Gratitude
As If to Demonstrate an Eclipse
I pick an orange from a wicker basket
and place it on the table
to represent the sun.
Then down at the other end
a blue and white marble
becomes the earth
and nearby I lay the little moon of an aspirin.
and place it on the table
to represent the sun.
Then down at the other end
a blue and white marble
becomes the earth
and nearby I lay the little moon of an aspirin.
I get a glass from a cabinet,
open a bottle of wine,
then I sit in a ladder-back chair,
a benevolent god presiding
over a miniature creation myth,
open a bottle of wine,
then I sit in a ladder-back chair,
a benevolent god presiding
over a miniature creation myth,
and I begin to sing
a homemade canticle of thanks
for this perfect little arrangement,
for not making the earth too hot or cold
not making it spin too fast or slow
a homemade canticle of thanks
for this perfect little arrangement,
for not making the earth too hot or cold
not making it spin too fast or slow
so that the grove of orange trees
and the owl become possible,
not to mention the rolling wave,
the play of clouds, geese in flight,
and the Z of lightning on a dark lake.
and the owl become possible,
not to mention the rolling wave,
the play of clouds, geese in flight,
and the Z of lightning on a dark lake.
Then I fill my glass again
and give thanks for the trout,
the oak, and the yellow feather,
and give thanks for the trout,
the oak, and the yellow feather,
singing the room full of shadows,
as sun and earth and moon
circle one another in their impeccable orbits
and I get more and more cockeyed with gratitude.
as sun and earth and moon
circle one another in their impeccable orbits
and I get more and more cockeyed with gratitude.
~ Billy Collins ~
Today, I am grateful for peaches.
Gratitude
- Begin by lying on back
- Supta Padangustasana (Reclined Big Toe Pose)
- Supta Trivikramasana (Reclined Vishnu Pose)
- Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana
(Upward Facing Fold Pose) - Repeat steps 2-4 on other side
- Supta Pavanmuktasana (Reclined Wind Relieving Pose). Repeat on other side
- Vajrasana (Diamond Pose)
- Gomukhasana (Face of Light Pose). Repeat on other side.
- Virasana (Heroes Pose)
- Supta Virasana (Reclined Heroes Pose)
- Gentle twist to one direction. Repeat to other.
- Take hands behind hips for gentle chest opener
- Supta Kapotanasana (Reclined Pigeon Pose)
- Kapotanasana (Pigeon Pose)
- Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)
- Repeat steps 12-15 on other side
- Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
- Uttanasana (Forward Fold Pose)
- Urdhva Hastasana (Upward Hands Pose)
- Parsvottanasana (Intense Stretch). Repeat other side
- Urdhva Hastasana
- Tadasana
- Natarajasana (Dancer's Pose). Repeat other side
- Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Legged Forward Fold). Interlock fingers behind back to get a back and shoulder stretch as well.
- Janu Sirsasana (Seated Head to Knee Pose)
- Upavistha Konasana (Seated Wide Angle Pose)
- Repeat steps 25 and 26 on other side
- Supta Matsyendrasana (Reclined Twist). Repeat other side
- Savasana
