Two Poems And Visual Art By Cecilia Soprano: "Bokie", "The Buddha's Garden"

Cecilia Soprano lives in Westchester County and makes her living as an organic gardener and artist.   Her poems and artwork have been published in La Joie magazine and UC at Santa Barbara among others.  Her artwork is often featured on the covers of Inner Directions magazine. 
 

She is a member of the Greenwich Art Society and the Katonah Museum Art Association.  She has published three small books and has had several one woman art exhibits.  Her love of nature and gardening provides the space for uninterrupted inspiration.  Her intention is to make images and words that describe beauty and uplift the human spirit.   My art is about making the simple sacred and the ordinary extra-ordinary.

"The reason why we exist is to remember why we exist and to realize our interconnectedness with all things."    WEBSITE:  www.Amichiart.com or CeciliaSoprano.com

"Bokie" Black and White Painting by Cecilia Soprano

BOKIE   

Silver-shoed Bokie

Polished pewter gray cat

You’ve come to see me, and you have a haircut today.

I saw it as you walked through the door.

How elegant you look

Your eyes gleam at me behind new glasses

I’m tripping over your love as you press against my legs.

I’m dazzled by your affections, your red bow-tie.

Your purr warms me, your silken fur magnetizes my skin.

Have you waxed your beautiful whiskers?

Oh Bokie, what is this magic between us?



Food. you say?  You’ll have fresh fish in your bowl.

Of course, my dear silver-shoed Bokie,

with haircut, glasses, bow-tie and whisker wax.

All this for food.  And I will serve you.

Ahh,  but I will always imagine

it is your secret love that leads you to my door.

The Buddha’s Garden                    

 

When you opened the gate to the Buddha’s garden--

Remember how the spotted fawn greeted you,

placing her head in the palm of your hand?

 

In the Buddha’s garden, where you looked into the

pond to see the silver and gold koi streaming

toward you kissing the water’s surface with their lips.

 

In the Buddha’s garden where you were stopped on the path,

by a burst of iridescent blue.  The peacock appeared

before you with one raised foot.

 

In the Buddha’s garden, where fragrant blossoms

drifted in the air, as you stood watching

12 white lotus bobbing in the water like fallen stars.

 

In the Buddha’s garden where you settled among the roots

of a stout Bodhi tree whose knurled arms

raised a green canopy overhead, inviting you to witness

 

your true nature reflected in the love offering of the deer,

in the precious wisdom from the koi.

and the blue jewel of peace from the peacock.                                                

 

In the Buddha’s garden, as you sit under the Bodhi tree,

an exquisite joy becomes you,

a rapture that grows in the center of your chest

like an exploding sun.

~Cecilia Soprano