I.C.U. Pond

Waking Life, Shaking Hope, Being Peace

It's morning again and

Because I managed 

To get out of bed

And to coffee and

Mirror and door,

I know what it takes

To do just this: face place, 

And image and leaving 

And not go under ideation 

Waters before covers are 

Even thrown back or 

Valley of the Dolls fantasies, 

Meandering mind confined 

To dark loops it knows 

But struggles to interrupt 

And to trust enough again 

For a few hours more, 

To believe again

For just a little while.



Birdsong can help or

A frog chorus, the color 

And grace of the koi,

Present, awake, alive,

Aware, I am peace 

Watching peace here, 

After all: rising, falling,

Catching ourselves 

From falling, often, as

Laurie Anderson said,

“At the same time…”



But, we are not alone, 

There are Others, like 

Me, who see, who know 

The falling and catching 

And grace it takes to make 

It again to morning and coffee 

And leaving without feeling 

Left again right from the start.



Living water is living water 

In its sharing, so sit here, 

Lay your thoughts there 

On a warm rock while we

Listen in wonder together 

For acknowledging stoic

Frog or splash of fin, 

Welcoming the curious 

Chipmunk and squirrels,

As they approach tentatively,

Critters and kin, breathing 

Easier together, remembering

Ourselves one worth love.

-pdk 

As we share in the wonder of growing in love, Preetam Das