transitions

trying to remember a little empathy when things get rough
useful to take a breath and allow something coherent to arise to say
amidst whatever compelling need has arisen and driven me
from the expectations of some social situation
I don't function by
especially when dealing with kapha folks
or older slower-moving folks
or girlfriends
if I remember correctly

and really I am grateful for the progress I see in my relations
I am able to usually with a breath
at least account for the other person's right to have their needs too
amidst my scramble for an autonomy from their company
and the need for words
that don't have the space to arise naturally

for what I really long to do with
all of my time

is make offerings to the ancestors
with scraps of bread near the corners of the garden

remember the four directions when I smoke
and to bless

journey and dance amidst an awareness of auras
smudge

be aware of the chakras
and keep energy healthy and flowing
(smudging is good for that)

learn nonverbal skills
like being in compassion
rather than speaking it

assert myself with skill and grace
from an unquestioned autonomy
expressed with self-esteem

and practice healing arts like
partner yoga stretches

oh and that tantra thing

_________________

after heading out on my own
I found no one dancing at the yoga center

weekly dances start next week

so I walked out onto Central in Edo
wondering what to do

I turned to walk
and a beautiful woman was getting out of her car
in front of me
in jeans and her curly hair tied back
walking with a style of hip movement I could appreciate
and I was heading that way anyway more or less

and she turned into this nice upscale pizza place
with a bar I decided to have a beer at
where there were beautiful bartenders
young, friendly, dressed in black

and walking out a pint fuller
I turned
and a gorgeous woman was just ahead of me
stunning tall thin and decked out
and I was kind of curious what was that way anyway
so I walked by the front door
of the restaurant she had walked into
to see what it was like in there
and it was nice

and I wondered if there is a bar to sit at
and at the bar was a gorgeous young woman decked out
taking up some space with electronic equipment of some kind

and despite the free seat next to her
I made some excuse to the hostess
who seemed somehow amused
and continued to express my autonomy
leaving

and a few feet out the door I turned
and there was an incredible beauty
getting out of her car

in a lovely loose tan dress
accentuating exquisite feminine curves
and medium blonde hair gently swaying
along with the movement

who I didn't stare at
until she was quite already past me

and out of range
where I began walking backwards
so I could marvel at her motion

and thought
what a lovely series of moments

as I watched her turn
into the upscale pizza parlor

in between the nice restaurant
and the darkened dance floor

in Edo