The Gifts of the Passionate Life

Photo Credits - Stewart Weir

Dear Friends,

I'm setting a thousand painted 'thank you's' free tonight....I dont know just how they will reach you....But with my whole heart, I pray they will....

Perhaps you will find them in little boats sailing across the moonlit waters, or tied to the string of a kite with the stars in his eyes....

I want you to know how grateful I am for you. For the gift of your friendship. Your words. Your tenderness, love and strength.

I am doing well.

Discovering an unshakeable strength, a jewelled serenity, which I never knew I had.

Over the course of the next week I want to share some stories of deep abiding hope with you.... taken from my work in Swaziland.

But for now, in this candle-lit moment, let me leave with you a few gifts... from my heart to yours....

Here is a poem, a song and a photograph....

Each one... a hand pointing to the moon....

Souvenirs left by a mighty sea on the winding shore....

The gifts of the passionate life....

My love to you, Maithri


Sonnet XVII by Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.

I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;

thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.

I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;

so I love you because I know no other way
than this:

where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYkz30RL_GU