It's 2 am, as we pull into the humble hotel
German countryside; everyone is shut up tight
Warmth and light welcome, as all file inside
I entered, belated, to see our troop elated
Faces filled up with joy. blessed commu- nication
The source stood behind the counter
A man, salt & pepper, his face beamed like a boy's

We are all given dark and light, beautiful contrast
Black and white. you can hide in the darkness
Or strive for healthy progress
Forgive what makes us human
We could grow an earthly heaven

He told us of our origins, spoke of when ideas
Gave birth to breath. he spoke about love and respect
I felt fire rise up in my chest. loving because
He first loved us. clean or dirty, the ocean remains as one!
I've never felt such a warm embrace
Well-known stranger, his smile, a hand- shake
(and while he swept the floor.)
Oh g-d, he called on me by name!
Even as the smoke hung in our lungs
Like old friends we circled up
Peter, preaching life, past his marlboro

"on nights like tonight I come outside
Enjoy the pins of light, littering the sky
Run my fingers down the lifeline of the hanging leaf
Thinking of how that life also resides in me
The mark of the creator, we share the same energy
Our light and our dark, the dull side and the shiny
Creates the being, whole, and distracts not from beauty. "

For glory is revealed in everything, shared energy
We must own and control the dark that we're given
Magnify the light, loving what is just and right
And cultivate for ourselves an earthly heaven