Carol Alena Aronoff
 
Now You See It… 
 
Sky has loved me 
through every turning, 
enfolded me in unclouded,  
unconditioned space. 
The coral vine 
has christened me  
with petals, a peach tree  
has sung me out of dream. 
 
Mango seeds large  
as lemons soften my path 
to the garden but soon  
will sprout into myriad 
trees unless uprooted  
by pigs or pick axe.  
Some loves are best  
left unrequited. 
 
I bow to the innocence  
of willow. By honoring  
the sacredness of slugs  
and seedlings, perhaps I can  
open to essence. These  
landmarks may not be here  
tomorrow. My habits  
are coyotes laying false trails.  
 

 
Christ Has No Body

Teresa of Avila

And if you enter her room     while
she is at vespers    and if you lean
against the wall,          you will feel
bare planks                 imbued with
the perfumed resin          of prayer,
cracks filled in                    with piety
and purity of purpose.        And the
barely audible hum      of continual,
ecstatic devotion.  Gravity has fled
this unwindowed cell,  this aerie of
a wingless bird. There are no flight
restrictions,       no limits to soaring.
A subtle light     reveals the Sacred.
No crucifix                      is needed.

The Taste of Gratitude

When I remember
to thank a saffron finch
for serenades
at sunset, the dove
for morning matins,
the dahlia for sharing
its nectar with bees,
I am overcome
with love.
The air shimmers
as though seen
through flame,
a letting go
that frees
the senses,
slows the mind.
In that moment,
the world seems
to vibrate with joy
and my thoughts
are odes I sing
to the Divine.

 

Carol Alena Aronoff, Ph.D. is a psychologist, teacher and poet. Her work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies and has won several prizes. She was twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She has published a chapbook (Cornsilk) and 4 books of her poems and photographs: The Nature of Music, Cornsilk, Her Soup Made the Moon Weep, Blessings From an Unseen World as well as Dreaming Earth’s Body (with artist Betsie Miller-Kusz). Currently, she resides in rural Hawaii.