Arts
The Arts section of Orient Lodge
The Labyrinth
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Tue, 12/29/2015 - 21:12A cold rain blows
across the labyrinth
on a hill
on Block Island
as I kneel down
to touch the pebbles;
symbols
of hopes and dreams
of earlier
pilgrims.
That he might see me.
That I might find the courage
to say, “Hi.”
For our life together.
That we might find a home.
For my job, my career.
For the life growing
inside my womb.
That he might conquer his addiction.
That she beats the cancer.
For a better world.
That my life
might have true meaning.
That her final days
might be peaceful,
happy,
and pain free.
For those that mourn.
I kneel down
and touch the pebbles,
as I search for my own hope
my own desires.
To help others
reach theirs.
The Singularity
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sun, 12/27/2015 - 09:27The folk of birds
flew in tight formation
as it they were one being
made of many
and I thought
maybe
the singularity
is already here
made of many.
The flock of Facebook,
Google,
Fox News,
ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS,
America,
England,
France,
Russia,
Germany,
Italy,
Japan,
Protestant,
Catholic,
Muslim,
Jew,
has evolved
beyond comprehension
through the use
of new technologies,
while we
the nodes
have evolved
little.
December
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 12/07/2015 - 20:10“April is the cruelest month”,
but December ain’t that easy either.
At AA meetings,
the litanies begin,
“I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the holidays”,
and the person who has lost a loved one
nods in assent.
The lonely
look at the crowds
of merrymakers,
feeling left out
and the yearly battles
begin again,
starting even before black Friday,
as far back
as Halloween.
Merry Christmas,
Happy Holidays.
Hanukkah, Kwanza
Solstice, Saturnalia.
The advertisers offer their balm.
If you buy this item,
you’ll have friends
and be happy,
but the monks and mystics
focus on Advent,
a period of quiet expectation
before the incarnation
a time drowned out
by the marketing madness.
Advent II 2015
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sat, 12/05/2015 - 18:57A voice cries out in the wilderness,
the wilderness of San Bernardino
the wilderness of Colorado Springs
the wilderness of endless Facebook posts
that show no compassion
the wilderness of shut-ins
dying along
the wilderness of homeless people
trying to stay warm.
Make straight the way of the Lord
in the hearts of the people
in the words of the leaders
in the actions of us all
as we show compassion
to those different from us
smile at those
who too rarely see smiles
because we too rarely
smile ourselves.
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God
whatever they call God
whatever they think of God
if they even think of God at all
or acknowledge God’s existence.
The salvation found
in a smile
a hug
a gentle word
a shared meal
is but part
of our role
in making the rough ways smooth.
Morning Shower
Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 22:09By paying attention
to what I notice today
I become more observant.
The sparkle of the drops of water
splashing from the shower head.
The echo
of my early morning
cough.
The pressure of my hands
as they massaged the shampoo
onto my scalp.
The shampoo’s fragrance.
The broken pieces
of old bath toys
strewn around the tub.
It’s just another Monday
that will be completely different
by paying attention
to what I notice today
