Touching the Hem of Her Sari

There are those among us who say,
The body should be viewed as an obstacle,
As merely a sack of blood and bones,
And aspirants to “God” should not touch,
Even the hem of a woman's garment.

I can only say that throughout my life…

In the eyes of those I have Loved,
Even in moments lost in passion's ecstasy,
I never saw simply the beauty of the woman,
I both Loved, and desired.

I saw the Mystery she was, before her birth;
The shock in the eyes of the newborn;
The twinkling innocence of the little girl;
The adolescent, seeking love and belonging;
The mother, selfless, gentle, compassionate;
All… awash in Love.

I saw the wrinkled face of my mother…
Heard her last breath, sighing,
And saw those beautiful eyes closing…
After Dancing, so long, in the Dream of Life.

All of these beings, I saw before me,
In the timeless moment of Love's embrace,
In the eyes of those I have encountered,
Whom I both Loved, and desired.

In each of this life's relationships,
The Beloved staring back at me,
My Mother, sister, daughter, lover… Myself,
In the eyes of those I both Loved, and desired.

  How could I, why would I,
  Ever “renounce” as obstacle,
  The Presence of The Beautiful One,
  In the eyes of those I both Loved, and desired…

  There… in the Eyes of God.