Cindy Rinne

Heaven and Earth

Two friends walk in silent understanding
amidst the endless snow.
Distant village, trees, mountains
and soaring rocks know
soon one will leave the exterior landscape.
Drifting to a dwelling place inside
the floral heaven.
External translucents gilded in gold.
She tends the luminant garden.
The other longingly holds the bowl
separated by a membrane
and remembers.

Susan Rogers

Kuan Yin

You sit upon a pedestal of jade

milk green, your light flows liquid from within

pulsing prayer through rivulets of stone.

And so you are a contradiction, made

hard jade, yet soft like sacred love, Kuan Yin.

You guide me even now. Through you I own

my stiff resistance to God’s grace. Afraid

to melt, I keep my edges hard and in

my heart I keep your love, for me alone.

Your right eye holds a tear forever laid

in stone; it holds me too. I drink you in

search for your source of peace, the deep calm
   known

and shared by you. Within the jade, Kuan Yin

it’s here. I remember now- compassion.