White canvas

I welcome the white canvas. 

May the reason why 

we paint on it 

be our humble wisdom, 

our loving inner light. 

May the colours 

that we choose 

be the landscape 

of your truth and mine. 

The future is empty, 

the past is gone. 

But we are still here, 

holding our hearts, imagining 

the many shapes of hope, 

as the first brushstrokes unfold. 

I welcome our blank canvas. 

What its vastness becomes, 

is yet 

to be 

discovered. 

(Originally published in Smith).

Quiet and colourful

Lovers and northern lights, by Paul Bloomer

Impossible to lie when the answer lies in my heart. 

Impossible not to scream and cry, 

and beg compassion not to abandon. 

And that is when my love overflows anger and sorrow, 

and expands like a clear sky 

opening to kindness, to the *light* 

until all is quiet 

and colourful. 

(Originally published in Smith).

Haiku for the mist

Mist by Nakazawa Hiromitsu 1907

Through the mist I walk.

The long longed peace embraces me.

We blend. We are one.