Author: the peripheral poet

for the lessons learned
for the moments of doubt
for this gentle grace that wraps my heart
for that fear that rips at me from the inside out

for my family, and the people in my life that continue to trust me
for the voices that have guided me on my journey
for the signs that keep me present
for the knowledge that provides humility
Continue reading “Gratitude – from “Zen and My Friends””

This pandora’s box, upon me and us.
Mind me, debating me, my apologies.
My own insecurity, tasting me, touching me.
Mining these mountains.
I worry we’ve come too far.
That there’s not much left for our children,
for those that are to come after us.
A treasure trove of cryptic texts I’ve left in my wake.
Like a floating cannonball.
Invaluable lessons laid out along the way.
I pray there’s time to learn from our mistakes.
Continue reading ““Eskimo Thirty-Three (Meditate)” – from “Zen and My Friends””

I’m no Jesus.
Melting into you, one million little pieces at a time.
Told me your secrets, and I shared mine.
The burden of your plane is upon us both now.
And in these sacred seconds, there is no alibi.
A new reality crashes down on me.
Falling apart, time and again.
And these lessons learned stay pure.
While I struggle to stay true.
Hands shake, and we wrestle.
The mind peers…
A cleansed spirit abounds.
I did not start this, but I’m gonna stand up throughout.
I guess, at some point in time, I may have to say, “I’m only human”.

From this safe place, I sit, in search of another,
that doesn’t tug so hard on my heart.
I’m not from this world am I?
You all close in on me, and I’m sure that that’s true.
Tricky how things play out.
This shadow boxing.
The endless play.
Splitting hairs now.
This game, through me, all this time.
Continue reading “This Safe Place – from “Zen and My Friends””

Trying to distinguish between friends and foe.
Trying to be here now, for you.
It’s as hard as they say.
And not for the faint of heart.
This thud in my chest, a constant reminder.
These awkward moments of awakening.
Encountering things, I cannot yet explain.
Continue reading “In Dreams – from “Zen and My Friends””

Where is GOD in all of this?
I sit here, in this lonely despair.
Searching for answers to these age-old questions.
I’ve been blessed with my own “dark night of the soul”.
But will this “night” ever end?
This constant battle between my shadow and me.
Oh, how we’ve gotten to know each other lately.
And in these moments, it’s painfully unclear.
Am I doing okay?
Am I doing the work?
Have I learned from my mistakes?
Am I strong enough?
Have these discoveries changed me?
Will I be okay in the end?
I’m surely pushing the limits of this time and space.
And discovering my motivation at every turn.
Isolated, but focused.
Scared to death, yet I’ve never felt so alive.