Island in the Sun (day 1436)

Dear George,

It’s been a while since we last talked,
For that I am sorry,
I hope you do not wait impatiently for my letters…
Like I do.

Baldwin Beach - Maui

I have been off to the tropics,
A tiny little island in the middle of the sea
Where geckos climb banana trees
And the end of rainbows are within walking distance.
I swam in the ocean here,
Swam with sea turtles as large as sheep
And walked most places without shoes or sandals on.

I think you would have appreciated our diets,
We were mostly eating local vegetarian cuisines
And I learned how to make kichari and nutmilks.
Some of the people I was staying with
Indulged in bliss balls,
And yes, the name alludes to the taste of these heavenly things.
With the leftover bits I’ve strained out of the nutmilks
I’ve begun to make at home now,
I plan on making some bliss balls of my own,
For snacking.

It’s been an interesting journey for me trying to reintegrate into society.
I’ve been taking it slow,
Going for multiple bike rides – which I love so much – every day.
Along the ocean here and through my favorite parts of town.
I’m doing lots of writing,
Which you also know I love to do so much.

I’ve just finished a book entitled Okham’s Razor
That was comparing the contrasting views of reality
Between the Middle Ages all the way up to the present day.
Along with the learning I did at the yoga immersion
On the tropical island in the sun,
I’ve begun to really get clear questions
I’m searching for.
I’m excited to remember everything,
And grow with everything at the same time.

Love is good, food is good, life is good.
I hope yours is too.

Hope to talk soon,
Sincerely,

Joshua Radlin

Lonely People (day 1435)

It makes me sad to think of lonely people,
Especially in a big city.
A city so big that for every lonely thought out there,
There’s an equally lonely thought going right back out.
That for every lonely person out there,
There is another lonely person
Thinking the same lonely things,
Wishing that other lonely people
Could be lonely with them, lonely together.
It’s sad thinking about
The rate of lonely people leaving the big city,
How if their lonely souls would have connected
With other lonely souls
– To make a collective happy soul –
How close that did actually come to be!
Imagine, two lonely souls passing each other on the street!
Perhaps just one more lonely thought
Would have been enough lonely thoughts
To summon all the lonely people.
How many lonely people must leave the city,
For other lonely people to take notice?
Is there a lonely person packing their tiny car up
With all their precious lonely memories stuffed inside
Leaving this lonely city right now?

Zero and One (day 1434)

I am a number that’s been picked and then released,
Signed and dotted twice and
Sealed strong with our family crest.

This is destiny in the hands of an entrepreneur,
Folding up the corners and
Wrapping tight the family chest.

Watching lights twinkle in a glimmer of urbanized hope,
Shaking off flood water and
Minding the high level mark.

Without a standard ruling system we are all zeros and ones;
Counting guides and shutting eyes
And a program we just press run.

Dripping Lines (day 1432)

I’m dripping lines in space: undefined,
A long list passed around and
Checked at each and every gate.
Wings have spaced my heart apart
From that which never fails to start.
Allow my breath to quicken here
Into a lens aligned to stars,
Which, unlike reopened gifts to her
Carry ethereal makers marks,
I spent my last dollar here,
And now I’ll gather my things and leave.

Ashram Day 28 (day 1431)

It was an unsuspected edge
That took my hand and sighed.
Uneven in my mastery I fell away,
Flew away.

Let to always wonder why
I never called out your name.
I told you where I had been,
Where I was going.

I tried to leave an irregular mark
On the sides of your world,
We shared silent space
Like a heart never knew to cry.

Now this razor upon the sharpener’s stone
Will caress our forever scents,
Chasing away hazy beach sunsets
In sweet ukulele remembrance.

Stay my heart, stay here
For forever remembers clear.
And my bags are packed
I’m heading home.

Ashram Day 26 (day 1429)

You said your eyes were clear,
I saw dust and wine ruining time.
Lift my hands and call me home,
Living atheist still ain’t easy.
Jesus, transcendent and ominous light,
Lead my heart into a choice;
Moses helped a shepherd’s flight.
You said your eyes were always clear,
I closed my eyes and saw you dear.