On the other side

Quietness

Inside this new love, die.

Your way begins on the other side.

Become the sky.

Take an axe to the prison wall.

Escape.

Walk out like somebody suddenly born into color.

Do it now.

You’re covered with thick cloud.

Slide out the side.

Die,

and be quiet. Quietness is the surest sign

that you’ve died.

Your old life was a frantic running

from silence.

The speechless full moon

comes out now.

                                           Rumi

____________________________

the rush of the day is over

all the voices

all the striving

all the wondering and worrying

all the measuring of self

the TV is off

and on the front porch

I sit

Listening to the silence

The thunder rumbles briefly

And the rain falls

And then

Once again silence

And all that I have carried falls away

The good, the bad, the ugly

All gone

And nothing remains

Except

What lies on the other side

Of this

death