Svein Myreng is a poet and teacher. He is a member of the Order of Interbeing established by Vietnamese Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh and leads the Sangha of Floating Clouds in Oslo, Norway. Many of these poems were inspired by experiences at Plum Village in France.
Myreng, who has congenital heart disease, is no stranger to pain and loss. "I have used my illness to make myself stop and experience periods of inactivity," he notes. This physical disability has also enabled the poet to pay more attention to the reports of his senses.
One poem, "For Thay," is addressed to Thich Nhat Hanh:
In this amazing tapestry,
our lives interweave constantly.
Taking one step and one more,
I gently smile
to happiness and sorrow.
Alone? I must be joking!
Myreng makes room in his heart for dandelions, grace, sangha, body, and a Japanese garden. The poet's haikus and gathas reflect the joy and peace he has derived from Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings on mindfulness.