Knowledge of the Tides

It is true

That the tide

Will flow

Filling the
tidepools

With life

But it will

Also

Ebb away

Time will

Pass

The pools

Will be less

Vibrant

And life

Will become

Difficult

It is knowledge

Of the Nature

Of the tides

Understanding

That what

Leaves

Will also

Return

That gives us

Hope

And makes

The ebbing

Worthwhile

Notes on Fighting a Dragon

I have found the best way to fight a dragon

If you know it is coming

Is to put on your armor

Grab your sword

Stand before it

Shout, “You will never defeat me!”

And allow it to devour you whole

Within the darkness

You will be lost

Splashing in liquids

Smelling horrible smells

Filling with despair

But a flick of the sword

Ever so slight (perhaps just taking out the garbage)

Opens a small hole in the beast’s belly

Another, longer stroke (washing the car)

Lets in more light

With a final swipe (a few hours of work)

You are back on your feet

Fully within the light of day

Standing, armor glinting

The same, yet stronger.

Shamans

Shamans

In our madness

Gesticulating

Writing

Dancing

Writhing

Like snakes

Within

The dimensions

That abound

We would learn

That mental

Illness

Is not a

Walled garden

In which

We are trapped

But a Universe

Unfolding

Its mysteries

Before us

If we should be

Shamans

We would find

The places

We have been

And the
dimensions

We have

Traveled

Are accessible

Only to some

And our

Voyages

Are rare

Gifts

That we

Are meant

To harness

Returning

With our

Bounty

Of knowledge

And revealing

The unknown