The song of pencil and paper

Photo by Cassy Shoshin

The song of pencil and paper

dancing with another person’s language

where do words arrive from?

deep in the night lying beside 

mountain wisdom

what brought us here to this moment

beguiled me

we, beside each other

was it love 

or was it longing

maybe boredom

the texture and sound of a soft pencil’s lead

caressing a page, lifting then

softly returning to the next line.

Forming each letter with the intention 

of art blended with love

connecting thoughts with form

and returning to emptiness

Slow movements not demanding something more

or something faster

but with a request 

to be here            now

how free would I be without expectation?

what else would I do without judgment?

who would I be without thinking about who I am?

only returning

return to a / my /our natural state.

a curious moment

that isn’t impatient to all ready know

curiosity births connection

reaches out it’s hand to discover

liquid smooth lead dust

between my fingers

a left behind reminder

of creations

pencil and paper becoming 

the depth of meaning

oh shit !

this is lofty

not messy 

like reality.

I don’t want to idealize 

what happens between you and me

ships that bump in the night

sometimes fight

wanting the right of way

it’s the whole of the Way

that defines connection

what am I longing for

so much longing

ear to ground

who is listening?

to the song of pencil and paper

that satisfies the itch by scratching across a page

and lives in the deep breath of

the sound of you sigh

—Cassy ShoShin