Oblate
by Donna James
a layman living in a monastery
under a modified rule
and without vows
somewhere between lucent and impenetrable
lies fog
lies maybe
and guess
some days I believe that monks in caves
focused on nothing
ripple out into this good garden
believe there is, in pockets, compassion
some days I’d believe I am my own illusion
but for the taste of salt
About the Author
Donna James is a psychotherapist for individuals and couples. Her poetry gives voice to affliction, hope, and resilience that are inherent to the human psyche. She indulges in art, clothes, food, and books—she’s always reading four or five at once. Her other art is ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement, a meditative practice akin to the tea ceremony. She loves its ephemerality. It teaches her to prune line and mass, skills she applies to writing poetry.