Beauty

Every beauty which is seen here below by persons of perception resembles more than anything else that celestial source from which we all come.
~ Michelangelo

angel cloud photo, by Kate Lamberg~

letting ego fade, as we are being love

As you dissolve into love, your ego fades. You're not thinking about loving; you're just being love, radiating like the sun.
— Ram Dass

like your favorite old blue jeans
let that big tattered ego fade
into the ethers--for another eternity

sun creeps meekly over your morning coffee
will you choose to let your judgements rule--
your relationships are running

out of juice--needing a pump
of oxygen rich blood based love
the red stuff you and i are made up of

what rules outdoor animals huddling
do they question who is giving more heat
do they judge who has had less to eat

surround your self with the love
you know, like the stars and moon
you are composed mostly of

watery moon essence
awe of fire, air's sweeping inspiration
earth that supports us all, when tides
rise, and we run for common ground

the mountains meander home
as hearts who realize soul in common
stones skipped, flat rocks laid out in spirals
allowing the meager steps necessary

unleash the mind who thinks it knows
to allow a greater gust of cleansing breath
letting the love rule--a lighthouse--guiding

ourselves and all who hover near to know
it's the love and only the love- that will restore
that will-- from the inside out be ours, to glow

Kate Lamberg
11/27/12

almost full moon, thanksgiving, '12~ photo by Kate Lamberg

sky at dawn (an etheree)

sky
at dawn
brings us in
to the softness
keeping the stillness
quieting the mad mind
bubbles on the ocean-still
rejoicing in this blessed day
communing as one soul singing hymns
to grace the planet with brightest blessings

Kate Lamberg

healing from within

But do not ask me where I am going,

As I travel in this limitless world,
Where every step I take is my home.
 ~Dogen

home heals from within
wherever we walk is home
no need to prove now

butterfly steps soar
us off ground, while wolf spirit
brings us down to earth

cougar medicine
keeps us on track, unswerving
balanced adagio

mindful yellow finch
allows the quick changes to
move through soul body

moon ripens as frost
coats grass fronds at night- freezes
feet temporarily

we wake with warm toes
walk with joy to light puja
our purposeful life

Kate Lamberg

thanksgiving tanka

foggy grey blue sky
kept body sleeping longer
rise and be grateful
lessons are spun through gull's wings
sitting with head in the sky

Kate Lamberg
11/22/12

leaves in the stream

shadows of trees-- leaves
dance in the stream & linger
wind sweeps leaves down stream

attitude is everything

Your living is determined, not so much by what life brings to you, as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you, as by the way your mind looks at what happens.
 ~Kahlil Gibran

kind trees at the pond
often reflect their  beauty
not trying to shine

Kate Lamberg

our bright roofless home

The words you speak become the house you live in."
 ~Hafiz


our bright roofless home
with round openings- no walls
to keep away love

the light, shining down
upon our crowns-wakes
the truth on contact

pearlized floors echo
all the love we can muster
our joy, musky rose

sun pours by day, dark
falls by night--we dream in soft
pastels-braided truth

birds fly within this home
skylight spinning, living truth
stars blessing our love


Kate Lamberg
10/14/12

slicing the tops of the earth

slicing the tops of the earth
removing the touches of green,
cutting the rocks, stones, shoveling
the grey gravel making whooshing sounds
clearing the ground for a new way to see

we peer into the ways we have been boldly
selfish--serving our own mouths & tummies
without seeing our neighbors-- hungry without
winter garments--in the midst of changing cold
weather--freezing bones & flesh- without

either wisdom or ability to seek a solution
flexibility changes to stiff ropes left
out in the howling cold wind
no more even trying
rope--snaps

it's all over
this prayer perhaps will alter
the spiraling screw---down, down
into the bowels of the hard earth
the tiny shred of hope we hang on

a soft strain of a piano melody
the sight of sea gulls on green grass
in november,  when things are decomposing
a tiny sprout beneath a flat rock in the garden
just a few kind words from a friend

we stroll out into the cold grey morning
holding the kindnesses like a baby
careful not to drop--or lose our faith within
this onward and upward ascension--this cleaving
to our being selfless--kindness rocks,  not leaving

Kate Lamberg
11/19/12

katya's rock garden~photo by Kate Lamberg

Happy to be Blogging More

After three full years of posting poems, photos, connecting with, and making almost 1500 "virtual friends" on facebook, I have decided to take a break. A very long break. I have enjoyed meeting many friends, who have inspired me with their art work, poetry, and shared letters. I have even met several friends in "real life", and am grateful for the friendships formed off of the screen.

During this holiday season, and amidst the tradedies both in our country, and more currently overseas, I have had to step back and take a long hard look at my own life, and to decide what is really important for me to focus my energies on. Prioritizing is not something that comes easily for me. I could be swimming in the joyous river of face booking for years to come. I now realize I've been one of the true face book addicts. And I must stop. And I have.

This is difficult for me to share here. I had to begin this essay by sharing all the good stuff I received by being there. My soul is speaking to me, and I must listen. My gifts of teaching, writing, composing,  inspiring, facilitating healing (massage, reiki, yoga)  are real. This is the time for me to utilize my gifts--harnessing my strengths and moving forward with them--both professionally and in all aspects of my life.

Presently I am seeking a publisher who would love my poetry enough..to publish my first book of poetry. I have  amassed in the last three years over 1000 poems--writing and posting a poem a day! Self-publishing is another possibility, I am also seriously contemplating.
Also, I have plans for implementing and expanding my natural healing practice, in the coming year, 2013. Stay posted for that!

This is the first in a series of sharing what is new with me. I will also be posting poems and photos, like I used to do regularly on face book. You may sign up to follow me, and then you are welcome to leave comments. I am just happy your are reading my words now. Feeling so much  joy in writing has got to be the writer's motivation. Every now and then, we like to know someone noticed!

During this holiday season...Be extra kind and considerate to each other. Count your blessings, for there are many. I am most grateful for my loving family, friends and the power and beauty of nature every day.

Joyous Thanksgiving Everyone!

Bright blessings, and Much Love,
Kate xx

like seltzer after popcorn

on my way home, driving
from the movie--i saw
so many crows
clustered on the wire

they seemed to know how much
i was feeling alone; their crackling
caw filled me with temporary joy
like seltzer after popcorn

returning to my abode
my cats greeted me with nudges
&, "where've ya been mom" faraway
glances--enough to slap guilt on my cold skin

green tea, chamber music, and darkness
setting in for the evening--why does this
evening in of itself wrap my heart in both
an edge of sadness and an inevitable joy

Kate Lamberg
11/15/12

be like water

"When you do not resist, you meet no resistance. When you refuse to play the game, your are out of it." ~Sri Nesargadatta

rushing of river
freely taking up space- time
ticks without  meaning

the pulse of water
sings ancient hymns unrehearsed
she's always in tune

drawing in peaceful
circles of light- of delight
single pointedness

while we walk or sit
energy courses upwards
from earth- gracing souls

fluidity dance
serpentine snake charms smoothly
no excess movements

to change without trying
takes the trust of the centuries
cutting wood and stacking

allowing the light
to spill through one's open crown
fragrant faith at work

purity is found
without looking anywhere
sky, sun, earth, sea- is you

Kate Lamberg
11/18/12

photo by Kate Lamberg

selfless

be melting snow,
wash yourself of yourself.
~ Rumi


two figures emerge
as snow melts, revealing this
self-less purity

~Kate Lamberg

being born in the spring

being born in the spring makes it easy
to relay my essence, every little thing
you see the sun was shining and
i could not wait to be born

into the magic of magnolias,
robins' reappearing, snows having
mostly melted--still some patches
remaining within the shadows of trees
i'd get to know intimately

you see i was born in the spring
but truly, spring was borne into me
as i always awoke early--hoping to catch
sunshine as it crept and dazzled
and climb the nearest tree

i let the spring continue- in my
fiery acculturation to swathe me
as i  tried to climb & brighten my family
and all who came to visit-- with pirouettes,
& fragments of moonlight sonata

as the fiery child who only meant
to please her audience, with the gift
of fire she wore so well was only being
her inner radiance pouring plenitude:

cream, roses, martian red hot lights
inside the fire was a still brook
stilled by outside winds,
her warrior self would begin

the moment candle light
met with the first stroke of morning
crystal animals would come alive
on her bedroom floor: turtles, doves, and horses
casting rainbows on her golden walls-

her fortress of protection

she would close her eyes and say to herself
this may be truly a dream, but if i think hard enough
all of this could be true--i could awake and fly
through canyons, my fire ball being dancing
clear across the orange sky--and make it home on time

cormorants

four cormorants sit
sharing floating log, centered
on  pond's  peacefulness

Kate Lamberg

two trees

two trees, branches wrapped
around each other- to stay
warm, and oh so loved

Kate Lamberg
11/10/12

communing

sweet farm friends commune
within an emerald green field
returning peaceful


photo and haiku by Kate Lamberg

soft and misty

soft misty reflections
breathing dreams that dance within
the darkness giving way to light

Kate Lamberg

twin pond in summer, '12

so whenever i walk around the pond and see

for edna st. vincent millay


"you were like the hummingbird to me" georgia okeefe, in a letter to edna



so whenever i walk around the pond and see
the mountain laurel in varying degrees
of living green and spring time pink
i think of you and how we'd be

such awfully good friends
you and me walking
up steepletop, and
down the other side

no flaunting, no pride
just you and me and pink
and green profusion- a suspension
stream of blood sisters swirling

feather festooned hats- meeting
for tea on the hill--chirping like birds
landing for a mouthful of muffins
and vision always on the stream

that never ends its bubbling
only resting briefly to change
ironed peter pan collars for silky lace
for times when john or james or grace

came to visit--kick off the shoes--
bare feet always go well with whatever
the outfit of the day- be it floppy hat, or parasol
held on a tilt within a summer's day 


Kate Lamberg
11/5/12 

green around the pond, in the height of heat in summer~ photo by Kate Lamberg

kindness

no act of kindness,
no matter how small,
is ever wasted.
~Aesop

prayers voiced for those
who live far away from here
still are felt deeply

photo and haiku by Kate Lamberg

twin rocks

two rocks, separated at birth
stay connected, where they meet
rooted in rocky earth

between them- an opening
where soft light pours sunshine warmth
baby blue sky birth

rocks birth gold sunshine
and nebulous blue skyline
carrying soul songs

Kate Lamberg

Mt. Baker, photo by Kate Lamberg~

northeasterly wind while listening to gregorian chants

northeasterly wind pounding upon
the windows and red brick building
cocooned with melting ice
and soft snow below windows

listening to gregorian chants-
cats spooned by my feet
a treat to feel this still-
quiet jumps in between

each rich nourishing note--making up
a melody to wear as a cape
colors of rich burgundy,
roasted chestnuts, and

concord grapes- sitting in
an urn of burnished mahogany
voices weaving between ears
a scarf of unending years--warming

skull's chilled fears in their tracks
taming terror on contact--blessing
all who weep honestly--for any weather
offers a splendid opportunity for meeting

together in prayer--in rooms created for
that purpose--or plainly finding on one's own:
every chair in the house could have been carved by a soul
full well knowing--it would be you or me

sitting upright upon it--to center and to meditate
on the throne of one's choosing--the amethyst
and chalcedony glow in the late afternoon prayers
we share in pure time and space, whittled

by our own intentions--purely penetrating
time and space with positive compositions-
preventing parallel worlds to fold,
as we all uncover spirit's

solitude emeshed
with the grace
of angels
ready
to fly


Kate Lamberg
11/8/12