It's been years since I last saw him
heard his voice
and here he is on the computer screen
speaking from the wheelchair
that he occupies
as a king might occupy his throne

Talking in quiet tones
not haughty but assured
with room for humor
and an accent that's both subtle
and endearing
remnant of his English childhood
he reminds us
that the voice of truth
is not without its charm

His words convey the wise
and loving teacher that he is
and has been for so many
and for so many years
guiding his students
toward a more mature
a truer understanding
of the path that's under foot
the work that's here at hand

Behind the words
a spiritual courage
that he embodies and transmits
for all to hear
courage to live without
the blandishments
of easy faith
of lazy thoughts
the comfortable half-truths
that stunt our lives

He teaches that we're living mostly
in the dark
that only a rare streak of lightning
may for moments
illuminate the spiritual landscape
that being so
he himself is like a cloud
from which lightning flashes out
revealing worlds
that we'd been blind to
landscapes of the soul