bon voyage, Lisa-La

Stopping Along The Way

--for Lisa-La, who would laugh at this poem
and tell me to snap out of it!

You were always way out there
ahead of me, pointing, since early days in late 70s,
Serious flirtatious dharma sister with bird's eye view
of those wild times in "the scene," meeting
Our untamed guru as the dharma
flared up in every cafe.

Stopping along the way
I watched you sit in the shrine room sun,
Studied your still shoulders for clues
Your long elegant eyelids that never fluttered.
Who would have guessed (as you told me later)
You were dreaming of the umdze's lips.

We were the same age
I was mixed up and curious,
You already well on your way while I dawdled.
I admired your style, too shy
to ask good questions

Until 25 years later at Karme Choling
Vajra heart cauldron, boiling our bones
And testing our Kagyu mettle.
I was mixed up and curious.
You wrapped up in my orange pashmina
and quoting Nagarjuna.
We sat on my bed that filled the tiny room,
East wing nights, and laughed about pain &
disappointment, the beauty of heartbreak,
over green tea and cherries

Anyone could see your luminous spirit,
Your observant kindness, gentle Mahamudra lioness,
At one glance from those hooded, amused eyes.
But how many knew your wacky love stories
About your south seas lover
Who rocked you in treetops
Where you spilled your secrets
And climbed like a cheetah?

Ever adventurous sad heart, dakini wanderer
You set off so suddenly for the highest peaks!
Before I could say farewell and good luck!
For now I'll stay here, mixed up and curious.
May you find your way clearly through high bardo mists.
May we meet up before long, stopping along the way
to tell love stories
over green tea and cherries.

-Susan Noel