janetlandis

Seeds

No one starts from nothing. We are all shaped and conditioned, We are seeds, brilliant, shimmering sprouts, Weeds and cultivars. We are everything, And nothing. We are love and rage, Kindness and cruelty. However crushed we feel, With the burdens we are given, Each breath is a new beginning. Each heartbeat an opportunity, To raiseContinue reading “Seeds”

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Stillness

Stillness, always here, Snow falls softly, sweet silence, Melting drops of grace.

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Reaching

Sometimes, in dreams, You reach for things, Only to find they are not really there. And you wake, and hold your pillow, Your dog, your partner, Just to remind yourself, You are not alone in this world. You go for a walk, And hug a tree, Or wave to a neighbor, Who doesn’t wave back.Continue reading “Reaching”

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Comfort

Warm with memories, Peace comes over and through me. Mind at rest, Heart open, receptive. Guarding and defense fall away. Space opens within and without me. Tension melts away. Bathed in love, in memories and reveries, Of you, dear child, teacher, benefactor, Who blessed my days, And wait for me, When those days are over,Continue reading “Comfort”

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Blessed

Blessed by the sunrise, Even through clouds. Blessed by the wind, Though it blows me over. Blessed by grief and doubt, Though at times they consume me. Blessed by laughter and joy, That tickle my soul to bursting. Blessed by challenge and pain, By ease and comfort. Blessed to endure, to witness, To open andContinue reading “Blessed”

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Odie

From your first day with us, It was you and me, together. You, who were the last tie to our boy, You, who were always home with Daniel, With me. My running partner, Who explored the wild and untamed, Who sat with me through laughter, And so many tears. Never leaving me, Always present withContinue reading “Odie”

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Closed Eyes

(Dedicated with gratitude to Sam Harris and The Waking up app team) There is so much to witness, Behind closed eyes. I never knew to look, But now I perceive, The changing images, And shifts of light and darkness. A world I never knew, Rich in mystery, Never realized. I used it, as a shieldContinue reading “Closed Eyes”

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Grief

Grief, Is so sweet and tender. A deep connection to those we have lost. an intense separation. How terrible and marvelous, That we can feel this deeply, This cellular inter-habituation, With beings we love. Grief may be the highest form of such love, For it urges us on, To reach again, Knowing the terrible costContinue reading “Grief”

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We leave the light on

We leave the light on, To guide you home, To circle, plop and sigh. Taking up most of the bed, With your long, lithe frame, Silver-gray in the moonlight, Even in complete darkness, Shining. Lighting our nights with love, Softly stroking your velvet ears, Gazing at the gentle glow of your half-lidded eyes, At home,Continue reading “We leave the light on”

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For Odie

Goodbye, our dear companion, Who ran every trail with us, Slept beside us and our children. You rescued us, Left tied to the door of an ASPCA shelter, Alone in the cold night. Fostered in a condo too small, For your great spirit. You appeared in our lives at the perfect moment. You created aContinue reading “For Odie”