Living Bliss

I ask myself, why do I feel so tormented 
with deer who do what deer do:
a flower recently planted lies smashed 
out of its pot—limp on the ground,
the tops of the magenta beauties 
stand stripped and bereft of color.

As I stop and breathe, feel the turmoil of wanting 
to welcome and wanting to be left alone,
I witness the paradox of inviting in all of nature
and then wanting to control who arrives.
I ponder life’s abundance; I understand that
all the colors I want, and need, are always before me. 

I enjoyed magenta beauty as I walked past 
in the day, aware of her within my display, 
in the large red pot. A deer enjoyed magenta beauty 
as she walked past one evening and became 
one with the excitement of her desire. 
Now, which of us lives in bliss, I wonder.

“Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.”

-Thomas Gray

“Just think of any negativity that comes at you as a raindrop falling into the ocean of your bliss.”

-Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

-Joseph Campbell