Vase of Mindfulness

Softly flowing breeze ripples in the blooming garden, like a dislodged leaf I rustle aimlessly on the ground, don’t see the beauty of the flowers floating in the air, don’t find the latticed butterflies flittering around. Whispering wind flows through the stratum of blue sky, like the detached clump of cloud I drift to nowhere, colors of the sunburst horizon at dawn don’t reach me, silver tinge of the mesmeric moonshine don’t adorn me. Encased in the monotony of sound of the breaking waves, like a forlorn pebble on the beach I roll back and forth, don’t hear the enthralling music of the serenading breeze, don’t listen the murmur of water making pearl lace for me. In the tide of noise my mind wanders beyond awareness, I concentrate my ruffled life in serene depth of meditation, learning to extract ecstasy from the focused consciousness to see the soul bloom in bliss in the vase of mindfulness. ______________ May 1, 2022 N/A July 19, 2022 For Brian Strand's Second Chance Contest