Within our own skin – v3

We must stay centered, balanced,
grounded in each season, on the path,
focused on this present, here and now,
Breathing, seeing, stilling our spirits,
against the chaos, all other voices
seeking to draw our attention
to separate us from ourselves…
 
We must live in this moment,
present in the present, this now,
within our own skin, our bodies,
our living flesh, listening to the rhythms,
to our own heartbeats, our pulse,
Sounds of our own breathing,
focusing on nothing else...
 
We must not seek grandeur, outsized
calling or purpose, focus on the small,
our own center, our living, breathing,
each moment, every step before us,
Grounded in our moments, present,
living in this present, this journey,
for the sake of ourselves…
 
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Edited June 25, 2024
Within our own skin – v3
 
“We do not exist for the sake of something else.
We exist for the sake of ourselves.”
Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind:
Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
 
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 202 2022, 2023, and 2024. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 53,000+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.
 
poetry, God, calling, purpose, Zen, Shunryu Suzuki,
 
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