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Coleman Barks accompanied
by Marcus Wise (tablas), David Whetstone (sitar),
Celso Maldanado, Michael Meade, and Olatunji (drums)

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Spring

and everything outside is growing!

Even the tall cypress tree.

We must not leave this place!

Around the lip of the cup we share

these words …

my life is not mine

if someone were to play music –

it would have to be very sweet.

We’re drinking wine but

not through the lips.

We’re sleeping it off but

not in bed.

Rub the cup across your forehead

this day is outside of living and dying.

Give up wanting what other people

have, that way you’re safe.

Where, where can I be safe you ask?

This is not a day for asking questions!

Not a day on any calendar.

This day is conscience of itself.

This day is a lover –

bread and gentleness

more manifest than saying can say.

Thoughts take take form with words

but this daylight is beyond and before

thinking and imagining

those two. They are so thirsty but

this gives smoothness to water.

Their mouths are dry and their tired.

The rest of this poem is too

blurry for them to read.