Real Presence

When we absent ourselves from presence in this life

When we dwell more on pictures in our minds

It neither matters if they feed our wish for strife

Or whether they fill needs of better kinds.

We know that wish fulfilment comes in dreams

And also in our fantasies by day

But anxious worry fills our mind with schemes

Guilt and shame impede us from our play.

Creative thought requires the loss of self,

And needs our empty soil to plant its gifts

So throw out selfish fancies for this wealth

We’ll let ourselves be slow so minds can shift

To waste our days in suffering or false pleasure

Will lose for us this vital, priceless treasure