HOW CAN WE BE AT PEACE?
How can we be at peace when
spirit’s doors are locked against it?
Locked and bolted ‘gainst
we know not what for the
unknowing makes us fearful still.
Fearful of whatever lies beyond
paltry presumption of control
beyond concentrated consciousness
that knows so little
understanding even less.
Fearfulness that lies in wait
albeit quite against its will
for frequent fear is nonetheless
predictable and anxious huddling
in its womb is still more
to be desired than any sort
of openness to expectation’s
swaddling cloths of vulnerability.
How senseful that our fear
that chronic lodger
continues welcome with its stale
foul breath and stained attire
when we the landlords
with our legalese
could if we dared
advertise our “rooms to let”
and interview new prospects
always with the veto power
tightly clutched within our ring of keys.
Ann Glover O’Dell 19 April 2004
NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES
‘Not as the world gives’
is your peace you said
yet we would be
content just now with
what the world defines
since such unpeacefulness abounds
we cannot entertain the notion
of a state within
when all about us
life’s demise looms large.
Power plays take center stage
and those rehearsing roles
soon star in great performances
surprising e’en themselves
with prowess and precision patterning.
Oh greed where is thy pain
which piercing self to inner well
of generosity so makes our
substance sharing
more to be desired
than much fine gold?
Where is the understanding
of that peace not understood
by mortal minds but mandates
light’s deep penetration of the
soul’s storehouse of truth?
Is there a spirit energy
encased within your peace
propelling us
to show the world the way?
Ann Glover O’Dell 20 June 2004
BLESS AGAIN!
Oh, One, who once in time blessed
world with your creation
who promised greater blessing
to begotten and beloved
who blessed with beckoning finger
a journey from the known into adventure
who blessed with ripe womb fruit
the barren and despairing
then tested trust by bid progenicide
who staged new blessing by surprise deception
dishonor and a wrestling match
who blessed by rank denial the boons requested
and blessed again with secret benediction
the ones you named your one and only ones.
Oh, One, come bless again!
o’erturn the graves of hatred
revive still births of spirit
spill out the coffers’ gold.
A Jubilee we seek, we need
where all now cleansed and shining
is ready for the new creation song.
Ann Glover O’Dell 4 June 2002
Ann Glover O'Dell 