This morning I was able to share about Cambodia at my church here in Canada... I showed slides from a morning a few weeks back with the students at "A New Day Cambodia" a school serving at-risk children in Phnom Penh. I volunteer there occasionally. I teach hand sewing skills. This time we made a "Travel Tic Tac Toe" It was a brilliantly fun day!

From 2011-06-18

This was my favourite picture as both this student and I were laughing hilariously as the strong wind was blowing our supplies all over the place!

From 2011-06-18

Here's a slide show of the day

Of Two Minds

The tag team of the mind continually moves.
Justice and Mercy wrangle with enemy forces.
Supporting what is noble and great.
Celebrating choices well made.
Giving value to fragile new thoughts.
Defeating apathy, lethargy and sloth.

When allowed to live peaceably together,
life seems blessedly calm.
Yet when one of the two is given more attention,
life seems chaotically driven.
Like sibling rivals they want to one-up.

If Mercy holds sway orderliness is diminished.
If Justice stands too tall kindness is lacking.

A hopeful heart seems the best referee.
This nurturing, noticing attendant
guides
directs
and calls out.

Holding the scales, bringing balance to both.
Justice's blindfold removed
by Mercy's graceful forgiveness.

Justice, Mercy and Hope each speaking to
and making meaning of mysterious moments.

Perhaps one must be of
Three Minds then, not two.

36. A prose poem ( 3pts)

147 + 3 = Woot woot... 150 "points" worth of poetry in the month of April...

Post-Creativity?

Is creativity gifted only to some?
Are most meant to mundanely muddle?
Why do so few savor moments of sublime creation?
Why the fear of embracing the inner creator?

Is it perhaps taboo this talk of creating?
Might this lead to thoughts of a Creator?
Would they be inspired thoughts of Spirit, of Source?
Will this be what the next generation scoffs?

Are these times as bereft of things Divine,
as Victoria's age was of things procreative?

Would that make us post-creative?

8. A poem comprised entirely of questions. (4pts)
143 + 4 = of 147 points

“String Theory”

All is bound together
Everyone connected
Separation is an illusion
made lively by fear

Fear gives way before Love yet
Terror does not go down without a battle
Paying most heavily are the young ones

Threaded needles... with liquid
deliver the silken shroud of a healer
hallowing the moment with relief and release

Hurrying an early sleep to the warrior
caught in a blood spilling nightmare of small laws
Allowing the repair of the machine once human

The return to battle inevitable
Believing all is done for Law of Love
Overtaking the passion for lesser laws

Tied to this warrior
Are dreams of a future
of broken nations made whole

All is bound together
Everyone connected
Separation is an illusion
made lively by fear
 

40. A poem entitled “String Theory” ( 4pts)

139 + 4 = 143 of 150 points

At The Table

She carefully asked how I live in solitude

With a smile I said
I cook
I feed
I watch
the pleasure others take in the taste of my love

Desires to please
dreams to nurture
hopes are fulfilled at the table

In the kitchen, over food enjoyed
my solitude finds solace
in the delight of others

45. A poem about cooking.  ( 3pts)

136 + 3 = 139 of 150 points

Kingdom of Wonder

Green fields, emerald and glittering, stalks of ripening rice
The sentinel sugar palms saluting mid-day regally
Uneven roads inviting all to move slowly
Heat exhausting even the bold and the brave
Fragrances of slowly stewing spices
Inviting the hungry gently home
The sun setting gloriously
Kingdom of Wonder
Sleeping

26. An Idyll ( 5pts)

131 + 5 = 136 of 150 points

Memories of her raspberry preserves would sharpen grief's hunting knife
Frequently and consistently returning to gut and hollow him out
More than a moth being consumed by a flame
His loss and longing allowed for nothing but emptiness
Nothing bright or burning only the shallow breathing of shock

His house, too, was emptied of the wonders and mysteries of home
Now like his body, in constant discontent, sounds emptied of meaning
Rooms silently keening, furnishings coming undone by carelessness
Spent bulbs unchanged, the porch darkened, clothes moldering
Dust gathering, mirrors covered, clocks unwound

The rituals of dawn and dusk a bitterly useless liturgy
Where once communion wove throughout, in bread broken and wine poured
Now only ashes of regret heaped high and broken glasses full of tears are served
Bodies of both the living and the dead crushed by the weight of
Blood being spilled into the earth again

54-60: Photoshoppe: a poem inspired by the following photos. 3pts each
122 + 9 = 131 of 150 pts.

Ideas which suggest they are new
Leave one hungry
A cacophony of crows not a meal from Ravens

Thoughts created from old recipes for reasonable and solid thinking
Satisfy deeper longings
Salt yet Light

Ideas claiming to solve many problems at once
Clang together
Lusty sounds from blood rust weapons

Thoughts revealing the value of difference, solid and calico stitched together,
Satisfy stronger hopes
Bold yet Beautiful

Ideas that forget compassion and forgiveness
Scrape away creativity
Leaving bellies hollow and children forsaken

Thoughts that include many at the table of feasting and celebration
Satisfy eternal desires
Merciful yet Just

Ideas give way to Hunger
Hunger makes way for Thoughtfulness

Mushrooming ideas come in abundance yet without satisfaction
Understanding a matter to it's marrow... satisfies the soul.

16.  A poem incorporating/ about mushrooms. ( 3pts)

17.  A poem incorporating the following: Crow, sodium, calico, rust, marrow, scrape. (5pts)

114 +8 =122 of 150 pts.

Carousel horses spin one round
Longing
Hungering
Lamenting

Restless for that which is just beyond
Reaching
Desiring
Grasping

Discontent with one's day to day rhythms
Circling
Seeing
Hoping

Noisily driven toward the brass ring
Wondering
Questioning
Envisioning

Silence stops all
Distracting
Interrupting
Conflicting

An invitation to rest
Quieting
Calming
Receiving

The ride is finished
Beginning
Living
Loving

12.  A poem using carousel horses as a starting point ( 4pts)

111 + 4 = 115 of 150

Animal Cruelty

the loving and
vulnerable
always
seem to
pay
the price
for the misdeeds
of the more powerful

cruel choices are made
crushing words are spoken
animals feel the
anguish of those responsible

I hurt my dog
I don't quite remember how
did I shove her off the couch
or kick her out of the way

I do remember my remorse

Of the many unkind words
unleashed on me then
the only ones I remember
were the ones about
making the dog yelp

Funny how cruelty
trickles down

13.  A poem which incorporates a theme of animal cruelty. ( 4pts)
102 + 4 = 106 of 150

Madam, I'm Adam

Madam, I'm Adam
I would like to beg your pardon
Madam, I'm Adam
I blamed you in the garden
Madam, I'm Adam
You desired so much more
Madam, I'm Adam
Guilt and shame left me poor
Madam, I'm Adam
If you'll forgive I'll be free
Madam, I'm Adam
Let's return to Life's Tree

21.  A palindrome poem ( 5pts)
106 + 5 = 111