• Instagram
  • Mail
  • Pure Lands
  • Wild Grasses
  • Approaching Her Temple
Vivid Emptiness
  • Home
  • Photography
    • Bodies Of Work
      • The Tibet Pilgrimage
      • Myths
      • Islands
      • Kailash
      • Dharma Rain
      • Black + White
    • Art Prints
      • Fine Art Prints
    • Licensing
      • Image Licensing
  • Poetry
    • Poetry
      • Approaching Her Temple
      • Pure Lands
      • Wild Grasses
    • Levekunst
      • Kailash
      • White Skull Mountain
  • Bio
    • Essays: Pilgrimage
      • On Pilgrimage I: Tibet
      • On Pilgrimage II: Samye-Chimphu
    • Testimonials
      • Mythic Photography
    • Bio
      • Michael Ash
  • Inspiration
    • Intent
      • Pure Lands
    • Aspiration
      • Ocean Of Bodhichitta
    • Essence
      • Ultimate Nature
  • Connect
    • Contact
      • Inquiries
    • Social
      • Instagram
  • Menu Menu
Pomegranate Aspens
Pomegranate Aspens (stars know no time)

in the time when the stars
were all yellow

i was still an enclosed bud

and the pomegranate aspens
only whispered

their secrets

to those they had lured
into lucid
entanglements

in the time when the stars

all flashed a midnight
blue

i surged upwards from
the encasement

the pod’s veils

twirled in the sky
and spun to moist earth

disclosing all wildly

and yet no one heard

in the time when all
the stars merged

white
as one

each being, thing, process
revealed

it’s true nature

moment by moment

and i listened
deeply

in silence
at last

Cliffs of Polihale
Cliffs of Polihale

frequency of stone

crossing the space
between lifestreams

navigating boulders

as the sea glistens
and spirits surround

this immaculate call
to enter
cave

nook in cliff

to be enveloped
by stone

as the sun drops

beneath cloud
into sea

allowing the cliffs’
eye

to see thru me

seeing what
it sees

purified field
emanated chant

birdsong

waves that do not
need

to heed time

frequency of stone
tattered wrist
rumble of sea

silence
is

Cherish
Cherish

what i cherish

heart drop essence
of utter lucidity

dappled light

curve of breast

the sheen of moonlight
on your hip

as you realize

that you have
always been loved

Flute Song
Flute Song

i feel your absence
so strongly

though i do not know
your face

the inimitable style

with which
you manifest
your dreams

do not know if
i ever

have seen
the particular
radiance

of your eyes

and yet i know
the taste

of your presence

more than the tree
from which i was born

an openness

so succinct
it hurts

your breath
within me

that so clearly
creates

this sound
of the wind

rustling
gently
through

the skybound
leaves

Waters of Hanakapia
Waters of Hanakapi’a

ah, waters of hanakapi’a…

imminence of green

this mind
like moss, like lichen

intricate weave
dense array

perfectly allayed

this pristine simple
beauty

amazed
at itself

in
jungle light

immaculate waters
gliding
over stone

sounds that cleanse

and this sweetness
incredible sweetness of being

like the forgiveness
of all things

in this lightness
as i step
along
the

path

South Kona Blues
South Kona Blues

it appears time
to speak of

simple things

touching the earth
softly

dew

green against blue
pine and sky

ascent through mist
poems on eucalyptus

kisa’s smile

sudden appearance
iridescent yellow
bird

on white sand
brilliance

black lava tidal pools
eel in crevice

transparent shrimp
that nibble, clean

hands of my hair
hair

on my hands

sun

tuna fish picnic
beneath shade of palms

kisa’s grace

sense of humor
impeccable delivery

roll of eyes

the smooth stroke with which
she holds

my fragile side

that which she doesn’t fear

she wants me to be happy
always

absurd how difficult
it is

to accept
totally

every now

another’s love

… and all that
appears not

quite
simple

that would seem
not

of the essence

of the intoxicating smell
dry woods

after months of moist
jungle

crisp, crunch
of foot on earth

bark and dirt

all that would seem
to have

no place

in this poem

dense layers
spirit, art

work

the woven
labyrinthine
need

for money
touch

balance

this wish
for the ability

to speak
in the moment

so that others are
able to hear

just what they need

all that i strain under

too much to speak
the truth?

still not sure

and yet blue shimmers
heat of noon

daughter at side
lucid space

fish very much in belly

melted chocolate
in car

awaiting
still

tongue to wrapper

just so

what doesn’t in this
revert

it’s natural face

what can’t find
it’s way
here

to this poem

my outstretched palm
where

yellow iridescence
alights

bobs it’s head

and takes flight
dissolving
in limpid

south kona
blue

breath

and a delicate
being
still

slight turbulence
of the airstream

settling of itself

inherent freedom
to be

and fade

simple things

these humans in sunlight

heat that steals thought
ripples of humor

acceptance
of all

not known

Fathers Day
Father’s Day

elixir of unimagined
velvet dragons

gliding across tongue
down

into sleep

these serenading dreams
welling within

that hidden voice

this lullaby
into wakefulness

easing one across the divide
into this moment

arising
in recognition

of an undiscovered self

ever present
in my daughter’s
crystalline joy

continuity of a smile
glimmering eyes

always there
lucid

awake

old rediscovered photographs
of myself

as a child

opening up
the radiant blueness

of subtle realms

the effervescent
utterly transparent

summer day
wherein

all that was ever refused
appearance

all the subtle obstacles
that might ever

be conceived
to be

are taken up
oh so lightly

in the simple hand

of this child still

a fragile dandelion

inviting breath
awaiting

that inner delight
subtle glee

in the actualization

of all space, sun
and breeze

fulfilling all potential
just then

as at last

i gently blow
and watch

all that ever stood

between you and me
flutter away

upon the winds

of this dream

shimmering light
utterly lucid

now

free

– this poem was unique in that it began in a dream

and continued to flow straight through as i opened eyes and awoke on a father’s day, once upon a time…

 

 

© 2020 Vivid Emptiness | a Vivid Emptiness design
  • Home
  • Photography
  • Poetry
  • Intent
  • Bio
  • Contact
Scroll to top