Barbara Nussbaum

Barbara is in California until March 2012.

She may be contacted in the USA. Her mobile phone is 805-272-5650

For those in South Africa wanting to send her a text message, you can use 082-628-1886

bnussbaum@mweb.co.za

Suite 81, Pvt Bag X19
Franschhoek

Tomorrow's Sunrise - A Plea for the Future You, Me and We

Barbara Nussbaum

Written in Santa Barbara,
Near the Brown Pelican Restaurant, Cliff Road
Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh
Dedicated to Timothy Conway, spiritual teacher

I am the beach open and receptive
Hearing the waves, seeing the birds, enjoying the dogs,
Taking in the rhythm and energy of all I see and feel

We are the excited crests of the sea's waves
Crashing with surprised delight,
Unfolding Releasing life's exuberant flow gently on the beach

I am the solitary resilient tree trunk
Washed ashore with no roots,
No leaves, no branches and no fruits

We are the confident sea gulls
Flying high with graceful certainty and Joy
Soaring, at times, darting down sometimes, with no clear focus

I am the cluttered pile of debris
Resting on the beach with no obvious pattern
Random wooden shapes that may please the aesthetic eye of a beachcomber

We are the dogs romping freely, flirting
With the waves' white froth, and delighting
In our repeated forays in and out of the ocean

I am the husky puppy on a leash
Reluctantly being pulled by the owner
Wanting to go home before I am ready to leave

We are the Javanese poodles at the beach restaurant
Enjoying the prawns fed to us by our owner
Oblivious to what other dogs may or may not be eating - elsewhere

I am the solitary person with my dogs
Delighting in the comfort and joy they bring me
Sometimes wishing that I had a real human being for a companion

We are the carefree 10 year old girls, wearing yellow helmets
Riding scooters on the pavement for fun
Unaware of other children walking five miles to school in Africa

I am the pure sound of the ocean
Loud, passionate and clear
Simply enjoying the way life is

We are the surfers, braving the waves
Sometimes standing, perfectly balanced on the board
Sometimes falling and laughing - ready to try again

I am the gentle wind, carrying the scent
Of the fresh salty seas,
Cooling the faces of the beach's visitors

We are the collective power of the waves
The serene silence of the sea, the tide gently reaching out
To mother earth and each other

I am the sun, shining with full brilliance
Illuminating the ocean in moving diamond shapes
Bringing warmth and radiance to all

We are the devoured prawns,
The unconscious dogs, the well intentioned beach visitors
We are Santa Barbara's children

We are Africa's children
Embracing the sun's gentle light reflected on the ocean at sunset
Hoping that tomorrow's sunrise, brings compassion to the world.

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Barbara's blog is currently under development. Please check back here soon for updates and Barbara's first blog entries.