waking

its early morning as i
enter to sit in a circle
birds spread before me
with subdued songs

that’s my gateway into
the rain's mighty voice
as it pounds heavily
on tinned roofs and leafage
as it pounds
on the arc of sleep whence i emerge
soon there returning
without this bundle
or so i hope
after long ferrying this pain

often the need to unload
adds somehow to the burden

this listening redeems
for what you hear in the rain
is a most ancient song
its the voice of the world
humming its own beginning

source of endless
vibrant refrains
where alongside birds
we too glean for provision

siem reap, 26 august 2011