Borrowed clay

Borrowed clay                                                                                  

There’s a path which must be walked.

There’s no choice about it; no turning back.

A footbridge to be crossed –          

high, narrow, pendulous; a candle

held before the chest, cupped hand

and cautious steps protecting its flame.

In the heart, there’s a wine cup, brimful,

to be balanced precisely  

lest a drop spills in vain.  There’s a prayer –

heartfelt, word for word -- which must be said

as the candle is protected and the cup is balanced;

a silence to be kept intact as the prayer is recited

and the cup is balanced, the candle protected –

a silence pure, immense as the silence

Meher left after returning the borrowed clay.

And there are various outward, 

karmic circumstances which must come together 
like stars in alignment and agreement.  

Footbridge, candle,wine cup, prayer, 
silence, stars and circumstance . . . .

O child of God, there is more to the path

the farther along you go.