spoiled brats

been a long time since i've rock and rolled...

it was such a beautiful day
warm, sunny, bright
with a slight, cool breeze
under a light blue sky
filled with astonishing clouds
row after uneven row
of white roses
hanging from a heavenly basket

and in my arms, the lord buddha
beautiful as the environment around him
he calms down the minute we go outdoor
and enter a world that is not man made
jad is a part of that immensity
a mystery that is beyond thought

life is lived only in the moment

it is saturday
and i listen to their problems
one's brother is getting divorced
another is having problems with her son
a third is tired of the constant bickering

why do we live in such conflict
turmoil, confusion?
day in and day out
it is the same
anger, jealousy, pain

is there another way to live
or are we stuck with this for life?

there are as many forms of abuse
as there are of power
ignoring another
minimizing concerns
patronizing
nagging with guilt
constant criticism
distrust
accusation and insult
anger and violence

all aspects of power
differing only in emphasis
all have an underlying sense
of superiority
self-righteousness
entitlement

all manifestations of ego
that grand illusion
created by thought
out of the ruminants of the past

i have an image of myself
as wonderful
or wounded
powerful
or powerless
beautiful
or ugly
a heroin
or martyr

i am building this image everyday
every moment i spend
collecting memories of myself
sifting each experience through its lens

you hurt "me"
by damaging this image
the image now plots revenge
the cycle of conflict continues

why have an image at all?
if there is no image
there is no hurt
no pain
no conflict

in the moment there is no image
only observation, awareness

for the image to end
thought must end