Circle of Qi

Translucent light with the early morning mist.

The full moon shines candlelight into our Qi Gong circle.

The monk in his robes and Columbia jacket

guides us through the bamboo staff technique.

The air is a sea of Qi as it spirals off my staff

like a paddle in the bay with trailing phosphorescent swirls.

The chill air on my bare hands is unnoticed

while my focus is on my steaming breath.

While the moon descends behind a silhouetted tree,

casting its last reflected light,

I twist my staff and kick my leg with a strong exhale of release.

The light of the sun begins to crawl up the hill behind us. 

I raise my staff over my head with a full breath of life.

(This was written at Thick Nhat Hanh's monastery and retreat center in France in 2006.)