Sideways

Just walking in the world is so much work!

Has the earth turned sideways

or am I the one twisted round in my skin?

I see footprints in the mud, left there by the lion.

I see people in the fields, gathering the harvest.

It flows by, moment by moment by moment.

And what will come in this next moment?

Will you go on gathering, continuing your work

regardless of the damage or dangers of the harvest?

Your understanding of the world has turned sideways.

Meanwhile, crouched behind that rock is the lion,

deciding on which wall of his den he will hang your skin.

How privileged you've been in that skin,

believing all others were of no moment.

You who are not gentle like the deer, not powerful like the lion,

with only depletion and decay to show for your work.

You who have turned sideways.

And being so awry, only mourning will be your harvest.

There was a time when celebration was our harvest.

There was a time when we were straight-forward in our skin.

Then, we could correct our sideways

drifting just by turning back to the moment.

Back when we were proud and joyful in our work.

Back when we walked beside our brother lion.

When we walked beside our brother lion

we were thoughtful in our harvest.

Caretaking was our work.

With dirt, sweat, air, and sun clinging to our skin

we cherished each moment.

Walking forward, never sideways.

Is it too late to correct our sliding sideways?

Too late to share in the spirit of the lion?

Correcting, reclaiming, renewing, moment by moment by moment.

We could receive our share of the harvest

with flaming heart and unburdened skin,

and return to balance as our true work.

Correcting our sideways and rejoicing in our work.

When each moment is a harvest

and the lion fills our skin.