Joy

wells deep inside me
sweet salty lifegiving water
flowing flowing flowing
like Jacob's well a
neverending stream of more more more
more lifegiving words of humanness and pathos and pain and beauty and joy so big it
cannot be contained
in my skin
so it spills out
joy so big i cry it out come it out sing it out shout it out
tears and nectar and notes and words
joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy joy
big audacious joy that would be obnoxious
were she not so charming
in her childlike invitation
sit down play alongside her
a playground built for two to which the whole world is invited
come as you are come as you are come as you are
life and joy and healing beckon

Rhythm of Life

It's give and take
the dance of life
endless rhythm
pulsing all around us
through us
the song you dance
in
and not
to.

I wept two times today.
Both times sincerely and deeply.
First, I wept this morning
in my neighbor's kitchen.
She invited me over
for coffee
and surprized me
with a breathtaking angel sculpture
earthy and living
in her rough-hewn wooden beauty.
The note read
"I pray for you
and your family
every day.
I am so thankful
for your friendship.
I love you."

Blindsided by her unexpected gift
I wept
as I received
her tenderness.
Wondrous surprise
thinking yourself
liked
then
finding yourself
loved
with deep true affection.
Is there anything like it in all the world?
An infusion of life force.
She gave out her love energy
and I took it into my heart
received it fully
embraced her energy
embraced her.

I wept again this afternoon.
For another girlfriend
as she shared
of the cold and lonely
standoff
she and her husband
are frozen in, stuck in
like cold sticky mud
engulfing a wagon wheel
leaving love stranded.

I wept for her
not that I willed it
or tried to
but I let the tears come
as they wanted.
Releasing
this flood of sympathy
and urgent desire
that God would anoint my tears
use them
to wash away the mud
holding her and her man captive
make them
unstuck
freed up
to love one another again.

I wept because holding it back
would be painful.
I wept and prayed
until God let me know
I was done.

Then
buoyed up
by the peace
that only comes
from letting the life force inside you
come out
toward the one you're giving your love to
I felt my heart
voluptous
beautiful
exquisitely alive
dancing
with calm self-possession.
As though
I could feel
the heartbeats
within me
thrumming
like a far off drum:
give-take-give-take-give-take-give-take

This is the rhythm of life.
The wordless tune
that love sings
in our heart
in our blood.

I thought of my husband
grateful for him
recalling
all the sticky mud
God washed off us
freed us from.

I realized the rhythm of life
is Eros
pulsing life force
of the heart
give-take-give-take-give-take-give-take

I saw the metaphor
how intercourse
embodies this rhythm.
and I wanted him.
Inside me.
Now.

Talk back radio

Sometimes I hear a song and I find myself "talking back" composing a reply on-the-fly.
This is one of those times.
The song is Love Cocoon by Vigilantes of Love off their Slow Dark Train album. Heard about the song in the book To Become One. (great book, but that's another article)

Honey, I wanna attack your flesh, with glad abandon
I wanna look for your fruits, I wanna put my hands on 'em
I wanna pump your thermostat, beneath your skin
I wanna uncover your swimming hole and dive right in

Attack away darlin!
you'll find my flesh easy to convince
my fruits tremble with delight at the thought of being sought
touch me now!
I can feel my heat rising, sweat trickling
pump away!
my swimming hole our refreshment and delight
drink up baby!

Care-less Contralto (the stage becomes a playground)

I sing for the sensation of notes reverberating in my throat.

I sing for the balance of my feet securely beneath me.

I sing for the joy of hearing the aural beauty I'm creating on-the-fly.

I sing to soak in the pleasure of the Spirit's spotlight enfolding me like a velvet mist.

I sing for the comforting integrity of singing notes that are true.

and if others in the audience enjoy my song, I savor our collective experience of being human.

If a tree falls in the woods
and no one is around
do the sound waves translate into noise without the waves hitting an eardrum?
No. Not really.
But by giving us lungs for breath
nasal cavities for tone
larynx lips and tongue for vocalization
eardrums to translate our vocal waves into notes
God created in us the complete package
capable of generating and hearing vocal sound
and experiencing pleasure in both the singing and the hearing.

Each duet is really two solos.
No one can push breath of my larynx but me.
But tandem solos are fun!

Mezzo-Soprano (the Diva's goin' down)

I skip to the stage of a packed house
Jesus Christ, son of David, have mercy on me
I sing my delight to an audience of one
Jesus Christ, son of David, have mercy on me
Opening night of splendor and glory
Jesus Christ, son of David, have mercy on me
Beaming out light with playful delight
Jesus Christ, son of David, have mercy on me
Breath of great joy-a shimmering high note
Jesus Christ, son of David, have mercy on me
When I hit my high note the audience walks out
Jesus Christ, son of David, have mercy on me
Note dies in my throat-packed house becomes empty
just. like. that.
But humming in the kitchen is okay.

We're Busy

storms throw tantrums all around us
sharp rain slaps our faces blends tears
already there
no peace
elusive comfort a bird that can't be caught
we stagger into love
a grass hut made of blended bodies
warm palm cradles my head
soothes me like a child
other hand delights my breast
awakens adores
distracting pleasure
makes rain possible to ignore
pleasure fills my senses
tells pain to wait in line
we're busy.