Sun Day

Sunshine

drives away clouds

spring is round the corner

late winter is the place to be

present

Even the hope of something

betrays attachment hankering after 

other than the reality

face it

change the only constant

life is a film not a set of postcards

flicked through

stored in an album labelled

fragment 

fiction 

fantasy

this one precarious moment

is all there is

there is only now.

Hankering After

Holocaust Memorial Day 2018

On this day

remember us
the little ones
whose bright light
barely clung to us

remember us
the old ones
whose memory
dimmed still clings to us

in thick darkness
black grass
barbed wired hostility
everything lost it’s meaning

how we bore it
only the few knew
silently whispering
into the mirror

on this day
gather fragments
share stories
tear up rules
be astonished
re-member us

Freedom

Some days
are different
things are not done the same
proclaiming the life of the free
simply.

Remain in reality
in order to be free
suffering attaches itself to fantasy
there is always another way
always a way out
bars and walls
are made by minds
out of control
running amok
overwhelming
sea threatening to engulf waves
forgetting water is its original face
so to with me.

Present

Park

Golden

morning blue sky

proclaiming the new day

offering wonderful moments

slowly

That’s the way

take it easy and see what happens

glory be to…

thanks be to…

what to do when nothing to thank

who…

what…

just the in breath

and the out breath

controlling the mind

living in reality

trying at least

like Lazarus

in the tomb

perhaps half

hoping.

Progress Report

thought
if I rush around
could drive to morning
prayer
then communion
breakfast
books
paper home

thought
if I walked fast I might get to morning
prayer
then communion
breakfast
books
paper home

thought
if I rush around
could catch a bus
get to communion
breakfast
books
paper home

jumped into the river
flowed with the bus
to late for communion
whatever about morning
prayer
books

managed
breakfast
bought a book
paper home
then lit a fire and read all day

Morning Prayer

seeing
nature of mind
hive undisturbed
thinking comes with a stick
threatening to disturb the peace
enough

Sometimes it's like that
three at a time
bees
lakes of glass
dust free mirrors
gathering in the heart-space
swelling generously
in order
to accommodate them.

Other times
ten thousand seeds
germinate
enthusiastically regenerating
when cut down
the hydra never sleeps
the only way out
breathing
which is forgotten.

Making
the most of it
in between the showers
sunshine bestows vitamin D
freely

Byzantine Binding

Here are a few images of a book I recently completed for a friend.

Presentation Bag (Calico)

Book and Calico Presentation Bag

Endband

Endband (2)

Fastening

Fastening Close-up

Text

Paste Endpapers

Back

Fastenings Close-up (Back)

Credo

I am breathed
inconspicuously
believing in
the chaotic
patterns
constant change
the very water in which I swim
unaware of the complex
interrelatedness
until web threads
bruised hooked
taken by lack
of vigilance
then
singing plaintiff notes
yearning for the spring time
back home
seeing clearly
praying the minimalist prayer

Walking

smiling

gathering words

long forgotten songbirds

Christmastide is nearly over

freely

Epiphany

Late winter early morning
alomost forgotten songbirds
pink early springtime notes
into what remains of winter
breathing life into the new day
there is much to be thankful for
awkwardly I bless myself
in case someone is looking
passing angels perhaps
on their way to Sodom
in someone’s fearful dream.