The seduction of Stretching

some of garden
and the old barn back behind


Stretching is good
for teachers who want to lord
it over their students,
especially if the teacher is
more flexible than the students.


Stretching is a great way
to get the student
concentrating on self pushing
self pulling
self attacking
self violence
and then if they can't "do it"
then they can feel inferior
or bad
or worn out
or in pain
or all of the above
and won't have enough energy left over to realize
that the "teacher"
isn't "teaching" them anything,

that the so called
"teaching"
is just more of the
try harder
hurt yourself
breathe through the pain
"let it go"
stuff
that can be seen
at many levels
in our society

is that true?
i'm not sure.
it sounds right,
but anything can sound
right

in health clubs
and yoga places
the pushing a little more
and getting to the edge
as you hurt yourself
just a little bit
is way the norm

and is it part of our society
or are we moving toward
the fat lazies
at the end of Wall-e
unable to make any effort

these are all questions
that
are
far
less
important
than just coming to the present
this one
the only one
and being in our
bodies
and
in our
awaring
and if it
feels good
...
getting up from this silly
machine
and
going outside
to
walk
and look at the sky
and sense the fullness of us:
ten fingers, ten toes, belly, eyes, ear and nose

now that's a
stretch
that won't hurt!!!!