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One of "older" poems,
On Contemplation and about my Apartment in Mill Valley, California USA

this tells of contemplative prayer, the experience of rising like a hawk, or soaring, as does the hawk. God comes closer to humankind, humankind comes closer to God. That seems an unusual statement in our times, nonetheless, the Lord is here whether we know it or not.

I moved from the apartment on the third floor as place of viewing the hawks and place of prayer, to an apartment on the third floor at the other end of the building, place of viewing the hawks and place of prayer. I don't seem to see hawks so much anymore, yet I believe there is a soaring sense of beauty in prayer. God is near, often.

It is almost summertime here in Northern California. We have a heat wave. 92 today.




Apartment on the Third Floor
by Peter Menkin

This apartment, top, third floor
one among hawks who build
nests
has sun. This

room gets afternoon light;
morning, too, streams
in creating simplicity.

The hawks sit in the
trees, communing.
The world goes on, in steel
complexity.

Warm, here just roof above,
and
among the trees in
company of hawks

who nest. One hawk
sits
on a branch, lit by engaging
moments of
sun; spring newness amid
the gray manmade
world that impedes yet connects
the eternal life.

Thank you morning through
daylight to night,
bright stars for a promise
of goodness.
God.

Witnessing the light.
I remark to you of
divine moments.

We enter mansions heavenly, just flesh
and spirit.
Ascending.

One of my "older" poems,

this about contemplative prayer is about my third floor apartment in Mill Valley. I moved to another, larger apartment on that same third floor about three years ago. I still have the views. I still practice contemplative prayer. I still believe that there is an element of movement of God towards we humans, and we humans towards God.

As individuals one seeks God, and God makes Himself available. I think you'll find, reader, that the poem below has many sides to it and a few dimensions. A work revised this year 2008, I hope you like it, and I look for comments. With thanks.

Apartment on the Third Floor
by Peter Menkin


This apartment, top,
third floor one among hawks
who build nests
has sun.

This room gets afternoon light;
morning, too, streams in creating
simplicity.

The hawks sit in the trees,
communing.
The world goes on, in steel complexity.

Warm, here just roof above,
and among the trees in company
of hawks who nest.

One hawk sits on a branch,
lit by engaging moments of sun;

spring newness amid the gray
manmade world that
impedes yet connects the eternal life.

Thank you morning through daylight
to night,
bright stars for a promise of goodness.
God.

Witnessing the light.
I remark to you of divine moments.

We enter mansions heavenly,
just flesh and spirit.
Ascending.