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A Relief... to Be
*Note: A poem to myself, now for the reader. See footnote for more on the poem. Our passages are alike, so I am hopeful the poem reflects your aspirations for yourself. Likewise, see footnote for "Natural Great Perfection," which appears in the verse.
Swaying in the Wind
Moving from 'should' is essential
for your life to be lived -
you’ve earned it
You've become efficient at living
the 'does' and 'don'ts'
You’ve walked ‘correctly’ -
as you were taught
Now venture outside the lines
listen to your heart-of-hearts
Mix the metaphors
let syntax and grammar dance -
inside and outside the rules
Listen to your own brook
echoing the sacred self -
you'll meet everyone else there
Relish the freedom
open the windows
Let the wind blow through -
you feared it, were told
Such is not possible for anyone
– not you
Your ‘god,’ so they said,
forbade it
You were told being good meant
living inside a box -
now you see, there was never a box
Such illusions served their purpose
they serve a purpose by vanishing in the air
Leaves play on a branch
twirling until they fall
You too
sway with all - don't delay
Sway until the wind blows you off -
Where? - there's no need to know
That not-knowing is
freedom, too
And don't forget, whatever happens,
be kind to yourself
And give yourself space
just to be
To enjoy the natural great perfection
deriving from nothing and no one outside the self
Then, you'll take what happens there
into all you say and do
You'll be a light
not because you ought to
You'll shine
because you shine
* * *
(C) brian wilcox, 2026
*Poem. Original, penned in Silence Retreat, Ferry Beach, Maine 1.18.22; Rev. & Expanded 2.18.25.
*"Natural Great Perfection," derives from Tibetan Buddhism; it is before perfect and imperfect. It is our natural being, not reliant on anything we do; it is innate. It is a beauty not reliant on appearance. A goodness not reliant on doing good. ... Listen to your own brook/echoing the sacred self, inspired by Chogyam Trungpa, in Ocean of Dharma. 159 "Being Kind to Yourself." Listen to your own brook, echoing yourself. Also, "And give yourself space/just to be, "We have to leave ourselves some time to be."
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