She’d get dressed up to go get curtains in town, Daddy would huff before we piled into the truck, That pretty little woman could always calm him down.
From store to store we would dart all around, Daddy’d wait in truck hoping we’d hurry up, She’d get dressed up to go get curtains in town.
He’d groan and moan but always come ’round, His complaints never seemed to bother her much, That pretty little woman could always calm him down.
On the way home she suddenly found She needed to stop for some groceries and such. She’d get dressed up to go get curtains in town.
He’d gripe, “Honey, you take longer with each new round.” But she was happy enough and so he’d drive on and shut up. That pretty little woman could always calm him down.
She had what she came for, was happy as a clam. His complaints never seemed to stifle her luck. She’d get dressed up to go get curtains in town, That pretty little woman could always calm him down.
—villanelle inspired by Malcolm M. Sedam’s “The Hill Maiden”
Moving through a deep valley of melancholy night She roams ghost-like though the stones of dreams— Even without wings, she will soon sail into flight.
Her smile carries a sword that rends her might. Flowers meet her eye but her sorrow still gleams— Moving through a deep valley of melancholy night.
Her thoughts attend a rainbow galaxy of light, As the blood rose pricks the ice of clay-cold streams— Even without wings, she will soon sail into flight.
The pain of growth spreads through her flesh in spite Of snow bank’s promise of better schemes— Moving through a deep valley of melancholy night.
Zen-like hands reach out, time tends to make all right The door of her heart opens wide, as yearning teems— Even without wings, she will soon sail into flight.
Her reveries rise on golden prayers unto the height Where soul love heals all gloom as new light beams— Moving through a deep valley of melancholy night, Even without wings, she will soon sail into flight.
So many bubbles drift into view—then burst and fade away. They ripple by, play for a time, then pass on into the sea. I aspire to learn whence they come and whither they stray.
Raindrops fall and splash—then dissolve without delay As they rush like thoughts that flash but leave no memory. So many bubbles drift into view—then burst and fade away.
Night’s stars are bright but lose their shine upon dawning day. Cherished friends and loved ones dear—no longer here to stay. I aspire to learn whence they come and whither they stray.
Lilies come blooming; bees and birds all do in sunlight play. Then comes the hour that all remains is one bare, empty tree. So many bubbles drift into view—then burst and fade away.
The players sang their parts then slipped into another way— The cosmic screen whereon they moved hides what used to be. I aspire to learn whence they come and whither they stray.
I will use my time to discover the truths that do so heavily weigh— To unveil the Infinite Force that shines then dims through eternity. So many bubbles drift into view—then burst and fade away. I aspire to learn whence they come and whither they stray.
The following six villanelles are inspired by the poem “Samadhi” by Paramahansa Yogananda.
1 The veil of Maya’s mortal confusion is now shed
The veil of Maya’s mortal confusion is now shed— The storm of delusion hushed, that once was mine. My soul has awakened from all suffering and dread.
Bewitching flesh temptation has now fled— Lust and longing, even death whither beneath the Vine. The veil of Maya’s mortal confusion is now shed.
The spool of the worldliness has lost its thread— Love becomes real and deep in Truth’s sacred shrine. My soul has awakened from all suffering and dread.
The road to hell before had often led To misery and blight before the Word did shine. The veil of Maya’s mortal confusion is now shed.
My soul now goes where the snake cannot lift his head Where light and faith rise together in Love Divine. My soul has awakened from all suffering and dread.
O Thou, Who art That! May Thy will be spread! I live in Thee, and now for nothing else I pine. The veil of Maya’s mortal confusion is now shed. My soul has awakened from all suffering and dread.
2 Without the Waves
“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
In Memoriam: Bill Craig August 8, 1954 — February 6, 2025
Without the waves—I exist only as boundless sea. God’s boundless love has stemmed the tide. God’s bliss is mine—deep, wide, eternally free.
No more hemmed round in time, space, and memory, My soul will now and always in sacred Light abide. Without the waves—I exist only as boundless sea.
Satan’s veil is shed—my soul’s eye now can see Only holy Light no shadow can ever hide. God’s bliss is mine—deep, wide, eternally free.
My soul unborn of flesh, not changed through history— Like Christ I stand up to the trial that would divide. Without the waves—I exist only as boundless sea.
I listen only to angelic voices singing to me. Lesser music has vanished—noise has died. God’s bliss is mine—deep, wide, eternally free.
I take no thought for I live in celestial unity— From former failures no need to hide. Without the waves—I exist only as boundless sea. God’s bliss is mine—deep, wide, eternally free.
3 Myself and All
I consumed the stars and swallowed their flame— All planets bending to my will and trust, The cosmos flooding into my soul, my name.
Bursting violent wails of destruction came, Then glacial silence reigned in a silver swept gust— I consumed the stars and swallowed their flame.
Past and future pairs of opposites rose to claim Seeds of good and evil, life and death, love and lust— The cosmos flooding into my soul, my name.
Creation’s clay testified to every primitive shame; The heart of humanity beat fast, became robust. I consumed the stars and swallowed their flame.
No particle, no whispered essence could disclaim My soul transformed the storm by my spirit’s thrust— The cosmos flooding into my soul, my name.
Now all is one—no other voice to blame— My ego fire consumed, for burning be I must: I consumed the stars and swallowed their flame— The cosmos flooding into my soul, my name.
4 Wild, Burning Joy in Cerebration’s Glow
Wild, burning joy in cerebration’s glow Brims tearing eyes with Holy Light and never dies Swallows up my pain, my name, my all: I know.
Thou art I, Thou I am—blessèd unity on us bestow The blaze of bliss: Knower, Knowing, Known arise— Wild, burning joy in cerebration’s glow.
An infinite river of eternal bliss ever to flow, Fusing my peace with truth that never lies, Swallows up my pain, my name, my all: I know.
One blissful, peaceful joy, where living waters go No ego remains, no limiting, sorrowful cries— Wild, burning joy in cerebration’s glow.
Blissful soul the heart its oneness does show, One soothing flame soaring beyond the skies— Swallows up my pain, my name, my all: I know.
In sun-filled stillness, the heavenly bud can blow, Where all-pervading, ever-living peace can never die— Wild, burning joy in cerebration’s glow Swallows up my pain, my name, my all: I know.
5 No Lack of Consciousness but Wildly Aware
No lack of consciousness but wildly aware, Shed the mental boundaries of my physical frame, Where I, on the Cosmic Sea of stillness, dare.
The soul without ego drifts with no care, My design no longer hide-bound to a name— No lack of consciousness but wildly aware.
Space moves as an iceberg drifting there, Throughout my infinite, omniscient mind-flame, Where I, on the Cosmic Sea of stillness, dare.
A falling sparrow cannot flee my loving care; All worlds appearing and disappearing are the same— No lack of consciousness but wildly aware.
Through heartfelt prayer in meditation rare, By Guruji’s grace, my inner silence came— Where I, on the Cosmic Sea of stillness, dare.
Reality abides eternally inside His heavenly lair; I am now united with the Source which is my aim— No lack of consciousness but wildly aware, Where I, on the Cosmic Sea of stillness, dare.
6 Sea of Mirth
We come from Joy, and to Joy we must return. Four veils we shall lift: solid, liquid, air, and light. In divine Joy, all mortal boundaries burn.
The atoms’ secrets we shall try to learn, Earth, seas, and stars all wane into cosmic night. We come from Joy, and to Joy we must return.
In vaporous veils where nebulae do churn, Electrons, protons whirl in all-pervading might. In divine Joy, all mortal boundaries burn.
The cosmic drum strikes rhythms that concern, As massive forms abscond into telling fright— We come from Joy, and to Joy we must return.
I am but God’s little wave, and yet I begging yearn To possess an ocean-mind absorbing wrong and right. In divine Joy, all mortal boundaries burn.
Bubbling laughter, all boundaries I shall spurn As I meld with Sea of Mirth’s brilliant blaze of white. We come from Joy, and to Joy we again return. In divine Joy, all mortal boundaries burn.
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