I See Myself

A Poem

I see myself in the trees
in the wind
in birdsong

In the eyes of the one before me
in every human being
in their stories

In the chaos of this city
the stillness of these boulders
the darkness inside a saguaro
the hiss of these mountains

In the grief everyone carries
in the ecstasy everyone carries

In those who are lonely
in those who belong

In those so occupied
in those who have time
to feel what is
plainly, unadulterated

To do nothing
To be no one

Really, if I can be real with you
there are times

I wish I were the trees,
the wind,
the birdsong,
the one before me,
every human being,
their stories,
this city,
these boulders,
these mountains,
the grief,
the ecstasy

Not all at once
but one at a time

So I could see me
and you
from a wholly different lens
a lens that holds everything
that sees all
without judgment, without separation

See, the thing about my perspective
is that it uniquely stems from my sight
and I love my sight

But it’s true, and worth remembering
that every being and every thing
has its own
beautiful, singular perspective

And there are times I want those
just for a moment

To see me through your eyes
to see you and me
through the eyes of birdsong
through the eyes of saguaros
through the quiet, patient gaze
that sees all
that holds all

Perhaps one day,
when this chapter is over

We will all be able to see
through the lens of the all seeing eye
everything, all at once,
every sorrow, every joy, every breath

As a gift, as a truth

Come with me, beloved

Come look at me,
and let me look at you

Let us see each other,
through each other’s eyes,
through that patient gaze,
that knows no separation

Lay your heavy, naked, wild body
down on the earth
where there is nothing to be
nowhere to go
no one to impress

There is
only a sweet pause

There
you see yourself
through the eyes of all things,
through the eyes
of the all seeing eye

Love Atara

I hope you get to slow down today, and breathe some fresh air. Even opening a window or the front door can change the whole room.