Soft Belly, Open Heart

by James Bertolino		print version
		print version (graphics)

"We think the fire eats the wood. We are wrong.
The wood reaches out
to the flame."

--Jack Gilbert

Soft belly, open heart, let what flows
flow uninhibited. Let the helical curve

of the ear be kissed, the structure of bones
be lightly stroked. Open now to the intelligence

carried by a taste, or in light shaping a divan.
You can know what holds you beyond this bright

falling of matter, and you may be penetrated.
The cells are ready--they will blink more messages

than you can comprehend. And when life comes
to what bleeds, what burns, don't wait

for the fire. It is waiting for you.









James Bertolino, Poet & Planetary Visionary

James Bertolino's poetry has been published in magazines, books, and anthologies internationally for almost 40 years, from "Drool" published in 1968 to his most recent, "Pocket Animals: 60 Poems" published in 2002 by Egress Studio Press. Check out his website to purchase his publications through Egress Studio Press and for more information and free beautiful poetry greeting cards that you can copy & print directly from his website. Read other poems James has kindly allowed us to print at Satya Center in the James Bertolino Archive.


(Photo by Jane Sherry and the photo of James, courtesy of the poet. All poems reprinted here with the kind permission of James Bertolino.)