The Ofi Press Magazine
International Poetry and Literature from Mexico City
Poem by Kelley White (USA)
Published in The Ofi Press issue 44
Twins
All the happiness there is in the world
Arises from wishing others to be happy
All the suffering there is in the world
Arises from wishing oneself to be happy
–Shantideva
all all
plenty, things,
the happiness, the suffering,
that a fish in water feels, when one lives according to the truth,
there is in there is in
the soul, grace,
the world, the world,
freedom mind,
arises, arises,
beyond what words can utter, look up and see their beauty,
from wishing from wishing
happiness in spreading your wings,
others to be oneself to be
no poor indifferent place anything in this world,
happy, happy,
a marvelous living, side by side. together in the same life
About the Poet
Pediatrician Kelley White worked in inner city Philadelphia and now works in rural New Hampshire. Her poems have appeared in journals including Exquisite Corpse, Rattle and JAMA. Her most recent books are TOXIC ENVIRONMENT (Boston Poet Press) and TWO BIRDS IN FLAME (Beech River Books.) She received a 2008 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts grant.
Image: "I've been sitting here all day" by Bill Strain.