This being human (That's me!) is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
(Yes. This morning, dark thoughts about my mother, my brother and some friends, all arrived, pell-mell.)
A joy, a depression, a meanness
(No joy yet, but a depression and a few meanness-es? You bet!),
some mometary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
(Unexpected? No doubt about this.)
Welcome and entertain them all!
(Huh?! How?!)
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
(Hmm.. cannot think of any delight he may be clearing me out for, unless it is to ignore my mother, strangle my brother and write vicious letters to my friends?)
The dark thought (Yes. My mind is blackish with dark thoughts), the shame (No. No shame yet), the malice (Yes. My eyes are gleaming with malice),
meet them at the door laughing (Huh?! How?!),
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
(Wow, what a punchline! But first, can anyone tell me how in the world can I contort my mind to make it see each of them as a guide from beyond?)
