The sages inquired into the question of the nature of a human being and that is the subject of today's poem and painting. 

Disappearing by Harry Kottler, 2007, 18”x24”, acrylic and collage on clayboard

The Past, The Future, and Being

by Harry Kottler

My life is no mystery;

I have no regrets.

I look at my history

As something not set

Anywhere in the universe

But in my very own spine

Where it sits quite happily

Midst thoughts divine.

The future is resting

In that very same space.

It clearly is nesting

In the space of God's grace

And smiling and laughing

At all that will be,

For my soul knows who I am,

And what's essentially me.

Me has been no people

And people it won't be.

Being is Is-ness,

And Is-ness is me.

Is-ness is I-ness,

And I-ness is that

I that's forever,

Not a man or a cat.

I once was a person

In my fantasy mind.

I once was immersed in

Concepts unkind.

To think you're just human

Has no truth at all.

It's like a giraffe thinking,

"I am not tall."

A human being is a giant

Who is larger than space.

A human being is a giant

Who has no sex or race.

A human is Godly.

A human being is God.

Stretch your mind toward this concept.

It's really not hard.

Stretch your mind toward the question,

"Am I flesh and bones?"

Stretch your mind toward the question,

"Am I the mind that I own?"

Stretch your mind toward the question.

"From where do thoughts arise?"

And visit that place of transcendence.

To get there close your eyes.

That place is in the heart,

And it's really quite tender

That place is in the heart,

And it knows not a gender.

That place is in the heart,

And God lives as you there.

Visit it! Visit it!

Live free from care.

..........

With love and respect,

Harry and Helen