Earthquake

   

Terrible things happen

Beautiful things happen

People are weeping

People are laughing

The world is a play

Of light and shadow

Everyone is a victim

Everyone is to blame

No one is a victim

No one is to blame

An old man dies in your arms

An infant is born in your hands

The peony I planted

last year in my garden

that I thought had not survived

now swells with ancient beauty

in a yearning bud

Shivo'ham Shivo'ham

I am the Infinite

the imperishable Splendor

of Awareness

I Witness the blossoming

the fragrance and the fall

of the smallest wildest 

flower

I hold you no less dear