him to a better place.
II.
Sometimes a hearth that’s spacious holds only hints of fire—
Little coals that soon grow cold like everyone’s desire.
III.
Anywhere is nowhere when money creeps inside;
Beware when words become a place for your lies to hide.
Poems © by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #210
More Poetry Pantry #448 at Poets United
Acne
The year’s first acne—
a pimple on her forehead
glows as though on fire.
Haiku © 2018 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Poetry About the Body”
When I was a girl
A mural on a house in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, México
When I was a girl
I wanted to be someone’s wife,
washing his dirty clothes,
then hanging them out to dry
on leafless bamboo poles.
But the day I saw a blackbird
in the backyard bath,
its eyes aflame with fire,
I felt within my skin a stirring
to make paintings
envied by both monk and nun.
Now masked, with brush in hand,
I steal out every night
to splash the darkened city walls
with light, and then more light.
Poem and photo © 2017 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Sunday’s Whirligig #120
More Midweek Motif at Poets United: “Masks”
Inn
Sunrise, Sonoran Desert, Southern Arizona
At a wayside inn
pilgrims in the wilderness
bathe in holy fire.
~~ ~~ ~~
Their ablutions done,
pilgrims in shining robes stand
a little taller.
Haiku © 2015 and photo © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Midweek Motif: “Fire”
More Carpe Diem: “A Little Taller”
At a wayside inn
pilgrims in the wilderness
bathe in holy fire.
~~ ~~ ~~
Their ablutions done,
pilgrims in shining robes stand
a little taller.
Haiku © 2015 and photo © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Midweek Motif: “Fire”
More Carpe Diem: “A Little Taller”
Summoned
Castoffs from the sea, Puerto Nuevo, Baja California Norte, México
riches from the sea
summoned by an eagle’s cry—
tongue of salt and fire
Haiku © 2015 and photo © 2013 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More Macro Monday 2
More Ruby Tuesday Too
More Carpe Diem: “Eagle”
Burning
Sunset over Zacatecas, México
midsummer evening—
houses of desolation
burning without fire
Text © 2015 and photo © 2012 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Haiku My Heart at Recuerda Mi Corazon
Tanka Fest
~~ 1 ~~
in the next canyon,
a spacious place for camping—
cottonwood circle
where tired wanderers bed down
covering themselves with stars
~~ 2 ~~
on the granite floor
rivers of fresh blood flowing
from the killing spree—
scene of hell and damnation
the keening of the bereaved
~~ 3 ~~
the caressing warmth
of a single tear flowing
down her furrowed cheek—
the fire of her memories
thawing the ice within her
~~ 4 ~~
marshmallow eaters
their kayak beached for the night
gathering driftwood
enough for an all-night fire
half for warmth and half for fun
~~ 5 ~~
black cat dips one paw
into circles of sunshine
on the kitchen floor
pretending that a mouse feast
is simmering in the warmth
© 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 209
Fire
Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris) in bloom, April 2015, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Southern California
fire on the mountain—
perhaps a holy presence
making itself known
~~ ~~ ~~
mountain fire
holy the presence
burning bright
~~ ~~ ~~
among the flames
holiness
burning
Text and photo © 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher
More SkyWatch Friday
More Ruby Tuesday Too
More Our World Tuesday
More Haiku Horizons: “Fire”
More Carpe Diem: “Writing in 5-7-5; 3-5-3; freestyle”
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