Note: This poem is dedicated to Ruth Denison. I invite you to learn more about her thru these links. She has been traveling from her center, Dhamma Dena, in the high desert of California to Insight Meditation Society in central Mass for 40 years to teach a retreat that begins on Labor Day. This is and has been the last year…
RUTH’S BELL
This Bell, Ruth’s Bell, is ringing
For you and I
To come
To the meditation hall
Now
Mindfully
Or mindlessly
It is time
For us to go
For all things to go
The bell ringer touches
The brass bell
With the gong
In awareness
Or not…
Mindfully
Or mindlessly
It is time
For us to go
For all things to go
You and I
Must now walk worn stone paths
One foot in front of the other
Repeating it
Until we arrive
Mindfully
Or mindlessly
It is time
For us to go
For all things to go
One last time at 89
She speaks to us
Forty years she has come here
Offering only awareness
And you?
Mindfully
Or mindlessly
It is time
For us to go
For all things to go
The Lioness now in Winter
Strong in all Seasons
She is unaverse
To the coming
Cold darkness
Mindfully
Or mindlessly
It is time
For us to go
For all things to go
A fierce protector
Of the Dharma
She roars with conviction
Comes fanged with insight
Wears a mane of time tested truths
Mindfully
Or mindlessly
It is time
For us to go
For all things to go
A nurturing mother
To young lion cubs
Now come to her side
For tender instruction
This one last time
Mindfully
Or mindlessly
It is time
For us to go
For all things to go
Stumbling Toward Certainty 
This brings me to tears – for Ruth’s huge contribution, for her steadfastness, for her teachings, for my years at IMS of sitting, complaining, resisting, for the beauty of your evolving styles of poetry – some meditative refrain, others rhythmic, all heartfelt and articulate. Keep writing.
I hear you! We are all resistant, we are all human.
All are welcome in the arms of love
Are we all aware and willing?
A true honoring of work, a life’s work, on this Labor Day.
What a wonderful tribute. I love the repetition of that phrase throughout the poem, mindfully, or mindlessly…
Thank you, Laura! Yes, we have that choice, don’t we! As Obbie Wan, said “choose wisely”… I wish I could say I do. Learning, learning
I am intrigued and want to find out more about Ruth.
I hope you will… let me know if you need help?
Forty years is a long time…or merely a few seconds when you here a familiar voice again.
In Ruth’s case, a few milli-seconds… “Ahh, my darlings, be gentle wis your selves…”
I especially loved the verse “… She roars with conviction, comes fanged with insight” — a lovely tribute.
thank you, James! and for your our parting exchange.