Acknowledgments -- Introduction. --
Three fates : graduation address, Agnes Scott College, 2000: includes poem: The day you are born. --
When life descends into the pit. --
All praises to the pause : the universal moment of reflection : commencement address, California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California, May 19, 2002: includes poems: A blessing ; Until I was nearly fifty ; Loss of vitality ; My friend Yeshi ; The writer's life ; The river has its destination. --
This was not an area of large plantations : suffering too insignificant for the majority to see : Dharma talk, African American Buddhist Conference/Retreat, Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Woodacre, California, August 16, 2002: includes poem: They helped their own. --
I call that man religious : healing the universal heart, becoming intimate with that which is foreign : the College of Integral Studies, San Francisco, California, April 11, 2002: includes excerpts from a speech given by / Fidel Castro Ruz at the International Conference on Financing and Development on March 21, 2002 ; includes poems: At first, it is true, I thought there were only peaches & wild grapes ; We have a beautiful mother. --
Now that you are with me like my people and the dignity of the world : letters of love & hope, the story of the Cuban Five. --
Metta to Muriel and other marvels : a poet's experience of meditation. --
How it feels to know someone died for you : living with the voice of the beloved : talk at UC Santa Cruz, early nineties: includes poems: [Thousands of feet below you] ; Not children ; Patriot ; When we let the spirit lead us ; Remember. --
The glimpse of life beyond the words : on censorship and freedom of speech. --
Sent by earth : a message from the grandmother spirit : talk given to the Midwives Alliance of North America, September 22, 2001: includes poems: A Native person looks up from the plate, or, Owning how we must look to a person who has become our food ; Recommendation ; S M ; [At this time of mourning]. --
Orchids : a talk at the yoga summit & retreat presented by International Association of Black Yoga Teachers, Watsonville, California, August 1, 2003. --
To be led by happiness : (re: March 8, 2003).
When life descends into the pit
This was not an area of large plantations
I call that man religious
Now that you are with me like my people and the dignity of the world
Metta to Muriel and other marvels
How it feels to know someone died for you
The glimpse of life beyond the words
Sent by earth: a message from the grandmother spirit
