Judy Shepps Battle
Embrace the Path
Leave couch, chair,
Tiffany lamp with
tasseled shade
empty pockets, piggy
bank, and stashes of
rainy-day security
scatter pennies, dimes,
and quarters on
concrete sidewalks
and asphalt highways
Don't look back
even to see who bends
picks up largess
and kneels in thanks
Just be as you are
the rainbow
the giver and the gifted
the conduit continuing
cosmic tradition
one breath at a time.
Le Moment Présent
Buddha is here
each swoop-and-snatch
artfully performed
by Red-winged Blackbirds
cleverly competing with
hungry Blue Jays
handfuls of unshelled
peanuts disappear
leaving sunflower seeds
mixed with millet for
smaller ground crew
to clear.
Buddha is here
morning sun sparkles
Cicadas serenade
honey-suckle breeze
tickles human senses
branches bow, leaves flutter
blessings abound
free for the taking
in-breath receives
out-breath shares
sacred moment saturates
winks then disappears.
Judy Shepps Battle has been writing essays and poems long before retiring from being a psychotherapist and sociology professor. She is a New Jersey, USA resident, addictions specialist, consultant and freelance writer. Her poems have been accepted in a variety of publications including Ascent Aspirations; Barnwood Press; Battered Suitcase; Caper Literary Journal; Epiphany Magazine; Joyful; Message in a Bottle Poetry Magazine; Raleigh Review; Rusty Truck; Short, Fast and Deadly; the Tishman Review, and Wilderness House Literary Press.
Embrace the Path
Leave couch, chair,
Tiffany lamp with
tasseled shade
empty pockets, piggy
bank, and stashes of
rainy-day security
scatter pennies, dimes,
and quarters on
concrete sidewalks
and asphalt highways
Don't look back
even to see who bends
picks up largess
and kneels in thanks
Just be as you are
the rainbow
the giver and the gifted
the conduit continuing
cosmic tradition
one breath at a time.
Le Moment Présent
Buddha is here
each swoop-and-snatch
artfully performed
by Red-winged Blackbirds
cleverly competing with
hungry Blue Jays
handfuls of unshelled
peanuts disappear
leaving sunflower seeds
mixed with millet for
smaller ground crew
to clear.
Buddha is here
morning sun sparkles
Cicadas serenade
honey-suckle breeze
tickles human senses
branches bow, leaves flutter
blessings abound
free for the taking
in-breath receives
out-breath shares
sacred moment saturates
winks then disappears.
Judy Shepps Battle has been writing essays and poems long before retiring from being a psychotherapist and sociology professor. She is a New Jersey, USA resident, addictions specialist, consultant and freelance writer. Her poems have been accepted in a variety of publications including Ascent Aspirations; Barnwood Press; Battered Suitcase; Caper Literary Journal; Epiphany Magazine; Joyful; Message in a Bottle Poetry Magazine; Raleigh Review; Rusty Truck; Short, Fast and Deadly; the Tishman Review, and Wilderness House Literary Press.