In remembrance…

All poems were written by Lila Danielle

In This Place

When I am weary of the world's suffering

and my own two feet feel like

they're shuffling along behind the rest of my body...

I come here.

In this place, small steps can be taken

to ease the burden of all I carry within me.

When I worry about the future of humanity

and my own suffocating fears feel like

they're drowning in a deep pool of blue...

I come here.

In this place, a safe haven is found

in the ocean and on the sand.

When I experience the overwhelm of everything

and my own stammering words feel like

they're just adding noise to an old conversation…

I come here.

In this place, expressed opinions are welcomed

to recognize we all have wisdom to share.

When I forget to see beauty in the ordinary

and my own unique gifts feel like

they're disappearing along with my youth...

I come here.

In this place, reflections in another's eyes

quietly remind me we all shimmer like stars.

When I begin to doubt the power of love

and my own extended arms feel like

they're reaching for an impossible forgotten dream...

I come here.

In this place, surrounded by dozens of hearts

of course this dream, this love, is real.

When I wonder how it will all end

and my own anxious thoughts feel like

they're swimming frantically toward an unknown horizon..

I come here.

In this place, freedom exists in big water

whenever I remember to live in the moment and be the dance.

January 2020

YOU + HEARTBEAT + BREATH

It was a day like no other

when spirit shifted

merged its presence with the tangible

grew within your mother’s body

transformed into the shape you now carry.

It was a sound like no other

when listening deepened

learned the distinction between silence and something else

became a rhythm of repetition

devoted itself to the dance known as your heartbeat.

It was a feeling like no other

when ‘being’ birthed

emerged from breathing water as one’s life

cried out as your own mortality began

changed forever by that first gulp of air.

2018

That Sweet Something

The new day begins with birdsong.

I awaken from a strange dream

and yet…there's that sweet something

understanding nothing appears as it seems.

The familiar face stares back in the mirror.

I recognize it as my own

and yet…there's that sweet something

looking beyond what is seen and known

The hopeful heart is open.

I fall in love with another

and yet...there's that sweet something

knowing there really is no ‘other.’

The wise soul understands patience.

I forget again and again

and yet...there's that sweet something

realizing home has always been within.

The truth of life is love.

I practice it in many ways

and yet…there's that sweet something

remembering I AM that sweet something every day.

unsaid

what i meant to say
when the lines of my mouth
drew close together
and my hands rose up like birds
about to take flight
was this...
"i do not listen well
when the songs offered up
are sung in such dissonant tones." 

what i meant to say
when the tears of my eyes
fell like a rainstorm
and my throat tightened up
as if a noose were now worn
was this...
"i do not understand
how such hateful prose comes
under the guise of good will."

what i meant to say
when the trembling of my limbs
became subtly visible  
and my head shook in all directions
like the solar system gone mad
was this..
"i do not know why
people choose to inflict
such harm upon each other." 

what i meant to say
when the beat of my heart
suddenly sped up
and my breath was an inhale
or an exhale or both
like it often is
when something's dying
was this...
"i do not see clearly
when the truth is unspoken,
or hidden through lies." 
 
what i meant to say was this...
i want to listen well so
i'll do my best to sing together. 
i want to understand so
i will speak words that foster empathy.
i want to be kind and loving so
i will forgive over and over again.
i want to see clearly so
i will keep living until i let go
of everything i'm attached to. 

what i meant to say was this...
look at what my body is saying
and you will see my soul.

something more than imagination

Might it be possible

when hate appears stronger than love,

devotion arrives like a long-lost lover and says,

"I'm so sorry I forgot how much you mean to me"?

And then tears of forgiveness

unite the two of you together again

and the promises you make now

are better ones and are kept.

···0···

Could it be true

when we see each other as separate,

compassion arrives like our bathroom mirror and says,

"I'm so sorry I forgot how lovely you are"?

And then smiles of recognition

remind the two of you again,

we are all made to look different

so we could see the beauty

of the entire world in a face.

···0···

Is it conceivable

when assumptions and judgments are made,

kindness arrives like an abandoned puppy and says,

"I'm so sorry I forgot you just want to be loved

as much as I do"?

And then hugs of kinship help you both remember

that when we're willing to listen,

we realize we want the same things.

···0···

Can you imagine

when people are detached and indifferent,

belonging arrives like the feeling of home and says,

"I'm so sorry I forgot who you really are. Please come in"? 

And then words of affection pour forth between you

and love becomes the shared language

you've always spoken.