Midway

there is an eyeball in my heart
that can no longer squint away the pain
its pupil dilates and it has no lids

it sees when the clerk smiles false
when the child pretends to love because
how else can the loveless be endured?

Diotima from this rung of your ladder
both top and bottom disappear in fog
shapes dim and not so dim move up and down

the eyeball in my heart makes out
the son who is prodigal but never returns
the father who wants to reach but can’t

who says i can climb higher?
my eye can’t close and my limbs grow tired
only my hand clings to your ladder

knowing you have touched it
kind fierce Mistress of the Wise
i am glad


love,

- john o.

Look

Look. I see you. Look.

From the pages of your book,

from your plate, the food you cook,

I see you. Look.

You are beautiful and fine.

Your reflection in your wine

gazes at what is not mine

or yours. You dine

and you are dined upon.

You never came, are never gone,

will never set and had no dawn.

Listen to John.

This moment is the care you took.

I see you. Look.

Love to the Good Looking,

- John O.

8 of Swords

inside the blades and bars of thought and feeling

a prisoner, blind and bound but reeling

anger, fright, choking, needs

she bleeds

i am but a worthless falling Fool afar

in space alone can i break blades and bars

catch the blood and offer back love's cup

look up!

love to all

- john o.

Love Shack Sadhana

till all are free i take refuge in the awakened
and in the teachings that awaken
and the assembly of the awakening
my body my speech and my heart mind
i offer to you
please look on me with eyes of compassion
and please grant your grace
that i might live and die for the benefit of others

yadayadayada


[  ]


experience is just goes too far
experience beyond contain
experience the whole damn biz
experience beyond disdain

may all beings know fortune and the source of fortune
may we all know satisfaction and the source of satisfaction
never without the sacred joy beyond dissatisfaction
great peace 
no attachment no aversion no indifference
to any thing or body

by the spiritual power inherent in our practice
may all become awake and free
may we cross the great ocean of suffering
the stormy waves of birth love old age illness and death

I bow to all meditators


- john o.

Love and Conflict

call it a plurality
call it nonduality
call it wretched
call it fun
it's never nothing
never one

go philosophize your life
what is real and why is strife
then go tell it to your honey
when you've gambled all the money
or have seen or been a whore
philosophy goes out the door
and while the fool philosophizes
love happens
and
conflict arises

love and conflict to all,

- john o