Paris in Song - “Paris – Picture Perfect”

Paris in Song - “Paris – Picture Perfect”

A Poem for Easter

Holy Week
By E.E. Green

I still see ashes on foreheads
Long after Lent.
In my mind
I see the Eucharist
Transform into a swirling galaxy.
So many stars are forming thoughts
Of infinite time & space -
Their just there
Without explanation

Like trees that bud on a warm day after winter winds.

Easter morning
Café au lait
Fred Astaire & Judy Garland
A walk to the campus chapel
A magnolia vestibule.

Distracted voices
Children worming about
In and out of pews.
A nervous cough
High heels from the
Night before draw
Attention on the granite steps.

I’m drawn away
From the center
But the magnet
Of choral chanting
Brings me back

On track
A trajectory of unknowing
Propels me toward

A life of tomb like somber
And bright energy

Of darkness
& light
Sharing space in this one body.

Eggs Benedict on Easter Sunday.

My new friend Sylvia

I met Sylvia at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on the Brooklyn Bridge. This is my second year walking in solidarity with women all over the world on March 8th across one of the most famous bridges. Women For Women.org sponsors this event. I am a sponsor for a young woman in the Congo who has 8 children and struggles to feed them. WFWI doesn't just give money but helps the women establish a livelihood.

Back to Sylvia who is from Korea, I met randomly walking across the bridge.. We just started talking and it was simpatico. We seemed like old friends and the conversation was never awkward. She since has gone back to her country and we stay in touch. My heart goes out to Asia since the terrible earthquake & tsunami in Japan. There is something reassuring in making new friends. I have a lot of love to give and very few who seem open to receive it. That's why I was so happy to meet such a kind person like Sylvia. She reminds me that goodness still exists in people. I look forward to this friendship that is based on mutual interest and cultural exchange.

La Vie deluxe

La Vie deluxe



                By EE Green



My life begins

When I have

No axe to grind.

No thoughts to

Beat me down

No words to bind.

My life begins in

Segments like

Juicy citrus

Released from pith.

My life could use a lift:

A summer solstice

Or a Christmas gift.

This is my dream:

La Vie deluxe

A coddled egg

A paper to read

A string of beads

And a knowing glance

That plants the

Seeds of love.

Of all the second

Chances

My life begins

When I have

No regrets

And my heart

Just dances.

Ordinary life with extraordinary love or my weekend with Cathy

My spiritual teacher Fr. Thomas Keating says that the goal of the spiritual life is "To live ordinary life with extraordinary love." That sums up my weekend with my dear friend Cathy. She just turned 76 a couple of days ago, but she is the youngest and most energetic person I know. I always feel that when I am with her that I am on vacation. It is that unconditional love that puts me at ease even when she gets impatient at my clusmy self spilling my coffee all over her table that it is tempered by love. We have the best time doing "nothing" together. I find the whole visit very healing. There are no expectations of each other but we encourage one another to be better.

I love her dearly and I can honestly say she is the closest person to me on this planet.

From Louise Gluck

The Red Poppy

The great thing
is not having
a mind. Feelings:
oh, I have those; they
govern me. I have
a lord in heaven
called the sun, and open
for him, showing him
the fire of my own heart, fire
like his presence.
What could such glory be
if not a heart? Oh my brothers and sisters,
were you like me once, long ago,
before you were human? Did you
permit yourselves
to open once, who would never
open again? Because in truth
I am speaking now
the way you do. I speak
because I am shattered.

This is a well loved book of poetry. Louise Gluck was Poet Laureate of the USA a few years back.

Stanley Kunitz was a champion of hers. He started Poet House in Soho but they recently moved to Battery Park: http://www.poetshouse.org/. Its a reading library and a place where poets can write and research. They sponsor many events and for kids too.

Autumn is my favorite time of year. The cobwebs of heat and humidity make way for clear thinking. It is really my time for focusing on health and well being.

This is a view from my window.

Reflection is a big part of my process. It helps me to look deeper and gives time for revelation.

Happy Friday!