American Zen - The Blessing

Autumn cold drapes her dark shawl
Upon this Turtle - upon us all
A gentle drizzle sparkles the fire
A wonderful heat of restrained desire
Something Sacred has control
Something Sacred feeds the soul
The Earth feels warm and ripe
Alive beneath and within The Pipe
Gathered around this fire of the heart
Naked in towels prepare to depart
Inside the Turtle Dome's power
Where life is a moment - a couple of hours
The Coyote sits beneath umbrella
Flute in his lap a mysterious fella
Jasmine tea warms his hands and lips
Patiently awaiting their departure trips
The Swallow arrives at the blessed heat
Dressed in hair, a towel, and bare feet
The fire is stronger than the Autumn rain
An unknown song The Coyote contains
Newcomers learn from the Swallow's words
Preparing them for a flight with Nature's birds
The loading of The Pipe - the sacred time is now
Richard requests a song - a blessing prayer somehow
I can feel the richness of the Earth
I can feel a cosmic birth
I can feel the importance of what we do
I can feel the relationship of all of you
Something Sacred has control
Something Sacred feeds the soul
The Earth feels warm and ripe
Alive beneath - within The Pipe
No planning or rehearsals - this song is free
Perhaps the key of "E" - something inside me
Allowing the song to flow out smooth
The energies and directions are relaxed and soothed
The Pipe has been filled in a sacred manner
The colored flags are the spiritual banners
A buffalo skull between the fire and dome
This halfway point between birth and home
The seekers inside chant and sing
The drum beats along with the heartbeats' ring
As prayers blend together I stand outside
Chatting with the Fire Keeper and a woman of the Pipe
They teach me - they talk - preparing me for a test
Everything makes sense - when the mind is at rest
Today at the Y - during the Pipe Ceremony
A Red Stone Pipe was given to me
Jule and Kim teach about carrying The Pipe
Rules and responsibilities I like
As a Sifu - a teacher - this path is being walked
A new focus becomes clear in the hours we talked
The Turtle flap again opens - it is time for their smoke
Richard Swallow requests my flute be awoke
Standing before the glowing red coals
A song pours slowly for the Sweat Lodge souls
Something Sacred has control
Something Sacred feeds the soul
The Earth feels warm and ripe
Alive beneath and within The Pipe
"That was nice," Richard states with his head out the door
"But a little too short" - Jule whispers, "Better play some more"
The same song - yet different - making further still
Silhouettes of Rocky Mountains - I aim for the hills
The song is being pulled, pushed, flowing around me
Slowly I turn and aim it differently
Subtle changes feel and grow inside my song
Allowing my fingers to play - no note can be wrong
Turning in a circle - counterclockwise I unwind
Pulled by The Directions - introduced to what I find
Back at the beginning - back at The Center
Within the Sacred Powers - now I have entered
Something Sacred has control
Something Sacred feeds the soul
The Earth feels warm and ripe
Alive beneath and within The Pipe
Convinced of my strength - purity of my direction
The women tell the Holy Man to make my connection
In Lakota tradition my Pipe is awakened
Richard Swallow holds my Pipe - the Earth is somehow shaken
He questions me and speaks to the others gathered 'round
All silently watch his words - and feel his sound
Standing in The Center - his hands extend to me
Then The Pipe withdraws back to him very quickly
Four times he offers - I watch think and respect
The responsibility given is mine to also reject
Within my heart it builds one - two - three - four
My first reach wasn't quick enough so I grasp with all my power
Richard Swallow smiles, "You all here are witness"
This Holy Man has created another spiritual fitness
Standing with The Pipe - its feather and coyote foot
A warmth fills upward - through my body - through my Pipe - through my flute

Written by:
Richard Connor

Publisher:
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