Rain, Rain

It rained today.
I wondered if
it would ever stop.
Dark clouds
fierce winds
downpours of heavy
and light rain
beset my little apartment.
I went out on my deck
to get some fresh air.
No one was astir
save the rain-slicked
maintenance man.
He was happy
to have company
as I said hello
and chatted briefly
our two souls embracing
mother nature's fury
and each other.
And then, guess what?
The rain cleared
miraculously it seemed
the sun broke through
the clouds
and warmed the day.
I went running.
The air was clear
washed clean
by the glorious rain.
Mother earth
cleansed herself
in a brief shower
while us humans
huddled waiting
for our opportunity
to be with her again
in person
out from behind
our windows
looking on
and wishing
for a breath
of fresh air
over and
over and
over again
until we felt
as clean
as her.
I'm glad it rained today.
More is forecast.
Getting some
good books
lined up in case
I get caught inside
again with myself
being more than doing
or even better
getting something done
that would otherwise
have gotten swept away
in a sea of activity
away from home.


Copyright © 2012 Gary Frates

When the Student is Ready

Like a box
that needs
opening
to find
the treasure
that lies within,
we dig around
the inner
resources
of our being
and find
what nuggets
have been
stored away
in lessons
learned.

Oh, how right
we can
seem to be!

So adamantly
headstrong
and stubborn
in our sacred
beliefs,
yet blind
to the truth
that stands
between us
and others
we have not
a glimpse
and will have
none of it!

Our minds
are shut,
access
to Fort Knox
would be
easier
than trying
to get
through
to us!

But Lo,
someone does...

with a gentle
suggestion
and question

introducing a
new possibility

a chance to
start down
a different
path to healing.

Having had
to swallow
our pride and
righteousness
and learn to
move forward
again in our lives
will seem easy,
actually
once the initial
resistance
is passed
for we had
long been ready
having had little
hope that a
seeming miracle
would pull us
out of some
bottomless pit,
"rescued" at last.


Why us?
Why now?

When the student
is ready...



Copyright © 2012 Gary Frates