Keep Up

Though I know I don’t have to explain myself, I realize that I’ve been absent from the Archives these past few days (and this morning you get the triple-post-catch-up).

Dedicated to posting daily, where on earth have I been?

Well, I’ve been laughing at my continually strange fortunes. The Yogi tea bag holding a quote for me: “Keep up”.

How come when we drink tea together the Bohemian always gets some better saying in his mug? The enlightened messages. Ones like “You are the light of love” or some other divine pronouncement.

He laughs at my ‘keep up’ message and asks, “Didn’t you get that one last time?”

Pfft.

If keeping up is noticing, then I am following my tea bag orders.

He may think I didn’t see, but I was aware when he slipped downstairs to quietly water my withering houseplant.

Long after he’d gone home, I noticed the blankets on my couch and chair were folded in new ways.

The broom, it was leaning against a wall in a fresh corner.

I found some pots put away in different drawers.

His trace remains. Small things get rearranged.

Keeping up, I don’t want to change them back.

Good Things

There is graffiti at the entrance to the temple
my natural beach cathedral
where a sloping foot trail
begins with an entry way
upon which
spray-paint faces in day-glow green
request that
“tourists go home”

look closely and you’ll see
down in the corner
one positive affirmation
among the random scrawls
good things happen to good people

on the day we met
his bike was at the entrance
leaning on the good
(though I didn’t see it then)
we were opening a combination lock by flashlight
the reminder
proclaiming in the shadows

In the mornings
I come to worship at this nature church
pass that adage every day
I walk sand
traipse through sea foam
settle myself with the hiss of white water

I am big among crabs
small beside cliffs
my heart pumping blood
with my breath

I walk the tideline
alive with open-hearted joy
unfurling
loving Love
saying yes

yet so tender in exquisite risk
I am but one step away
from utter
annihilation

so afraid I am
of being swallowed
whole by Love
though
I want nothing more
than to be absorbed
in its great force

I say my prayers
and chant my mantras
I walk the tideline
smiling tears
living yes and no

breath in
admit
breath out
I still have one foot
propping open that exit door
two eyes assessing
the safety of my situation

Oh let me be destroyed
by Love
but only if it won’t hurt
hah!

good things happen to good people
I stay
walking the tideline
each step
into the next
feeling
into the immense
heart
of Love

Jessica Dofflemyer ~ all rights reserved

Art Opening

I want to write about
the art
opening

but this morning is overcast
with spelling test drills
the seven continents of the world
and reading mastery assignments

I guess it gets to continue
to settle in my cells
thick oil on hung canvases
salad bowls of chocolate chunks
Jeb
the Bohemian
and a roomful of surfers in dress-up clothes
smiling at the process

the opening
of art

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