Shoveling and hoeing and raking all day….
While butterflies and hummingbirds and bumblebees play,

The body toils and the mind toils, too
Constantly bringing the thoughts back to You.
Impressions of a thousand lifetimes smothering,
O please help me break through this subtle covering.

As I shovel and hoe and rake all day
And the butterflies and hummingbirds and bumblebees play,

Your Feet, Your Eyes, Your Smile I can see!
Yet the next moment’s memory is a past misery.
Reaction upon reaction at each helpless failing,
Most Precious Mother, won’t you end this child’s wailing?

Shoveling and hoeing and raking all day
While the butterflies and hummingbirds and bumblebees play,

Rhythms of movement, rhythms of season
Rhythm of mantra endures beyond reason.
I pray, reveal Yourself, Primordial Sound,
Striking illusion, may You, in me, be found!

Swamini Ambikamrita Prana - 1992