Tony Taccone: The Time of Our Lives

During the teaching this morning at Portland Insight Meditation Community (http://www.portlandinsight.org/), Robert Beatty shared a beautiful poem which deeply moved me. He read it twice. And Robert repeated the lines again about "stories in which we seek conclusion, our highest and most dangerous invitation." So wise and true. Deep bow of gratitude for Robert, for this poem, and for all that helps each of us to remember what we have forgotten and embrace the preciousness of life. — Molly

The Time of Our Lives

This, then, is what we are given.

ten or twenty thousand days

wherein we watch

a billion leaves

born then blush, fall

turn to earth, to silt,

to ash so soft

it will not bear a name.

from this black dust

we make our things, clothes

shelter, jewelry

fiction--

stories in which

we seek conclusion,

our highest

and most dangerous invention.

for this culling of days

this harvest of dust

gathers meaning only

by our watching, our being,

our sensation of

what is forever being given —

that our bodies

are really only leaves seeking light

loved at last

by the wind.

— Tony Taccone