start by meditating
as long as you would
linger, inhaling the sweet
perfume of your lover’s hair

or as many times as
the butterfly opens and closes
her wings, warming herself upon
a golden marigold in
the summer sun

meditate just as many times
as an infant breathes
sleeping in soft white flannel
her rib cage and round belly
rising and falling

meditate until the
midday winter downpour
has shed raindrops enough
to fill the hollow of an oak
with enough water
that a ruby-crowned kinglet
can bathe there

meditate as long as
the last log in the
fire still gives impromptu
bursts of flame, the
others now chunks of orange
glow. when it gives its
last burst

you are done.