A bittersweet music, the poignancy of ancient recognition,
now washes over me — I feel the whole world, its history,
its hurting, its aspiration, its inevitable transparency.
Without exception, all are included in this ceremony.
Here around the campfire it’s grown late, and softened
by love’s wine, we huddle together, sighing between silences.
If we inhabited any other world, it would still be the same.
Once set in motion, the original desire will have its way.
If any imagine that they are merely casual tourists,
that they are only here to observe — please, Dears,
don’t fool yourselves — that play of pretense is over,
your secret name’s emblazoned in the waiting tinder.
I see your face in the fire. It resolves into my own face.
I enliven numberless forms, I am the subtle knowingness
in every being — feeling being, fire being, ghost beings
who forget their true names, scheming, wanting more.
All are vanishing now — cooing child, doting parent,
lovers in their embrace, believer and doubter, old
and young, the mad ones, the sad ones — all
are fading fast in the fire. Let them go!
Let’s join the chorus of souls who go gladly sane
through this remembrance/release, our gaze falling
freely into the blaze without hope or regret. Searching
each other’s eyes then would be a mere redundancy.
Let’s be the ones whose happy tears spawn fresh worlds,
new rhapsodies of heart music, merge the transcendental
with the imminent, make the vastness break out smiling,
toss another log onto the fire, sit back, and disappear.
Feeling To Infinity 