I was paying close attention,
Didn’t want to leave,
But my karma up and found me
and pulled me by the sleeve.

I lived the life of Buddha,
Jesus and Ramana.
I found the silence soothing
even then I didn’t wanna.

I thought they took my past away
and I loved it so dearly.
But now alone I found that I
could see and feel more clearly.

The ones I left behind are missed
on a daily basis and me, I keep
repeating things to reach the same oasis.

My heart it shrieks and then it sleeps,
The stones of memory hold their ground.
The mossy pebbles full of light,
musical and round.

In orbit now in the same strange place
I wear the old organic face of someone
that I used to know when I was told
I had to go.

Once again I leave what’s dear
so that I can make it clear
that what I know is a cliche
made of attar and sachet.

I reach for you among the sky.
And never ever ask the why.
I lie down in the daylight
and I wake all through the night.
The thorns have all stopped hurting
and the beasts have ceased to bite.

Oasis, stone and scent of you
have woven something deeply true.
All gone, all fled, all wounds now bled,
I pick the harp to find the key that
brings me back to being free.

Vicki Woodyard