A Poem: One Reason

So many reasons for thank you,
and then again God, just one.

We do not admire a painting,
without considering the artist.

Or fall in love,
without a groundswell of generous
thought,
toward the ones who stole our heart.

So much to say thank you for,
and then again just you.

God of the many gifts,
and all in one day.

Thank you becomes a breath
we exhale,
and a way to live

when we put our blessings
front and forwards.

Do we need to manufacture
reasons to experience joy?

No, we just start to count,
to one even.

Ana Lisa de Jong
Living Tree Poetry
November 2022

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TRIPPING OVER JOY

What is the difference
Between your experience of Existence
And that of a saint?

The saint knows
That the spiritual path
Is a sublime chess game with God

And that the Beloved
Has just made such a Fantastic Move

That the saint is now continually
Tripping over Joy
And bursting out in Laughter
And saying, “I Surrender!”

Whereas, my dear,
I am afraid you still think
You have a thousand serious moves.”

― Hafez, I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I am happy even before I have a reason.

I am full of Light even before the sky
Can greet the sun or the moon.

Dear companions,
We have been in love with God
For so very, very long.”

― Hafez, I Heard God Laughing: Poems of Hope and Joy