The Goodwill Life

I had a dream last week -

standing in a crowd of pilgrims, I was waiting

for the rummage

to begin.

We had all given away our stuff

and were trusting Goodwill to provide whatever we needed

for the next level

of awakening.

I found some clothes and shoes, and then moved on,

hot on the trail of something magical,

some amazing bit of inspiration.

There it was: a yellow plastic helmet -

fire helmet, hard hat, safari helmet?

All of the above.

And it had fake leopard fur and tiger stripes on top.

Oh, that yellow - welcome, new thoughts.

And the big cat energy?

Look out, stage and screen -

look out, my little puppets and wild-eyed laughing puppeteers:

Leo has arrived.

The helmet didn't quite fit, though -

I set it down and went to buy

the practical stuff, the simple stuff,

and don't forget the shoes.

But in my heart I can't set down that helmet.

What is "buying," anyway?

I think I've bought that helmet,

and it is pure, unadulterated

magic.