Natural Beauty: And Other Poems

By Patrick J. Cole and Barbara Merlotti

Patrick J. Cole’s new collection brings together 46 poems and showcases his experienced mixing of the natural and the mystical touches to the everyday moments of our lives. Here are poems that resonate immediately and yet provide new perspectives both whimsical and wise. From the teachings provided by his dogs and other Zen masters to insights coming through love and hate, Cole educates and entertains. All of this is illustrated by Barbara Merlotti with six new drawings that capture the natural elements and mindfulness perspective that amplifies the said and unsaid rhythm and flow presented. Ultimately, the suffering and joy of life described emphasizes the joy to be found in the present moment and its’ source in infinity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781663233080

Patrick J. Cole

Patrick J. Cole is a management consultant and poet that finds delight in Nature which is often pointed out to him by a canine companion while he attempts to walk mindfully through the woods. Cole mixes his psychology background, perennial wisdom practices, and poetry to deliver his simple message: there’s joy to be found if we know how to look for it. Oh, he’s not the calm, cool, Zen cucumber you might expect. He still feels a range of emotions as he attempts to maintain his PBS practice. What’s PBS? His Zen Buddhist mentor explains that it means Pause, Breathe, and Smile – or, if that doesn’t work, Peanut Butter Sandwich. Both can help avoid negative knee-jerk reactions that often only make life more difficult. While practicing PBS, Cole lives with his wife in rural Missouri relatively near St. Louis. 11/30/2021: Patrick J. Cole is a management consultant and poet who finds delight in nature, especially the hidden wildlife often pointed out to him by a canine companion while he attempts to walk mindfully through the woods. Cole mixes his psychology background, perennial wisdom practices, and poetry to deliver his simple message: there’s joy to be found if we know how to look for it. Oh, Cole might look calm, cool, and collected, but he still feels a range of strong emotions as he attempts to maintain his PBS practice. What is PBS? His Zen Buddhist mentor explains that it means Pause, Breathe, and Smile—or, if that doesn’t work, Peanut Butter Sandwich. Both can help avoid harmful knee-jerk reactions. While practicing PBS, Cole lives with his naturally beautiful wife in rural Missouri, relatively near St. Louis.

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 Patrick J. Cole.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

844-349-9409

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Art by Barbara Merlotti

https://barbara-merlotti.pixels.com

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3307-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3308-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021924873

iUniverse rev. date: 12/07/2021

CONTENTS

Introduction

EARTH

When We Know It’s Real

Who Rescues Who?

My First Reaction

We Still Have Something to Do

Enjoying the Show

One Tree, One Lonely, February Afternoon

Life Isn’t Always Pretty

One Little, Two Little

Traveling While I Can

Tree Hugger?

After All Is Said And Done

Natural Beauty

WIND

Free Ride

What a Baby Can Teach Us

We Go Without Breath for Only So Long

Put on Your Own Oxygen Mask First

Lingering

Meant to Be Broken

Once Again

WATER

We’re Okay, Not to Worry, My Friend

Just Above Freezing

Midwinter Melancholy

A Man Needs An Exit

Renewing Our Vows

Not So Far Away

Poets as Lovers of Truth

Lady Julian Says It’s All Love Revealed

Silence Is Golden

FIRE

Focus

Die. Zombie. Die.

When Outcome Doesn’t Match Expectation

We Need a Change of View

Sunrise before the Sun Appears

Two of the 84,000 Dharma Doors

What We Are Lent

Filling the Gap

We Are Invincible (Not)!

A Friend’s Life Matters

What Is Truth?

We Don’t Need Greed

The Little Red Hen Taught Me How to Go Alone

Choosing Our Projection

Plan A, Plan B, Plan C

Yesterday

How I Count to Zen—43

Which Version Will Win Today?

Afterword

Acknowledgements

Love Questions

The answer to When is Now

The answer to How is Yes

The answer