bird of paradise...

the peacock struts his bright plumage 

like a one that is set apart from other creatures

of God's creation

he does not want to see the perishing ways of the world

and the suffering it brings..

he cares not about this for he is so fine now 

and nothing can touch that 

he is the center of all 

riding high on the waves 

the parrot laughs at this 

what a silly joke on him

he knows not that his bright feathers are to blow 

with the wind 

and be nothing but earth and soot on the boot of 

some passerby one day...

but the parrot sighed as this was said

as he was not certain

he liked this idea of perishing

for what will remain when this way i know so well

is to go? 

the trees i rest on are my home 

and are very dear to me and my chattering flock

how can i let go of that? 

i cannot approach such a possibility at all

i will fix my sight on this home of mine only 

and tend to it well 

as this is what is real 

but his heart was still quite a bit in doubt 

as he watched the birds fly back and forth

for food and search for rest

he slept uneasily 

his soul felt like a ship lost to sea

alone and forsaken 

set apart from what he knew most
and a welling within him came to know
of something beyond this world
that wastes away....
what to do?, he said within

i shall ask the 

falcon 

he is the wisest

and he flew there with his bright feathers

shining in the heat of the day

to the falcons home 

on the high branches of the 

hearty tree 

and asked 

dear falcon i am in great distress

for i know not what is happening 

the soul is stirring to find the way 

that speaks of other lands in which there 

are no tears or unrest

and one can be made into a being that 

is real

but dear falcon does this mean i need to

leave my home in search of such a place 

of splendor?

the falcon sat awhile in silence 

and then said  -

your heart speaks rightly to you that there 

is another land that is lacking in shadow

and haunting ways 

and will uncover a rich peace that 

is not of your world that you know

oh my said the parrot

now this is good and bad to hear of at the same time

as now that i know of it 

how can i ever put it out of my heart

i cannot be easy in my world as a parrot
for to feel that i am just this little creature that
flits around seeking companions and food,
set to sleep and rise with the dawn only to  be
on the search out of hunger again
and not only that, i cannot deny now that this is all
to go some day...
and to hear of something much greater beyond..
oh how hard and how joyous at the same time
are your words dear falcon

could i find this beauty and still keep my tree and 

clan so familiar?

or must i really give up and take the journey over moors

mountains, valleys, seas 

pushing thru all climes and weather of great turbulence?

look at me 

i am only a parrot --

what say of you falcon?

well friend, said the falcon

if you are a wanderer and have faith in the search
then you do not worry of how --

you just begin..
here is the road out there 

and here is a little bit of bread and a 

song to sing when you become entranced again

with the world you left

hold tight to all of it as it will aide you in your search

the parrot took what was given

and said thank you falcon for your time and flew back to his

home where he pondered deeply what to do...

when he fell asleep he dreamed that there was a water

well in which he perched on the edge 

and looked down

it seemed so very deep and dark in there

as to swallow him up

and he screeched oh no this is so very big to me 

and i am not sure 

but as he screeched his reflection screeched too at the same  time

and it made him laugh a bit 

and feel that there was a joke somewhere that maybe he was missing

in the morning he flitted about a bit anxious 

he found his flock and said 

i am journeying away friends in search of beautiful clear waters

and light 

his friends snickered 

you are what?

how very disoyal of you 

are you not our kind?

you must think you are greater than the rest 

and what about your mother?

she will not be happy

no she will not, the parrot knew that but that was not to dissuade him

he was going 

even though he ached inside and was not sure where it would all lead

so he went back and set out to begin

off he went thru the clouds

over hills, valleys, seas and mountains

and as he flew all kinds of emotions and shades of thinking 

came up to haunt and taunt him...

what ifs and all sorts of heaven and hell gates opened

as they came up he remembered the song 

and he sang it with great devotion of mind and soul

he sang it as he passed over the great ocean 

with rising swells ...

and the mighty mountains  

and storms of thunder

he ate the bread with gratitude that he was alive and 

able to go on towards the pure lands that he sought

so earnestly

finally after such a long spread of time 

he came to a different land

a country that appeared as a distinctly different presence 

oh joy he said 

maybe this is it 

and as he said that this light eluded him like a dream

that was cast over in shadow and mist

but he continued forward until again the clouds dissapeared

and this presence arose within his gaze as a distinctly different

reality

this time he did not move within and set himself down

like a drop of rain in a great body of water

downward without looking forward or back

as if he had no choice what an odd thing indeed 

he was slipping away this little thing he thought he was 

and his entire life too

oh no, he said

oh yes, said the ocean of the real ...

(the land of pure waters that is)

and his bit of clinging was swept away as if it 

never was...
he felt as if he had been held in a long stagnant dream
that he finally awoke from..

a stilled beauty penetrated within 

and he screeched in laughter at what was such a silly joke

played on him..

it was right here all the time ...
he is now a sage somewhere and lives in the forests free 

a light to those hearts that are willing to listen

and are ready to take the great walk

to the heartland of *IS*...

dear wanderers continue forward on your journeys..

there will be a day

when you too will laugh

maha shanti om