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Poem: Life Revolves

Published in May 1990

My life revolves around laundry soap,
meals that burn, dogs that bark, floors begging to be swept

Where are the things that matter?
I imagine lovers touching gently in the night;
talk with friends; drumming the moon; candles, and glowing satori.

Life revolves, around toilet paper,
dishes to be washed, kids that need tending.

What makes me think that death
would make this any more real?

I breathe deeply. hold a dish to be washed,
javish it with suds, breathe and wash,
breathe and wash—
each dish an offering.

With each breath, let life begin.

Tom Elliott
Grass Range, Montana

Now that you are here… help us continue beautifully into the future.
The Mindfulness Bell is a journal of the art of mindful living in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh. It offers inspiration and resources for those practicing mindfulness in daily life and a connection to a community of people who aspire to live life deeply and in harmony with all beings. Subscriptions to The Mindfulness Bell support the work of Thich Nhat Hanh and the worldwide Sangha, as we offer methods for healing and transformation.