our soul tries to reach

the waterwheel of thought, is it
going around now, cups empty
carrying only shadows
~Machado

our soul tries to reach
a sense of purpose
like clusters of bamboo
waving for a closer view

we fall into spring
as easily as laying down
in fields of daisies
with no motive found

no soul song is sung
no guitar is strummed
just ears perched high
odes chime from winged sky

linger like silk lingerie
against spring skin
on a sweaty hot day
we allow it in

osprey return early
nests plumped
with earthen efficiency

what is unworldly
consumes what we speak
greatness in soul's evolvement

how we wish to wing
on wing this song
still viewing flying fish
shining shortly, story spawned

Kate Lamberg
3/22/12

matching our nature with nature

"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature."
 ~Joseph Campbell

like a tennis match
we need not to get anywhere
to maintain our love

world spins her stories
as we do when dancing freely,
circling aspens

trust our beating hearts
yolked to the radiance of
the whites of our eyes

rainy day, sleeping in
as angels rest in garden
dreaming of sunshine

Kate Lamberg
3/31/12

she

she swings solitary
amidst the woodsy fresh air
grapevine twines around


Kate Lamberg
3/23/12

purple iris

purple iris stares
up into space- joining stars
holy brilliance

Kate Lamberg
3/24/12

sunset-seen while driving

sunset-  seen while driving over the high rickety bridge
on my way to meditate with orange robed monks

deep pomegranate, melon, lemon streaked sky
to punctuate  sitting still,  chanting pali

as sky darkens-- we, explore indoors,  breathing,
brightening up the street like fireflies

Kate Lamberg
3/24/12

weeping willow turns green

weeping willow
turns green
with spring;
trellised,
she weeps no more--

as electric pulse
felt underfoot;
arches trust
both fanciful heels
to pound, the wild shore

Kate Lamberg

we turned off all lights

The temple bell stops.
But the sound keeps coming
out of the flowers.
— Matsuo Bashō


we turned off all lights
but the vision of stars kept
pouring through our eyes

the metal bells ring
signaling a beginning
for meditation

in silence we sit
bell rings again, sitting ends
eyes open, wrung clean

Kate Lamberg
3/27/12

after seeing georgia o'keefe's, 'red canna' (1919)

When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it,
it's your world for that moment.
~Georgia O'Keeffe

georgia loved her red cannas-
she painted one in oils
as if she was holding it steady
with blue water running:
her world in a moment

our world whenever
we choose to gaze:
green mountains sloping
golden sky
surrounding

casaba petals
reaching to be
a conduit for yielding
to reddish brown earth
and the softest abiquiu sky

Kate Lamberg
3/29/12

sometimes

improvisation
daffodils burst into brightness
taking the short cut home

jazz licks ivories
woven through classical chords
syncopates, does shake

melodies rise high
above grey gnarled weeping beech
seen in silver cloud

sitting on the great lawn
peering down hill, river sounds
cartwheel up to meet ears

wind, plucking pine trees
settles  questioning, as rain
smoothing rough dry mind

Kate Lamberg
3/19/12

pine trees~bellingham, washington~

be my friend

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.
Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
Just walk beside me and be my friend. ♥

~ Albert Camus

awakening

Awakened, I hear the one true thing--
Black rain on the roof of Fukakusa temple
~Dogen


awakened,  i hear
the only sound to reach my heart
mourning doves cooing

arising, i feel
sunday soul kept me sleeping
past spirit sunrise

walking, i do see
sparkling light hitting every
fleur,  budding green tree

blessing all i know
and all left to know on earth
for breathing in this mirth

Kate Lamberg
3/11/12

hearted driftwood

hearts remain intact
through driftwood's prominent place
within rock garden

Kate Lamberg
2/27/12

healing with compassion

our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion.~buddha

grey feathers flapping
beneath the weeping willow
come, breathe, touch the tree

sitting in prayer
tears float down cheeks, drop to earth
mother earth receives

any honest words
shared with friends, wind, tree, earth, sky
do heal on contact

being gentle now
with ourselves, chest expands out
joining world as one

elegy heart turns...
to songs of celebration
self-respect ringing

world turns on a leaf
knowing the changing colors
are all we can count on

burnt sienna shows endings,
as pale green celandine
brings us a new spring

Kate Lamberg
3/2/12



willow dances~sag harbour, ny (fall '11)

equilibrium

Develop the mind of equilibrium. You will always be getting praise and blame, but do not let either affect the poise of the mind: follow the calmness, the absence of pride.
~Buddha

 equilibrium
sits at base of cedar tree
unraveling mind

Kate Lamberg
3/2/12