Heart of Christ

[richard meyers]

That beats in every breath
That is not always known to me
That broken sign by the road
That knows what it is to mourn
That song of the human
That hope of the poor
That wakes ragged and tired
That drinks cheap wine and is sick
That laughs derisary and glib
at anothers error of judgement
That burns with envy
That looks with lust
That longs to be worthy
of his calling
That knows and stands beside each
wounded broken being
That bleeds upon the cross
That love ever lasting.

Human being -
That meets the world
Fully present in the dandelion seed
The moth the wind chime
The cat slain mouse
The sad girl who was angry
Present to each of us -
When we meet ourselves with gratitude
When we are less than we can be
When we meet others with love
Present to my mother
in her last moments
Present to my father
Present to my brother
Present to my friend Ron D -
Homeless addicted and
alone in his final hours.

Christ...
That rests enclosed in the seed
Locked in sinew and bone
Forever held grasped
Nearer than breath

The path to Emmaus
We each have to walk
Uncertain of arrival
Jesters bells and
Scallop shells and staff
Out in the night -
A fox glances skyward
From my bed I hear them
Geese in flight overhead.

[Ben Ross]

This poem moves me so much. I get a strong feeling for the broken-heartedness you've written about before, how it opens into the surprising grace of "geese in flight overhead." I appreciate how you name so many of the faults and wounds that people carry, yet remain assured that Christ is "nearer than breath." Thank you for this beautiful poem!

In peace, love, and faith,
Ben

[Dharmavidya]

Changers

With a whip he bid them flee,
cleaned the house where his father lay,
sent them tumbling from the day
into a night they could not see.

With a touch he bid them rise,
take up the pallet and the cross,
counting neither gain nor loss,
he gathered those that all despise.

With a word he clove the land,
put light of love in pauper's bowls,
pulled forth the treasure of their souls
with gifts that none could understand.

With drops of blood he made a mark,
indelible to ages now,
as clear as an orgiginal vow,
above the flood, beyond the dark.

With hands and feet we follow him
into the promised land of bliss
where even we, the most remiss,
discern the light to be less dim.

With anguish and with sympathy,
we are the lenders in the yard,
though it is we that should be tarred,
do we still seek his clemency?

[richard meyers]

Love Poem:

Buddha or Christ hearted -
As Bombu Anawim we
Are recieved despite doubting

Deer Park or Gethsemene
Sukhavati or Kingdom of Heaven
Infinite Light or Living Water

Like minnows we are caught
Within Indra's net
Held by Amida's Vow
Carried like babes
Across the Dead Sea
To the other shore

And all the while we slept
Ignoring the gift that had
Never ceased to be ours

Fountain-head a spring jet
of water cool and clean of taste
Quenching our thirst.