It is easy
To speak
About
Inner peace
When you
Are the
Dali Lama…
He has no
Fear of where
His next meal
Comes from
Nor need he
Concern
Himself with
Where he will
Sleep tonight…
When your
Partner beats you,
Inner Peace
Or the pursuit
Of it
Is the furthest
Thing from
One's mind…
Will the children
Be ok?
Will they forgive
Me or hate me
For staying
Or leaving to
Live on the streets?
Seeking Inner Peace
Isn't a right,
It is a pursuit of
The privileged.
Maslowe
Has it right,
That those
Who's needs
Are met
Can chase
Higher dreams.
For some
Their dreams
Are what
We have
And never
Give a second
Thought to.
Food.
Bed.
Roof.
Shoes.
To simply
Say what
We think,
Or believe
As we wish.
Inner Peace.
I see the classes.
I have heard of
The beautiful
Retreat centers
Half a world
Away…
But when the
Class or retreat
Is over,
And the diagnosis
Of cancer comes,
Or you are in a car
That is in an accident,
The tsunami comes
The benefits are lost
Guns are fired
Friends die,
The storms of Life
Come…
And they always
Come,
Where is the
Inner Peace?
Found in the
Lotus Position?
With nature sounds?
Praying to Jesus?
To take back
What cannot be
Undone?
Inner Peace,
Found in the
Midst of the
Storm,
Is the Eye
Of the Hurricane…
An Erie calm.
It is a deep
Knowing,
Not found
On the shores
Of belief,
But mined
In the bedrock
Of our deep
Connections
To Life
To the Earth
Or the Universe
To each other,
That is not
Found with
The head,
But felt
With the
Heart,
A compassion
Beyond
Understanding
And an
Acceptance
Beyond
Reluctance
Because it is
Pre-emptive.
Inner Peace
Cannot even
Comprehend
Being upset
With anything
That is.
Inner Peace
Is at one
With what
Is going on
Fully engaged
Not eyes closed
Shutting out
The world
That required
Your attention.
Inner Peace.
Embraces
Things labeled
As “mistakes”
As “failures”
By the world's
Standards,
All is one
In a perfection
Rarely understood
On such a visceral level
As Inner Peace
Knows,
Holds,
Embraces
Without fear,
Nor even courage…
Stand in the calm
Where the river flows
Around the
Standing stone
In the waters
Of Life…
Inner Peace
Is a Grace
A place
The Divine
Resides
And connects
Us to everyone
Beautifully,
Peaceful
A place
Where no
Offence can
Even be
Perceived.