Throwing and being thrown

You never loved me back.
At least, not the way I loved you.
You were in control of it. I was not.

I learned to love the teaching
As much as you. More.
I almost learned to not mind
that I don’t know you, can’t know you.

But I have almost known you.
When I throw you, when you throw me, there is a moment
Of complete focus, of harmony
Of balance.
You taught me that.
It is an amazing feeling - One we train our human bodies
and minds for.

You showed me:
When we practice, our bodies are not our own.
They are heaven, earth, thunder, mountain.
With the sweat
We are water, fire, wind.

There is magic in it, you know.
The heart crashes into the mat.
It is the heart’s pleasure.
It rises to fall again.

- for my martial arts teacher.