In honor of the amazing musician and wonderful human being,Pete Seeger and his birthday (on May 3), this Sunday’s show will feature some of his music, as well as songs from others like him…
Thank You, Pete for modeling how to live…
Do you really want me to be enlightened?
I don’t think that you really want me to be enlightened
Sure that’s your argument
But take a look at the reality
Jesus, Buddha
They were enlightened
And Jesus never picked up the tab
That we know of
Except for the Last Supper
And it was an expensive bill
And how would you feel
If I start hanging around with 12 unemployed men and a prostitute?
Just wondered
Because we have a pretty small house
And Buddha, well he left his wife and kids
Just to sit under a tree
Is that what you want?
I mean, if one day, I ask nicely
Can I just take off and spend awhile under a tree
Sure-right-huh
After I clean the garage
How about if I learn to just get the little food bits out of the glasses when I wash them
Will that do?
Now
that I know I am mortal
Before I knew I was mortal
I raced an auto in a mall parking lot narrowly missing a cement post,
I talked of enlightenment as if it made a difference; as if I would arrive then
I over-packed my luggage just in case
and I ate what I did without tasting
watched sunsets without pain
had expectations that someone or something was coming to save me
and I could wait under the bed until they did
and then my stock market crashed
I lost the house in a nightmare day
and realized no matter how much I barricade the dam
the water would somehow break
and move me along
Now that I know I am mortal
the morning never seems unimportant
I know your pain and understand why
I eat less and taste more and finally hear the music with my heart
I travel lightly now
I threw pretending out the door
Because I decided it was best to die real
and I never take my hat off
without first thanking my head
From the poetry compilation: Until I am Empty