GOD WHISPERS ON THE WIND

Dave Ursillo Jr. was born in 1986 to Jane and David. He has considered himself to be a writer since penning his first Op-Ed for his Rhode Island high schools student newspaper. After fruitless endeavors to attain superpowers in youth, for eight years he built a rickety home in the world of politics and public servicebefore a heart-swelled storm razed it to the ground. Dave has written over 200 essays on DaveUrsillo.com, and published his debut nonfiction book Lead Without Followers in 2011. God Whispers on the Wind is his first explorative journey into poetry. Afflicted with sporadic wanderlust, Dave finds himself a resident of New York Citys East Village. He considers himself to be a student of life, a beneficiary of the faces of strangers on the street and a lover of mystical poets of old. Dave plans to write a few dozen books, globe-trot, speak, and share smiles with one million faces.

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God Whispers on the Wind

Spiritual Poems of Light, Laughter and Love

By

DAVE URSILLO JR.

FEATURING Brit Hanson, Willie Jackson, Ellie Di Julio, Tess Marshall, Hung Pham, Syndee Stein and Jeanie Witcraft

UNLEADER STUDIOS, LTD.

Copyright 2012 by Dave Ursillo Jr. All rights reserved. This book, or portions thereof, may not be reproduced without permission from the author. All contributions remain property of their respective authors. Published exclusively for Amazon Kindle. First Edition. July 2012. Dave Ursillo Jr. www.daveursillo.com ASIN B008PFX6M6 Cover photo by Martina Braun

God, what love-mischief can We do for the world today? HAFIZ

Contents
Preface About These Poems God Whispers on the Wind

One / GOD WHISPERS God Whispers Splash Me The Storms You Stumble Upon Empty Your Bowl Drip Youre Not Here On Good Days Youre So Happy You Do Something Tragic Lets Smile Those Daring Cattle A Beautiful Mess Dull Razors Divine Logic This Is Happening by Syndee Stein Know Nothing But Love Origins Clay Fears Not The Sun Submission Leap Blink Water by Hung Pham She Always Comes Back

Two / UNHOLY Unholy Why Eat? Demands What a Tragedy Your Gentle Fire Find Love My Bowl Is Empty Clasped In Prayer Sometimes I See Dancing For One by Ellie Di Julio A Curious Age My Liars Mind Your Empathy Hide and Seek Style Points The Lines We Draw Never Dreamed by Jeanie Witcraft Bridges Dear Sir Poor Ghosts I Only Pray

Three / AMONGST THE MAZE Amongst The Maze White Suit A Petty Slave Alarm Scary-Honest Hour Glass Under Everyones Radar Purpose Is A Feel Beyond the Boundaries by Willie Jackson Any Good Friend From The Hand I Should Admit A Street Crazy The Symphony Learning Curve Inside Scoop by Brit Hanson I Fear A Little Kindness The Delicate Game A New Chance Name-Calling

Four / MY GARDEN My Garden A Bird Swoops Embarrassingly Apparent This Damp Black Pile What the World Needs Now by Tess Marshall Another Divine Riddle The Immortal Opponent Your Minds Keeper Holds Words Like These Find Comedy Im Doing My Best Three Happy Bloodhounds Connectivity Sometimes I Dream Petulant Itch This Salty Breeze

Conversation Starters Activity Guide Journal Prompts Connect & Get Involved About the Author Excerpt: Lead Without Followers

Preface
When we can reach out and touch the common threads that are quietly spun between different, even seemingly contradictory human spiritualities, we begin to attain a far more enriched and empowered understanding of humanity, itselfand, even a deeper understanding of ourselves, personally. God Whispers on the Wind is a simple collection of 81 spiritual poems that hopes to gently encourage a greater awareness for those common threads: the perpetual and binding human qualities of love, happiness, purposeful living and shared experience that make us so exceptionally unique as spiritual beings. As such, the spiritual nature of these poems is intended to invite and encourage; neither to convince nor persuade. Each verse is open to your own interpretation. You may enjoy reading God Whispers on the Wind to complement, reinforce or even challenge your preexisting religious beliefs. You may instead take these poems at face value: as nice, little verses. Or, you may yet read them seeking to discover a depth of feeling and oneness within your own heart, body and mind. This inner connection, this wholesome unity, I believe, is no different than our connection and oneness with what we call God. I believe that spirituality deserves to be raw, real, and wildly unrefined. I am certainly biased though, being a bit of a spiritual mutt, myself. Raised under the Roman Catholic faith, today I dont much associate with any institutional religion. I attended a Jesuit college and am tattooed with a Buddhist mantra in Sanskrit. I pray to a Father in my head and keep a little jade Buddha nearby always. I stack stones and comb sand gardens. I Ohm on a forest green rubber mat and rub mala beads. I thank Saraswati for a burst of creative genius, I laugh with Sufi poets, I hope to share tea one day with the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. I feel empowered by this rounded reverence for human spirituality. Of course, you certainly neednt abandon institutional religion or a singular faith to explore such a depth of love for othersno matter what labels we assign them, or ourselves. Unfortunately, closed-minds tend to believe that ones inability (or, ones outright refusal) to confine spiritual beliefs into a neat little box is indicative of ones own

weakness; as if the validity of your personal beliefs is dependent upon your ability to constrain, restrict, and define it in so many words. What a shame! Imagine discussions on God swirling with openness and laughter, fun and kindness. My hope is that God Whispers on the Wind might bring you to consider God in this friendly, playful light. While reading God Whispers on the Wind, please feel invited to alter any terminologyhell, even the passages themselvesas you see fit. These poems are intended to invite your own creative, open and loving interpretation. I hope they might invite you to feel more connected to Spirit, God, the Universe, or whichever term best suits your own personal preference. In the end, I have no expectations or goals with this work, but I am happy, grateful and honored to share it with you. I certainly do hope that you enjoy it. And, whatever you believe, I hope that God Whispers on the Wind serves as a gentle reminder that we are forever connected to a couple of important things: to the ether, and to one another.

With heart from New York City, Dave Ursillo July 2012

About These Poems

The majority of these poems were written with no intention of ever being shared. While thats certainly not a ringing endorsement for the collection youre about to read, the truth is that this collection came to fruition in a very organic and authentic fashion: without grandiose expectation; neither from a twisted, over-marketed perspective nor with contrived goals from its inception. It, like most of my writing, began as a simple explorationa journey into a unique style, a liberating medium, and as a simple and fun writing endeavor. Over recent months, I found myself deeply drawn into the beautiful works of poets like Hafiz, Rumi, Rabia of Basra, Kabir and many otherswith almost exclusive thanks to the great translator, a true literary force of nature, Daniel Ladinsky. I do not know Daniel but revere this best-selling authors free-thinking mentality, especially as a fellow writer and spiritual explorer. Even the introductions to his popular translations prove him to be a most prolific poet, himself. His translations (The Gift, Love Poems from God, etc.) became my primary inspiration to write more poetry. Any familiar with his works will find his brilliant poetic stylings to have truly influenced mine. Thus, in just the last few months the genesis of this poetry began to gather significant momentum. Poems exploded from my pen at an incredible pace. And in an effort to both keep true to my own writing nature, as well as openly share this work with others who may enjoy it, I decided to publish God Whispers on the Wind. As a nonfiction writer, an essayist really, I quite fell in love with this medium and the depth of its expressiveness. In God Whispers on the Wind, youll find poems that celebrate an open and playful nature (Three Happy Bloodhounds, From the Hand), take pleasure in lightly cursing (This Damp Pile), and even politely venting at the order of things (Dear Sir, What a Tragedy). Naturally, that poetry is self-expressive entails that many embody a personal narrative (Submission, My Liars Mind), touch upon some love stories of old (A Bird Swoops), and other private thoughts (Bridges). My hope is that you see these less as personal narration and more as a story-vehicle through which you might see a new depth of yourself, your life, your dreams.

I also invited friends across the globe to contribute their own poems to God Whispers on the Wind with hopes of giving this spiritual exploration a true communal feel. Seven excellent contributors are included in this debut collection. Their works touch upon realizing God in nature (Water), the power of momentous presence (This is Happening), and a lovers awakening (Never Dreamed). And, finally, at the end of this book Ive included some bonus materials for your enjoyment. They include conversation starters about spirituality, which are ideal for a book club or if even for your own personal consideration; a short list of activities to more deeply explore your spirituality; three weeks worth of journal prompts to explore and practice ones spirituality through a private, written medium. Lastly, theres a call to action on how to share God Whispers on the Wind with friends, information on how to contact me personally, and even details on submitting your own poems for possible inclusion in a second edition or subsequent collection. As I write in everything I have ever and will ever publish, in the end, this book is not about me, my story or my beliefs. I believe that writing is one of the most powerful, engaging and inviting means of human communication. Writing has not only been my savior in helping me to explore and understand this world, but it holds a majestic ability to transform thoughts without discrimination; to break down locked doors of the mind with lyricism and beauty; to incite a loving revolution of the heart. In me, in these words, I hope you find yourself. The more that we can, as a civilization, accomplish this simple feat, the farther we will go in achieving all of the monumental tasks set before us.

GOD WHISPERS ON THE WIND

ONE
GOD WHISPERS

Taste the air so dewy sweet, glazed with subtle scents of raw earth and sun-crisped leaf. Have you ever heard The Wind gather its breath from countless miles away? Your song lives like this breeze. This wind, she carries prayers on her noble back for eons and ages, to and from the source from which Every Thing derives. Listen closely! What do you hear upon this wind; our worlds One Whisper? I hear Divine Tongues! Wild, billowing blessings; raw gusts, that rambunctious rejuvenation. How strong and steady her roar! Oh, dear friend, of the little I know, one thing seems certain: God whispers on the wind.

SPLASH ME

I am but a puddle, God; splash me where you may. I give my life to you in this Silk Pocket that Ive knit. Sprinkle the crumbs of my silvery soul upon the path, any path, that You see fit! I give you my hands, God; the ones You chiseled from the stars. Take them, Dear Friend, and with them may you write songs that make whole suns burn like a million wondrous smiles! Oh, Ill give you my heart, too, Dear Maker, since it has been Yours from the start: Pull its chords as you will so that my love might be a bit more like Yours. I am but a puddle, God. Splash me where you may.

THE STORMS YOU STUMBLE UPON

Weather will find you. Thats just nature. But when you find a question thats truly worth asking, its you who finds the weather. These are the storms you stumble upon. Restless wonder, yearning for more, your soul struggling to escape from your own skin... When you feel those symptoms, that is your Soulful Forecast from God that says, Make sure to bring your umbrella.

EMPTY YOUR BOWL

Empty your bowl of expectation and assumption. Throw your food from it and onto the ground. Rinse that bowl in honest tears and let it bake dry in some open sunlight. Yes, friend, only when your bowl is totally empty may it hold all of the Love and Light that you truly desire.

DRIP

What great works, what giving words, what Luminous Lessons can drip with Love if the heart has not been wrung?

YOURE NOT HERE

Youre not here to impress anyone. Least of all, me. I know that. But I also know, from the depths of your giving and the brightness of Your Effortless Being, that I will be so very impressed by every effort of Loving Kindness that you etch into the souls of strangers that the very skies will dance above your head! And God will cheer for your joy.

ON GOOD DAYS

On good days, I walk around with such a Liberated Lightness, its as if Im not even there.

YOURE SO HAPPY

Youre so happy when the sun is out; when the wind is tepid and clean and translucent waters swirl between your toes like a churning vat of ten billion bits of turquoise. Ah, I should know! In the sun, my soul feels so full. But so it is when every circumstance is simple bliss. What of the rain? Do you dance in the thunder, and gleefully kick every puddle like an elated dancer upon stage? On good days, Blissful Ease is so easy to achieve. That is why we build our boats and paddles: when rains pour upon us, we need some Soulful Preparation to weather those storms. These poems are like nails: use them to secure your Unsinkable Vessel.

YOU DO SOMETHING TRAGIC

You do something tragic when you hold back your love and the ones you are with cannot breathe in The True You. You do something tragic when you close yourself up and prevent your soul from shining through. Let me see you! Oh, you do something so tragic, dearest friend, when you do not cry your truth for fear that the world might judge you. It is so tragic when you do not bear openly your love, your beautiful story, your brilliant lessons, and all your enlightened gifts on every whim and chance that youve been gifted. Perhaps the greatest Quiet Tragedy, one that we can so easily avoid, is when you wait for tomorrow to sew your heart to anothers. Please, stop this tragedy.

And turn every chance you have into a Beautiful Little Miracle.

LETS SMILE Lets smile at every expression of love. Even the silly and juvenile. The young have nowhere else to turn! We each begin like those naive seeds: uncracked, needing our time (and a few Cosmic Conditions) to coax a Solar-Bound Sprout from that dull brown shell.

THOSE DARING CATTLE

Heres to the ones who got away. Those daring cattle who, so startled from Our Friends shouting call, fell upon the barbed fence but stood again, and just kept going.

A BEAUTIFUL MESS

Lets sit and eat at a large table; just you and me. Ive brought us some olives and fruit. Lets pull up a spare chair for God, and invite Him to join us, too. And so we will eat, and our conversation will go silent for a while because the food will be just too consuming for the meandering words and Lovers Tales that weve been sharing. What a wonderful mess we will make! Finally, we will start drinking again after our stomachs have settled, and you may notice that the third chair at our table is still empty, and you will ask, What happened to Our Special Guest, did an Angel Carrier misplace your invitation? No, dear friend, I will reply, He joined us from the start! Didnt you notice? Just look at This Beautiful Mess that we have left in the wake of All The Love that He has given us, you and me!

DULL RAZORS

Dont let those linear thinkers convince you. Nothing in this life is as straight and narrow as they like to make it seem. Our brains like to think in highways. But the Soul really treads in winding, uncertain paths that we cut by hand through the unkempt thicket with Dull Razors.

DIVINE LOGIC

Were there no darkness, what light would need to shine? Oh, the somber, the melancholy, the pain that grips and grinds! Know that they cripple my heart like yours, and with such ferocious disregard that at times, for days or weeks, it may hardly beat a beat. And, yes! I sometimes loathe my slight understanding of this Answerless Life; this world of endless question. But then some Divine Logic reminds me: Were there no darkness, what light would need to shine?

THIS IS HAPPENING by Syndee Stein

This is happening. Even my greatest attempts at stopping have failed. Life is moving through me. Life is moving through me. All I can do is fight it and lose or allow.

Syndee Stein is trail guide for transformation at Deeper Ground and uses movement, breath, heart, humor and soulful storytelling to invite people into the alchemy of the present moment.

KNOW NOTHING BUT LOVE

Knowing, oh, how we grow older and older so desperately longing to Know! And so we absorb, we memorize, we conglomerate and accumulate as much Knowing as we possibly can See us!, our desperate minds scream aloud, See how much we Know! Hush, child, The Purest Spirit whispers in your ear, Know nothing but Love. And the world becomes so much clearer.

ORIGINS

Every ounce of your humanity is etched in D i v i n i t y .

CLAY FEARS NOT THE SUN

Birthed supple and warm, we are like little balls of clay shaped by the smiles of the sun. Its Love that makes us malleable; so beautifully bendy! But now that were older, those rays that beat upon our backs feel so heavy. Theyve made us a bit hardened. Thats why we remember to soak ourselves with compassion: So that we wont dry out and c r a c k .

SUBMISSION

Gazing upon a clouded, rainy day, I am drawn to my window sill like a moth to the flame. Curious solitude. Eyes widen, empty; the face loses all expression. I fall quiet. I am on the cusp of some Serene Channeling now. The mind is always the last to let go, to release, to let flow. And then, it submits.

LEAP

What does it feel like, dear friend, to leap on faith and prayer? Its something like this: Your toes curl in anticipation, gripped upon the edge a slick muddy shore. Unsteady worry flutters in your chest. Knees bend with hesitation, knowing that flight is soon in store! And then, a gasp, the leap, a splash, frigid cold! Every leap is a chance to live again; a chance to let Your World unfold!

BLINK

These days, I only fall in love at first sight. Its easier that way. When our gaze is broken, so is the spell. And eventually, we all have to blink.

WATER by Hung Pham

Water is in us. We change as we rise and fall. God is in the r a i n .

Hung Pham is a traveler, photographer, writer and pathfinder who helps others find their ways and see the world differently at HungOnTheWorld.com.

SHE ALWAYS COMES BACK

I am enslaved by the sun, entranced by her face like a young lover who has never known heartbreak. She shows herself and my heart skips wildly; she veils behind her clouds and I fret, fearing that I may never see her again! But she always comes back. A true lover, she is: Always giving, naught else.

TWO
UNHOLY

God is more present in the sinner than the saint; in the Holy Up-Turner of Altars than in noble men who pretend not sin, disguised in jewel and lavish paint. God resides most full in each of us, and in every barren soul! Through the sinner does God speak to us, reminding of what we ought already know. In dregs, the derelicts, the destitute; in the emptiness of the prostitute, Gods heart does sob and toil. Every true saint among men was a sinner first. A rebel from rank and file. But the love they showed to sinners, then, brought out God in every smile.