wishes

“something opens our wings. something
makes boredom and hurt disappear.” ~ rumi

boredom is something     sold us with so many
products and services     and accessories
boredom is something      self-inflicted
its antidote is paying attention     attentiveness
banishes boredom to exile and irrelevance

it must be true     take this owl,
vigilant or somnolent     on a branch
hanging low over creek     below me
what does the owl hunt
from that perch?

the wisdom of attentiveness, the wisdom
of rest, the preparation for further flight

i who have hurt, have been hurt
no longer want to hurt.     here’s the thing,
though     hurt and love are inseparable

love transcends hurt, enfolds it within
its wings     love is question and answer     love
opens our wings     love is a set of wings

minutes later, when i return,
the owl is no longer there     it’s gone,
moved on     this disappearance so silent,
so unnoticed startles but i feel enriched,
and my wonder has taken flight

i can’t imagine you being bored     it’s not
in your nature     i wish you the slow dance
of an even deeper attentiveness

i wish you an ending of hurt     an ending
of pain     i wish you a silent, unnoticed
disappearance of these

i wish you healing

i wish you wings and flight

i wish you the urgent, whirling winged
dance of love     yes, love

andrew shattuck mcbride
papowrimo *day 25 poem*
october 26, 2012

**

[Coleman Barks, The Essential Rumi, p. 280]