The Bushiad
Chapter 20: Asana

The Idyossey
Chapter 1- Ichor of the Gods
Chapter 2- The Price of Peace
Chapter 3- Empyre
Chapter 4- Woeful Warrior
Chapter 5- Mitzvah
Chapter 6- News Analysis
Chapter 7- Strategic Planner
Chapter 8- Aristea
Chapter 9- Last Supper
Chapter 10- Skullduggery
Chapter 11: Family Reunion
Chapter 12- Black Goddess
Chapter 13- Saboteur
Chapter 14- Glossolalia
Chapter 15- Visitation
Chapter 16- Dead or Alive
Chapter 17- Across the Border
Chapter 18- The Unraveling
Chapter 19- Summer in the City
Chapter 20- Wolf and Jackal
Chapter 21- George Gloats
Chapter 22- Surreality
Chapter 23- Kidnapped
Chapter 24- Denouement

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At 6:15 a.m. Dick Cheney awakens,
Alarm clock set to sweet synthetic birdsong
To gently rouse him from his slumber.
His wife Lynn, snoring softly, does not stir;
Cheney swings his legs around and off the bed,
Rubs his eyes and prepares for yoga.

Medication keeps his wild heart in sync,
And though the medication is no cure,
It’s given him the energy to exercise each day.
Yoga now begins his daily routine,
Its benefits increased strength, flexibility, and
Most important, relaxation.

Hard-heart has had lessons for three months;
This May 5th he’s up, washed and ready by seven,
His teacher, Ilene Goldberg, arrives well before.
“Good morning, sir,” Ilene says, as Cheney enters.
“Good morning to you,” he says half-smiling,
Sits on his sticky mat, ready to begin.

“We’ll start standing,” Ilene says, “Tadasana.”
At this, Dick Cheney stands up tall and straight.
“Firm legs, shoulders relaxed,” she says,
He rocks back and forth, centering himself.
“On an inhale let your arms float up.”
His eyes close as he breathes.

Dick Cheney’s sensed a change of late,
Could be the yoga or the meds, but
Things feel different, less desperate, less tense.
He pays attention to his breath at meetings,
Feels cool air in and warm air out,
Listens more, speaks less.

Food tastes different too, and
Ordinary acts, like brushing teeth, seem now
To be more purposeful. He’s scared and rather thrilled
By this new mindfulness. His energy is higher
And his stiff-necked wife, Lynne,
Looks more attractive.

“Please bend from the pelvis.” says Ilene.
“Uttanasana,” says Cheney, feeling pleased.
He’s dropped twenty-six pounds -
Looks better than he has in years, told he’s
Looking good by all his peers, spends time
Posing in the nude before his full-length mirror.

“Savasana,” she says after an hour.
This last posture provides deep relaxation,
Breath and heart slow down, muscles recover.
The Hard-hearted one relaxes,
Finds a peaceful place inside. He’s no longer
Man in charge, just Dick on the floor.

On his back, feet spread, hands by his side,
He feels himself unwind, leave the world behind,
Eyes closed, jaw soft, legs heavy.
Ilene begins to sing a birdlike tune
Warm round tones caress him, he dives deeper
To new places unexplored.

Suddenly he’s crying warm tears,
Deep inside him is sadness he’s avoided.
Giving in he lets emotion run its course,
While Ilene silently moves closer, lays
A folded towel across his eyes. Dick’s heart
Receives a rush of rich red blood.

The dark space in Dick receives light,
It spreads across his chest, a warm glow.
In lessons Ilene spoke about opening the heart,
And Cheney, a rational man, misunderstood.
Now feeling the true meaning, Dick Cheney’s
Heart begins to soften.

Of late, at meetings with the boys,
Cheney’s felt a man apart, removed.
He now finds it difficult viewing photos of the dead,
Lump in his throat at such scenes. Turned off
By talk of kills and scenes of war’s destruction,
He talks about medicine, food and clean water.

The others take notice but make no mention.
They know that he’s coping with his medical condition,
Assume he’s adjusting to a new prescription.
But Dick is now aware of the matters of the heart,
Healing his own brings with it other issues,
Compassion for himself is overflowing.

“Now bring yourself back to awareness,” It’s Ilene.
“Roll on your side, sit up, breathe for a while.”
Sitting in half lotus, Dick breathes,
From the belly to the chest, then in reverse.
He feels wonderful: safe, relaxed, and
Glad to be alive.
 
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