Poems to God, No. 143

the zen of old age
elegant minimalism
focal point of beauty
soul-time simplicity
clarity with purpose
permeating presence
beyond all distractions
avowing all pretense
& frivolous egomania
reduction of regrets
with deep gratitude
gone a flashing glitz
ordinary epiphanies
daily seeds of bliss
addictions deleted
pervasive prayer
& some new wisdom
among old scars
a spirited sensing
of sacred in common
hiding nothing more
from God’s waiting
for hearty striptease 
of all possessiveness
& boring posturing
mysticism of old age
as plain as readiness
to love & sing songs
momentary meditation
on truthful emptiness
no fearing of death
no deadening of life

--
Alan Altany has BA & MA degrees in Catholic theology, and a Ph. D. in religious studies (University of Pittsburgh). He is a semi-retired, septuagenarian professor of Comparative Religions at a small college in Florida, USA.  He founded and edited a small magazine of poetry (The Beggar’s Bowl) and has published three books of poetry for in series, “Christian Poetry of the Sacred”:  A Beautiful Absurdity (2022), The Greatest Longing (2023), and Intimations (2024).  His poetry has been published by Tipton Poetry Journal, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Valley Voices, Sand Hill Literary Magazine, The Hong Kong Review, North Dakota Quarterly, Montreal Review, St. Austin Review, and others. Website:  https://www.alanaltany.com/.