2 Songs from Naomi Rose

9 minutes

• SSA choir

“Potter’s Clay” was commissioned for their 10th Anniversary Season by the Milwaukee Choral Artists, Sharon A. Hansen, conductor.

“Echoes” was commissioned by Donald Nally and The Crossing.

“Potter’s Clay” by Naomi C. Rose

Life is like a potter’s clay
changing shape form day to day.

As stars sparkle in the sky
light and dark go quickly by.

What’s the future? No one knows.
So be at peace with how life goes.

Om Mani Padmé Hum.

“Echoes” by Naomi C. Rose

Snow peaks turn golden.
Fragrant petals. Butterflies.
The crimson skies melt into night.
Silver stars and sailing moon.
Echoes of a chanting tune.
Gaté gaté paragaté parasangaté, bodhi svaha.

The poetry of "Potter's Clay"and “Echoes” were written by my good friend, Naomi C. Rose; it ends the first story found in her award winning children's book, "Tibetan Tales for Little Buddhas," with a foreward by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Throughout the story, Naomi weaves a mantra from the Buddhist tradition, "Om mani padmé hum."

This mantra is spoken to Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, who vowed to hear the prayers of all sentient beings and postpone his own enlightenment until every being on earth achieved nirvana. In some renderings of Avalokitesvara's story, Amitabha Buddha endows him with 11 heads and 1,000 arms, so he may better hear and assist those who suffer. His mantra, "Om mani padmé hum," manifests compassion, good fortune, and