Heart

A heart will reflect the reality

of the heart it keeps company with

              Sayyiduna 'Ali ibn Talib

_______________________________

what does my heart reflect?

the dark things rotting in the corners of my soul

those part of me that are most me

when I am not close to

the Sacred?

does my life show fear

or emptiness

hate

or greed?

or does my heart reflect

Sacred Presence

that warm light which fills the space within

and radiates

compassion

generosity

patience

kindness

gentleness

self control

love?

O Scared shine

don’t merely flicker

may the radiance of

your fondness

permeate

each moment

each encounter

each action

even in the deep night

through which I (through which we all)

now walk

may I be

however imperfectly

a lamp in the darkness