Coming to My Senses One Breath at a Time

by Carol Saba
Babilu
Honorable Mention, December 2021
Judged by Terence Culleton


Oh, Teacher,
you say
“Practice mindfulness on the morning path.”

My way is not your way.
“Sunny or rainy,
dry or wet.” That part I get.

My morning journey though
is not on foot along your same dirt path–
I drive a concrete highway.
I find no wild grasses or rice plants
on both sides to quiet me.
I see instead a Trader Joe’s
and an Audi dealership as I pass by
at forty miles per hour.

Each red light gives me pause
enough to think
Can I tune in?

And so I turn again to breathe
in the midst of the wondrous miracle.