More gratefulness

This is my second to the last week at the halfway house.  Tomorrow is my second to the last round of gratefulness prayers.  They happen every Wednesday night at 6:20 PM.  Today I*ve been feeling almost Buddhist.  Centered and focused and aware.  Today I remember the Buddhist at the halfway house, now in the recovery home.  Like all of the men, I hope he makes it this time.

It all comes around

To gratefulness

In the middle of the week.

Maybe it is the beginning.

It depends on where we start

The count.

The men know it all comes around

To gratefulness.

Maybe it is the end after all.

There was a Buddhist in the group

When I started.

Every Wednesday he would be grateful

For the Buddha.

It often felt like he had to say it

Or Buddha would be forgotten

In this place of recovering men:

Grateful for sobriety

Clarity

New possibility

Food and sunshine,

Even especially

One more day.

His giving thanks for the Buddha

Felt like the ante in poker:

I*ll see my Buddha for your

Jesus Christ.

The Wednesday before my seizure

The Buddhist gave thanks for the Buddha

And Jesus Christ.

I thought

Now there*s gratefulness,

Now he*s ready

To move on.

When I returned,

He had moved past

The halfway house

To the recovery home.