Crossing to Benzaitendo

Benzaitendo is a temple named after the Hindu goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music, and creative arts.
I had the opportunity while living in Okinawa and then again visiting Okinawa in 2011 to visit the temple.
The temple was built in 1502, and houses ancient manuscripts gifted by the King of Korea to the King of the Ryukyuan Islands.
I hope you enjoy the picture and the accompanying poetry.

Crossing to Benzaitendo

A leap of faith, a step of hope,

crossing to Benzaitendo.

A traverse of an ancient moat

along a bridge of stone I go.

In search of bygone manuscripts

gifted from a long dead king.

The words were whispered from his lips.

“Behold the truth” an angel sings.

What secret will the words unveil?

Will I return a different man?

My eyes will see, my mouth will tell

the  mystery of this ancient land.

In the center of the temple

lay the book upon a stone.

It’s binding worn and simple,

it’s pages brown and over-worn.

As I read aloud with every breath,

the words passed down spoke loud and clear;

the joy of love, the pain of death,

the knowledge of five thousand years.

The wisdom of the erudite king,

to follow in his righteous plan.

It’s love, it's trust, it's everything. 

It's how we treat our fellow man.

A choice to make, yes you must know,

to do your best and lend a hand.  

Crossing to Benziatendo…

my journey to a foreign land.


Shinjichi nu ada nayumi

~Rocket Girl~

My granddaughter in Japan.  A bedtime story for my beautiful Sophie...and as you wish then it shall be.  Love...

~Rocket Girl~

Au revoir petite fille...goodbye!

You've always had your wings to fly.

I will not stop you...au contraire!

Your place is in the stratosphere.

So begin the countdown, trois, deux, un!

Your rocket girl life has just begun.

Now blast off oui...we're all so proud!

As heart shaped contrails cut the clouds.

Please keep in touch, and count the stars

as you zip through space and pass by Mars.

Now close your eyes, it's time to sleep.

Buon nuit princesse, buon nuit...buon nuit.

Walk

I cannot wish away what has occurred in Japan.  But I can make a difference, and so can you.
If you look around the world, we really are a small community.  Even though we are separated by languages, oceans, and ideologies...we are still our brother and sister's keeper.  Isn't it true that we can make a difference?  Won't you join me and let's do our part?  Thank you.   

Come Walk With Me

Come walk with me and breathe the air 
where life is good and kind and fair 
where children laugh and play their games 
and gay and straight aren’t hateful names 

Where a child can safely walk home from school 
and neighbors heed the golden rule 
where every person does their part 
and love flows freely from the heart 

No need for money in this place 
we’re all part of the human race 
when there’s a need we’ll all be there 
to lend a hand and give our share 

A dream perhaps, well maybe so 
but if you don’t try you’ll never know 
how truly beautiful life can be ... 
so come and take a walk with me 

Lonely Bed

A goose down pillow

 beneath my head

as I float upon 
a feather bed

A patchwork quilt 
my bed adorns

to ward off chill 
and keep me warm

The doors all locked 
and pillows fluffed

The curtains drawn 
and candles snuffed

I float away 
to dream in rhyme

and seek for you 
in distant times

This empty space 
within my bed

where you once lay 
your loving head

A place where we 
as lovers met

to speak in verse 
as we caressed

My arms reach out 
within the night

to pull you close 
and hold you tight

But nothing’s there 
just senseless space

where once was you...
 perfume and lace

Release me Hypnos
 light the fire

Let me awaken 
to loves desire

then soon I’ll hold you 
in the glow

and we'll make love
like long ago

Seasons of Love

For Nan...

Would you hold me now and comfort me

before the leaves fall from the maple tree

In the quietness of a moonlit glow

would you draw me close and not let go

Can you take me back to Summer's past

when our hearts were young and love was fast

Our pockets empty but life was grand

as we made a family hand in hand

So hold me now in our Autumn years

and warm my soul as Winter nears

I always knew our love would last

beyond our youthful seasons past

The Nothingness of Tea

Now is all I have
as tea is in the making
unimportant past and future
leave me recalling Zen

Quietly exhaling the day in to air
no words need be spoken
between friends
who met by chance

The Ochawan offered
thick green froth
steaming hot
rejuvenating my soul

Bittersweet warmth
kindness between friends
I realize
now is all I have

Come A Rose

Come a Rose, come around
and chance I gaze into your eyes.
Let me hear the tender sound
of lover's songs and sinful sighs.

Anxious winged seraphs
I beg you hear my fervent plea.
Take flight quickly...blaze a path
and bring my lover here to me.

Come a Rose, come around
and knock upon my waiting door.
I ache to hear the steps you bound
upon my bedroom's wooden floor.

Night Songs

Darkness nears and stars come out.
The sun sets low, coyotes shout.
Crickets chirp into the night,
and fireflies glow as birds take flight.

I sit and watch the dance in rhyme
then all around me stops in time.
As all God’s creatures give their praise
to be alive just one more day


And just as soon as it began,
the moon lends light upon the land.
I bow my head and say a prayer
to all God’s creatures kind and fair.

Walk

Come walk with me and breathe the air
where life is good and kind and fair
where children laugh and play their games
and gay and straight aren’t hateful names

Where a child can safely walk home from school
and neighbors heed the golden rule
where every person does their part
and love flows freely from the heart

No need for money in this place
we’re all part of the human race
when there’s a need we’ll all be there
to lend a hand and give our share

A dream perhaps, well maybe so
but if you don’t try you’ll never know
how truly beautiful life can be ...
so come and take a walk with me

La Belle Vie

You didn’t like to smile that much
always saying that your teeth were crooked
I thought your smile was beautiful
falling for that offset grin

Late night coffee with you
Reading Thomas Moore ‘til three
All whilst holding hands
like lovers wish

Waking late and feeding you cereal in bed
with a plastic spoon
Wiping milk from your chin
with a paper napkin I kept tucked in my hand

One day when we grow up
I promise to write you a poem
and feed you in bed
with a silver spoon

The Looking Pool

I wrote this poem about 20 years ago.

A period of time when my children were young, and I had found a beautiful island named Okinawa to call home.

I never had a photo to go along with the poem, but now I do.

It's my granddaughter standing at the edge of the sea, and yes she lives in Uruma-shi Okinawa.

I dedicate this poem to the beautiful little girl who calls me Pawpaw.

How supremely fitting my poem has finally found it's home after two decades.

One early morning I awoke
and walked down to the sea
and knelt down by a tidal pool
on a beach in Uruma-shi

Reflections of the sky and clouds
blue and white as I'd ever seen
then looking deep within the pool
I saw the strangest thing

An angel appeared and spoke to me
I listened to what she said
her every word was like the breeze
that blew above my head

She spoke of Okinawa
and the beauty of the land
She spoke of mother nature
and the brotherhood of man

And when she finished speaking
a tear rolled off her brow
I then awoke and stood up
and walked back in to town