(A dedication before breath; For)

Everything that I do, I do for
you.
Everything that I am, I am for
you.
I know you, just the same.

Seated within my body, like the air that passes by;

Forgive me when I run away-
For we both know that I am scared of myself,
As I learn to navigate a labyrinthian, mobile body,
and every moment that it takes.

Still, in shapes, many follow.
To create, I have no choice but to pursue.
So in each piece, each stroke, in each breath
I pursue in you

So that one day, and many more,
Through the work of my hands,
I can see you breathe too.

(The Genius Loci of the landscape of my heart.)

Even so, as tall as I am
My giants are always taller.
With great fear, I cowered before them
Knowing not what to do, I bent at their will.

Though greater is, the Great I am,
Who, before giants shrink shorter
And recoil as glory rush from Him.
He has made all things new, according to His will.

I am Israel

I am he who wrestles; (Selah)
With sin
And lust;
With pain
And pleasures;
With hatred
And joy;
With solitude
And Chaos;
With father
And mother;
With man
And God.
Selah

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God,”—

—But who is to say that is so?
Because all of these things strike with a heavy blow.
And this “good” is sometimes painful at best,
Cutting away at these things in my chest.
And the truth is my “good” only benefits me.
It keeps me comfortable, that much is plain to see.
God asks if he could remove the darkness from my heart
But my heart, only knowing darkness,  it cries out not to part.
So, I must soon decide
Whether to flee or to abide.
I hear the sound drum
I think, am I to become—

—“to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

teach me how to hunt
hold my hand, take me with you
show me your world
I want to hear the snap of a bowstring
in the silent forests
I’ve tasted the sting of an arrow’s head
I know how true they fly
they know exactly where to strike
who knew
that the softest plate in my armor
was just over my heart

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
T­his poem is self translated version of my Hindi language poem titled "शिव लीला" published in pratilipi on (June. 2018) Can be read through the link ==>> https://bit.ly/2Z9Z57t
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^­^^^^^^

His neck has entirely turned blue due to Kalkoot, This is just a Leela of Shiva
He has taken everyone's pain and sorrow for the betterment of the world

He is the keeper of all the three loka's and also called as Trilokinath
He hold the holy Ganga in his locks, but do not drinks a drop from it

He sits on the yellow Tiger skin mat and keeps meditating for years to come
He satiates hunger by Datura and Madaar and drinks Bhang to quench thirst

He has a marvellous third eye through which all the three lokas are visible
Sitting in the Mahayoga posture, He keeps on concentrating and meditating

Brahma and Vishnu also bows before him with respect and feels blessed
Such a beautiful holy Leela of Shiva.  Nothing else but Shiva's holy Leela

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^­^^^^^

Kalkoot(Line 1): A poison generated due to Samudra Manthan ( The Churning of the Ocean by Devtas[Gods] and Asuras[Demons] )
Leela(Line 1): "Divine Play" (Just a pastime)
Shiva(Line 1): A God (The Destroyer) in Hindu Mythology

Loka(Line 3): Three three different worlds/realms. Swargaloka, the land of gods; Mrityuloka, the middle kingdom of men; and Pataloka, home of the Asuras, the fallen gods, and demons.
Trilokinath(Line 3): The Lord of the Three world/realms.

Ganga (Line 4): The Holy river whose flow and speed is controlled by the locks (Jatas - The thick hair strands) of Lord Shiiva

Datura and Madaar (Line 6): Poisonous plants (Datura stramonium and Calotropis gigantean)
Bhang (Line 6): Poisonous plants (Cannabis Plant)
Mahayoga (Line 8): Also called as Mahamudra – The Great Gesture (a posture for meditating)

Good Morning, Good Noon,
Good Afternoon and Good Evening,

For Peace of Mind

Almighty God,
we bless you for our lives
we give praise to Thee
for Thy abundant mercy and grace we receive
We thank Thee for Thy faithfulness even
though we are not that faithful to Thee

Lord Jesus,
we ask Thee to give us all around
peace in our mind, body, soul, and spirit

we want Thee to heal and remove everything
that is causing stress, grief, and sorrow in our lives

please guide our path through life
and make our enemies be at peace with us
let Thy peace reign in our family,
at our place of work, businesses
and everything we lay our hands on.

Let Thy angels of peace go ahead of us
when we go out and stay by our side when we return.

In Jesus' name, Amen.


©SYLVIA FRANCES CHAN