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all else is absence.

there is only
all of you and

all of your wisdom.
it is one of the sweetest

songs---your leaves
through the wind;

the song of the reed flute
that makes its audience

abstain from hearing "noise".
this song, if sung, would be an insult.

:::

one will never experience heartbreak

if one disqualifies one's ego

and accepts the bravery or weakness

of the other---at the discovery

the one you love will go, again, in search

of a love more suited to his or her liking;

the promise of marriage

does not permit one to encapsulate

the freedom of his or her partner;

love must always remain free.

:::

the adult squishes the spider.

the three-year-old child squats down
and looks at the spider.

who is more curious?

of the two,
who is closer to joy?

:::

the grip of Your hand

on the steering wheel

tells me You fear being driven

off the road.

i unlatch one hand

from the Arch of Control and hold it.

i say to You then,

i'm afraid too.

but there's nothing to be afraid of.

there's nothing to be afraid of.

:::

when we burn ourselves in the fire,

we pull back reflexively
and walk far from it.

when others burn themselves in the fire,

we run forward reflexively
and become the flame itself.

     empathy
     knows of the pain.

     compassion
     carries one out from the smoke
     and clear to safety because of the pain.