The Petal, the Pain, the Path by Michael A Gomez August 6th, 2005

A petal of a Lotus falls at my feet

that are covered like long canoes but with holes.

As I walk on, I sink in the quicksand of wet concrete,

and the cement is filling the gaping spaces

in these long, overtrodden shoes

that carry me from day to day in life's quest,

which has brought on many sorrows and many joys.

And as it dries and hardens,

I struggle to pull out of it,

but I eventually do.

Of course the shoes are stuck in the ground

and are now one with the Earth,

but I walk along anyway

as splinters and broken glass

pierce and cut up my callus feet.

I grimace in pain

and look at the full moon above,

who's smiling down upon me,

lighting my pathway.

And at that moment is an enchanting bliss

where the emotional anguish

of chaotic mental ripples

slowly ceased,

growing smaller and smaller

with every single breath.

And the sphere of space and time

was penetrated into the timeless,

and there was no more pain.

And thoughts and images came and went

as I noticed another Lotus petal on the ground.

Stopping to look at it,

realizing and understanding it,

I sat in deep meditation

with the petal in my hand

until all that remained

was the petal.

From: Tears on a Petal

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