É de manhã 

It’s morning

Vem o sol mas os pingos da chuva

The sun comes but the raindrops

Que ontem caiu 

That fell yesterday

Ainda estão a brilhar

Are still shining

Ainda estão a dançar

Are still dancing

Ao vento alegre

To the the happy wind

Que me traz esta canção 

That brings me this song

Quero que você me dê a mão 

I want you to give me your hand

Vamos sair por aí

Let’s go out and about

Sem pensar no que foi 

Without thinking of what it was

Que sonhei, que chorei, que sofri 

That I dreamed, that I cried, that I suffered

Pois a nossa manhã 

Because our morning

Já me fez esquecer

Has already made me forget 

I am sitting in a quiet clearing on some high ground amongst the pine trees and manzanita. I don't really know how I came to be here. Only by becoming good and lost it seems as there were no trails until very near the end. When I found myself here it was so quiet and peaceful that I stayed.

It's been some time now (months, years?) Apparently outside of this circle in the trees the wars still rage and bombs are still falling all around. So many urgent things remain to be done, issues to be resolved, points to be made, healing to take place, development and learning to occur. I make a movement to leave but then...  don't. 

When lying on my back many dreams can still be seen floating by overhead, some beautiful, some not so much. But here, in this clearing, there is only complete peace and utter stillness that nothing can disturb. Just a dazzling clearness in front of the eyes, behind the eyes and all around. A feeling of clearness fills what used to be my body and what used to be my mind. 

Now there is dirt, pine needles and a scented wind that moves through the clearing and through this body completely unimpeded. 

A gathering at a friend's house of many people hanging out talking and eating. I was talking to a guy I know who had a number written on a piece of paper, a number that I was very interested in and needed to remember but it became apparent that I would have to copy it down so I went searching for a pen and paper. The paper I found was waxy and the pen not working so hot but I eventually got it all operating well enough to serve. 2311 - 2073 - 31... hmmm, there now appeared to be another problem, that is I coudn't seem to faithfully copy the number. I kept making mistakes. I finally asked my friend to please recite it to me while I wrote but even then after a couple of digits I noticed with astonishment that I was writing a different number than the one he was dictating to me! WTF??!!  This was really puzzling to me and more than a little disconcerting until a few moments later when it became obvious what the problem was...

No me, no you, no who

No here, no there, no where

No now, no then, no when

Just This

But This!

What strange and wonderful animal is this that has stepped out of the twilight of the woods and is standing still and alert on the trail looking back at me. I have no name for it but I seem to have a memory of having glimpsed it before. I instinctively reach toward it and it naturally moves away. When I move to follow it returns to the darkness of the forest. I dive in behind with a determination not to let this thing escape me. It moves invisibly through the trees as I pursue blindly with increasing fervor although I can't shake the disorienting impression that I am actually the one being followed and so closely and silently that it's feet land in my own footprints as I step out of them. This creature is maddening! Lost, torn, and exhausted I finally have to give up the chase, stop where I am, and collapse in the ferns at my feet. This hunt is hopeless, I'm stopping here. But I wonder where here is. I have no idea how I came or how to get back. Too tired to care for the moment, I lean my back against a tree and close my eyes. Anyway this place is fine, in fact quite nice, and so utterly quiet now with just the sound of my own breathing slowly winding down...

How much time goes by before, without opening my eyes, I suddenly notice with amazement that I can feel the magical creature I've been chasing curled up in my lap?! I feel it's living heart beating under my fingers, it's soft fur quivering with aliveness, it's warm breath on my skin, and I am flooded with love!

I live near/among a forest of very tall trees (douglas fir, cedar, hemlock) 

where I walk most evenings. Many species of ferns live in the shadows under these trees which in this season are all in the process of slowly unrolling and opening their various shaped fronds, each species with it's own unique gesture. Exquisite gestures of perfect grace performed in absolute stillness. This expression of stillness unfolding, at each point complete.

I share this with them. I too have roots sunk deep into that silent dark life giving loam beneath. In fact what I am is down there unseen. What the world sees as me is just the 'fruiting body' one might say, a gesture. This stillness is mine.