"Deep Within All there is a Stillness, and that Stillness is the Self of Life"

Would you feel Its touch of flame?

What could gain yourself this much?

Will you be a Fool for It?

Or enroll into Its school?

Do you come in need most dire?

These instructions you must heed

First you must dispense with

All vain swagger and pretense

Think to find out where It is

Where It is there is no There

Deep within the Self of Life

Leave all else upon the shelf

More must also rhyme for you

In Its world there is no time

Here time ticks the hour and day

Where It is time has no power

In Its world time finally relents to It

In Its eye all time's eternally present

Thrice have I approached for audience

Once when death on my dear Love encroached

But I did not ask It why she left

I asked why still here am I?

If she must leave the lower realms,

What am I required to stay and grieve?

I said if needs must be that I should sing this song a while,

Please grant this time in time will not be overlong

Then Love rushed and pushed the hole to fill

A daughter and her daughters gave to me another role

New joy was mine to love again

New family did my fulsome life define

But then arrived affliction of the heart to me

Threatening to tear us four apart

Three heart attacks took me to brink of death

No remedy to save this life, I think

So late that night communicate I did

"At first, despondent, I did ask you to abbreviate"

"The lonely passing of this time for me"

"But things are very different now, this time"

"You've sent me Love, to me these ones"

"A bit they do depend on me"

"So if it's all the same to you"

"Please know that I would here remain"

"A while, a little while, to see them through the harshened times"

And then I listened close for mind and heart were full and ardent

Did I forget to tell you, you must wait for It to speak?

That is the most important part, and on that one must meditate

First distantly, then close at hand I heard

Remembered verse, familiar song and band:

'The woods are lovely, dark and deep,' it sang

And then, 'But I have promises to keep'

'And miles to go...' the rest you know

And peacefully I took my rest

Sleep my worried head did soothe

Then I was placed on surgeon's bed

The doctor said my case was hard

I looked him full on in the face

I told him of my searing need

If he would cut me open, I would not have him fearing

He looked at me with eyes so deep I knew

"I must live. I have a daughter. I've promises to keep."

And soft he said, "And we will help you keep them."

And that is seven years past, and here I am.