FINDING THE PRESENT

An extract

The present moment began with fire

And still it burns; it began with water,

And still they drown on the margins of Europe.

It began with air – see how they flee, see

How the bombs fall on houses made of sand,

Dreams made of flesh, the blind drones

Of remote war. But it began with earth,

Where all destinies are one, but many perish

For want of justice or soap or flowers

Instead of fears. Our age is confused:

The world runs ahead while humanity

Falls behind, trampled on by juggernauts

Whose names are the fearsome powers.

Across borders and nations, a new web

Of chains within the greatest horizons

The world has ever known. Water itself

Resists oppression. Press her down too much

And she erupts with unexpected force

Somewhere else. We are all on a great ship

That’s lost its balance, lost its way,

And a huge storm’s gathering beyond

The iron veil of our hearts. Maybe

It’s a storm of revelation. Maybe it’s a storm

Of truth, of which art’s the unknown magus.

The age is changing. The present moment

Is itself constantly revealing. Everything

We see is the mask of time

Concealing its features.

Come with me through the mask,

Into rites of vision and truth.

Come with me to the blue garden.

New time is being made here from

The wandering sleep of dreamers.

Shadows on the cave walls walk to and fro.

Shadows on the city walls come and go.

Shadows in the garden

Shadows in the garden.

Shadows in the

Shadows.