At this time, with war and destruction around the globe and innocent human beings dying pointlessly, what can I do? The best thing I can do for my and your sanity, is to focus on gratitude and what brings us joy, our common humanity and the consciousness in everyone and everything. No excuses this is about the spirit!
Hearing her voice
Feeling her devotion
expanding her spirit
cementing her connection
to the Gods within and without
Drawing me too
into the space
where divinity waits
for us to join with the supreme,
the consciousness
in every particle
in inanimate objects
in animate beings.
To realize that Parashiva is in us
and everything else too.
The Play of consciousness
Even an idea
even those incessant thoughts
all is Parashiva
playing around in the mind.
Waiting for us to settle down
to find the quiet spaciousness
of the cosmic silence.
Inviting us to be rooted
in that spreading banyan tree
and sparkling in the milky way.
To be the rising sun
and the silver moon
to be the burrowing tortoise,
the silent hunting owl,
the harlequin dragonfly
the queen bee
The world around us
so completely perfect,
all is the one
connecting, throbbing
playing, moving
eating, sleeping
breathing, hearts beating
in unison together
the perfect play of consciousness.
Places of pilgrimage
Places of pilgrimage
Draw the pilgrims
forward into the past
with hesitation and self-doubt
stepping carefully
along the rough path.
Slippery moss covered stones
down hills into the valleys
up again to see the mist
rising in cloudy waves
above the tumbling river.
This is the river of life
unfolding before us
leading us to the source
to the ocean of Love
that we pilgrims are seeking,
not knowing, but hoping
that this is the path
carrying us there.
THE FLY
The tiny black fly lands
moving up the page to my hands
maybe it feels warmth and heat.
what is your place in the world?
I will not be the one
to end your life,
I know you too are precious
even if precocious,
fly away, live in peace.
BIRD WAKAS
They leap and dance
suspended in mid-air
Joyful, colorful
floating down to soft landings
leaving us watchers smiling
and grateful.
Sharp eyes, wet feet
wading egrets, herons
stir water then strike
Anhingas dive and spear
Ospreys swoop and grab
Chicks wait with open beaks
Parents arrive just in time
quiet and satisfied now.
fish delivered, no chips
and no complaints.
SYMBIOSIS
I am amazed and dazzled
at natures variety
of shapes, patterns and colors,
shades of the rainbow
perfectly symmetrical petals
complex ways to reproduce
stamen, anther, pistil
stigma and ovary.
Bees, wasps and beetles
flying deep inside
leaving loaded with pollen
playing their part
keeping our world
full of beauty and wonder.
I love dragon flies,
lethal aerial artists
blue, red, green and gold.
Squadrons hovering
ready to strike
catching those biting midges,
and blood sucking mosquitoes.
FINDING JOY
In a moment
In a breath
Everything changes
New shapes appear
Patterns emerge
Joy is waiting
Following the breath inside to the stillness and peace
away from the constant chatter of pundits and news
inside to the only truth I know for certain
here the column of golden light rises up
connecting the celestial spheres
where the spirits and gods look down
on the play of humanity’s goodness and evil
seeing compassion and hatred
making the choice now
I will stay in my cocoon, my connection
to my guru, my Shiva
Renewed snd reset into the beauty and joy
that is always waiting there
bringing me home again.
©MartinStrasmore2026
