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Archived Poems


January 2000
(Copyright Estate of Judy Willingtion)

The Jungle of Memory-Entangled Vines

You leave a legacy of love among
the now poignant trappings of your lives,
the shrubs and the furniture,
the paintings and the garden things.

Words spoken to and about you over the years
resound as counterpoint
to the officer's announcement of the accident.

A stillness arises, as if from your bones--
wherever they may be--on their shattered way
to eternity, draped in rags of what you had been wearing.

Since then, the calm has come and gone,
come and gone. It is what I anticipate
day after mendicant day, and it follows
the crash into my heart, my bittersweet voicing of your names.

In this jungle of memory-entangled vines,
in response to my call,
in lieu of the stillness, yesterday
you reached me by telephone,
a wrong number.
Darling, it said, this is Mother.
And her husband added his hello,
as Dad used to.
**********
Some of these poems will be published in the next year or so under the title "Elegy." John Briggs is handling this, and anyone who would like further information may write to John at jbriggs9@comcast.net

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i do not see [5/26/04]

i have seen many things
breathtaking
gut wrenching
puzzling
but this i do not see

a grounding
of peacefulness
a calmness
a confidence
a reassurance
in the gut
in the heart
of the mind

                        Sammy

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Lama’s words [5/20/04]

Give a little water
Keep in a cool place
Not cold
In a quiet place

Protect
Care
Give a little food
And a blessing
From a lama

Let them hear
The drums and horns
The lama’s words

Do your best
Then let go.

This is how to take care of a wounded animal.

                             S.

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My teacher is in Nepal 11/2003

Beloved
i missed you so much this year
perhaps my heart
has doubled it's size
and still i rage against the innocents.
dear one
must my heart grow
until it explodes
i die
and am reborn to this misery?
Tara, please help me now!

                                  S.line

Dearest Lama (Yeshe Ling 2002)

i love you to my death
(which is eminent)
for your few vulnerabilities
(that i have noticed)
i fear you
for your clarity
cutting like a shard knife
that hurts

my precious Lama
thank you
for the practice
for the path to freedom
for the foot steps
for the mirror
that hurts to look into

may i never disappoint you!
(but, i do every day)
may all beings benefit
and experience compassion
like yours
Om Tare!
                                 S.

BIG RED HAT (looked good on him)
Ati Ling 6-7/02

saffron water
didn't stain
1/4 t alcohol
40 proof

who would believe
this happens
every day
every week
every year
in the minds heart?

terma
tantra
tsok
language
that trips the tongue
sounds familiar
yet gibberish
has the power
to rearrange
neuronal patterns
settles the heart
slows the mouth
but, the mind races

mantras for every being
multitude of prayers
in a short lifetime.
                               Sammy

7/21/02

i am not a tulku now
once i was a dancer
chams for a tulku child
once i was a nun
drowned in fear and pain
once i knew my Rinpoche
standing in the middle
of a river
once i found a terma
a minature puzzle chair
hidden in a small cave
once i was innocent
but my karma found me.
                               S.

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3/31/02 Attachments

this wonderful place
in time
Yeshe Ling
the turkey
laughing
on the next hill
gnarled red tree
a view around every corner
circumabulating
a squashed lizard
on the road
buzzards and hawks
circling together
on the up drafts
i feel so sorry
for myself
having to leave
my Buddha companions
warm hearted
good-byes.
                               S.

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Sometime 2001

a bird full sky
a cacaphoney of little voices
a marvel of numbers
a longing to participate
a flight of heart.


i know you
light of my life
light of my death
so much lost time
such hard work
yet to do
my shadows hide the light
embrace me
forever
Compassionate One.
                            S.

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Buddhist Visuals #1 or i know what fear and anger looks like.

a whirlpool
not the calm blue of death by drowning
but red, yellow, viseral lightening
churning deeper, deeper
fears do not want to look there.

in the vortex of gore & salvation
lama dearest
pulls the blessing cord
caught, choking
no, no, no
let go, let go

but the eddies
rock the body
waves of tears
unending
life by drowning.
                       S.

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If you would like to share your Buddhist poems, please contact us.

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1/27/03

Birds fly
Through
Open spaces
In my heart....
            Chodie

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10/9/02

Crystal spaciousness
Light radiates
All directions...
             C.

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10/9/02

Mind drops away
Essence
Revealed.
             C.

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12/29/00

Autumn

I melt into the leaves
and dissolve
With unborn poems....
             C.

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3/30/99

Space
Between
Thoughts...

Mountain
Seed
Planted
             C.

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3/31/99

Between textures
Poetry
Writes the wind...
             Chodie

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8/1/99

Words
Spin
Around my pen....
             C.

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8/3/98

Fish
Sparkle
Lakes....
             C.

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