New Year's Day Poem

--offered  by a Deer Park retreatant during the 2005-2006 Winter retreat

My dear friend,
This journey is not too far,
The way is not too steep.

At this moment it may seem a long and difficult path
But this one small step, this one breath,
These we can take together with joy and ease

My dear friend,
Because you are smiling, I, too, can smile.
Because you have taken one step forward on the path,
I, too, can go forward.

Thank you for your courage and presence
Thank you for shining out your life as the way.