to teach this to your heart ~ heart sutra sit

red bird explains himself
               ~ mary oliver

yes, i was the brilliance floating over the snow
and i was the song in the summer leaves, but this was
only the first trick
i had hold of among my other mythologies,
for i also knew obedience: bringing sticks to the nest,
food to the young, kisses to my bride.

but don't stop there, stay with me: listen.

if i was the song that entered your heart
then i was the music of your heart, that you wanted and needed,
and thus wilderness bloomed there, with all its
followers: gardeners, lovers, people who weep
for the death of rivers.

and this was my true task, to be the
music of the body.  do you understand?  for truly the body needs
a song, a spirit, a soul.  and no less, to make this work,
the soul has need of a body,
and i am both of the earth and i am the inexplicable
beauty of heaven
where i fly so easily, so welcome, yes,
and this is why i have been sent, to teach this to your heart.

HEART SUTRA SIT
SUNDAY JANUARY 18
4-6 PM
by donation