Mother-of-us-all prays to free us
from our image of perfection
to which so much suffering clings.

When in the shadowy mind
we imagine ourselves imperfectly,
praying to be freed from gravity
by enlightenment, she refines our prayers.

Putting her arms around us
she bids us rest our head on her shoulder
whispering, Don’t you know
with all your fear and anger
all you are fit for is love.

Stephen Levine is the bestselling author of A Gradual Awakening, Who Dies?, Meetings at the Edge, Healing into Life and Death, Guided Meditations, Embracing the Beloved, A Year to Live, Turning toward the Mystery, and Unattended Sorrow.  This poem comes from his new book, Breaking the Drought:  Visions of Grace, of which Roshi Joan Halifax writes, "This is a gorgeous book, a book of powerful images, experience, beauty, and wisdom.  Stephen Levine has always told the truth; now he does it with the great beauty of his poetry ringing in our hearts."

See also:
"This awkward speck of dust"
"Seeing her face this morning..."
"There is an elemental love."
"A different death"