River of Calm

There are days when intense emotional pain
will wait for you while you sleep,
reattaching itself to your consciousness
as soon as your eyes open

If you know the pain isn't you
then you have the advantage
Just observe,
staying with the experience

Do not listen to the pain
Do not act on the pain
Do not speak the words
it wants you to speak

Shine the light of your awareness
into the pain
While the warmth of your compassion
softens its hard edges

Then, slowly,
surrender your pain
allowing it to dissolve
into an inner river of calm