A Pause

At the beginning of December, I stopped writing poems. I did so to step back from a layer of ego and deepen my spiritual practice.

So far this is working for me.

I started my poem-a-day practice 12 years ago. Since then I have published over 3800 poems on my blog, and published ten books of poetry. I found the practice served to increase my perception and focus my honesty. The almost daily poems provide a chronicle of my life journey and learnings through that time. And I love writing poetry!

During this period when I am not writing, I encourage you to use the search feature of my blog to find poems of interest, or explore the chain of related poems as curated by WordPress at the bottom of each poem. As always, I love to hear from you – I receive notification when you comment on my poems, and will respond. Or you can send me email at wmulhern@gmail.com

I wish you all a beautiful unfolding of your spiritual journey, and a growing love for the nature that accompanies us and the people that deepen us –

with love,
Wendy Mulhern

Woven

We, too, are woven
into the tapestry of sky,
of trees, of clouds and oceans

Our being can’t fall off
or fall away, or fail
to fill its place of purpose and fruition

So I serenely settle,
supremely integrated
into the warp and weft, my glory
planned from the very outset  –
what I am, and all my destiny,
securely worked
and safe within the whole.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 30, 2023

Manifest

A day can break forth
from the crust of the other ones,
can boldly stride with progress,
unfurl its possibilities,
attain fruition

I can have this reminder
that what is manifest,
while never my invention,
still matches, intimately,
my fruits to my desire

And like today,
each day can open up –
create the field
for what will multiply tomorrow

We’re here to manifest,
and that is what we’ll do,
today, each day,
beyond the end of time.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 28, 2023

Thankless

I stumble around unthankful,
burdened by my petty pain,
growling like an injured beast

Is this how to approach
the presence of all being?
is this how to esteem
omnipresent Truth?

But Truth needs no approach  –
indeed,  there is no operating
outside its realm

My only agency is Love.
Does Love have pain?
My only consciousness is Mind.
Is Mind in disarray?

Quiet, then. Go to bed.
Let your peace return.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 27, 2023

Unweighted

After the whirlwind engagement,
the kiss of possibility,
we wait to settle down –
we float in that unweighted space
achieved through swift
acceleration and release  –
a practice place for astronauts
and anyone who needs to feel no gravity  –
anyone who needs
to learn a realignment
independent of the forces
of other fervent orbits

Anyone who yearns to move
in concert with the whole,
recenter to the source
that tunes us all.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 25, 2023

Back to safety

I walk myself back from the edge
(or tell myself to)
before I throw my hopes down
on something that could never hold them,
before constructing a set of cautions
which themselves are anyway
already over the edge

I put myself back
(or remind myself to dwell)
where light falls lightly as light
upon my scenes,
illustrating and establishing
what is real

So I avoid a heavy handed projection,
avoid an expectation,
avoid interpretation
of what simply is –
the evidence of present care
and nothing less,
the everpresent touch
of tenderness.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 24, 2023

Smallest things

So much to give thanks for,
silently expressed, as in
the glow of moonlight, and its shadow,
across the porch,
the mute shining of the fields beyond

I can’t even list all the good things  –
this gratitude
is for the presence
that lies along perception,
sudden significance
of every smallest thing,
the Love that wraps them,
regardless of their form,
in their own incomparable truth.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 23, 2023

Gentleness and laughter

I’ll take gentleness –
it’s better than offense.
It gives a landing place
where anything that’s beastly
can snuff and settle,
turn around three times
and fall asleep, maybe even feeling
gratitude for being let down softly

I’ll take laughter – it ripples over
anything that otherwise might snag.
It turns a snarl into a song,
lets us feel happy,
lets us be together
as day glides into evening,
easy forgiveness replenishing affection.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 21, 2023

Irrepressible

Look inside to find
the things that can’t be crushed
even under pressure  –
they will keep you safe

They emanate infinity  –
they joyfully spring forth,
and nothing can compress,
repress, depress them

They sing like streams through rock,
sing of their source,
which is their substance,
which is what everything is made of –
you, too – yes you,
and all your life
and everyone you love.

©Wendy Mulhern
November 19, 2023