Monika John

Dark Cloud’s Blessing
Overcast skies and winter showersspark quiet contentment:
no sounds but the ticking of a clockand water falling from heaven.
Thoughts of isolationdissolve in deepening solitude.
Sacred communion flows from silenceinto a ready listening heart.
Rain drops draw invisible circlesin emptiness free from wants and planning.

Monastery (Tassajara)
Mountain river rushesdrowning wind song-
Gongs drone slowlycalling the moment: one, one…
Breath moves lowerin down, out down-
No thinkingonly listening, listen with
heartbeat,heart…beat…

Spring Mourning
Spring sunshinepale yellowon the mountain -
my heart mournsthe passingof winter silence

2012 poems have been accepted for a poetry collection (to be published by Sampad, UK in partnership with the British Council as part of an international writing competition, entitled “Tagore Inspired”) and Crone Magazine. 2011 prose and poems were published in Presence, Fungi and Urthona Magazine UK, Penwood Review, USA Sathya Sai Newsletters. Earlier poetry appeared in various US and UK journals.