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2012 Poetry Theme Challenges#03 What Have You Learned Today |
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Blessings and love for 2012! The other day in class I was listening to a young lad reading Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley. After the reading he then had to say what the poem meant to him. Now, as I am sure you are aware, the Poem is about Egypt and Rameses - and indeed that is what I always see. However, in class I saw a different meaning as the young lad described the imagery he saw of the world we live in today, the destruction of our planet by our own species. He didn't realise the poem is 200 years old. His thoughts made sense and yeah, made me look at Ozymandias in a new way. Enlightenment means different things to different people. To some it is spiritual, to others it is physical and to others a combination of the two. As a theme challenge however, I see it as meaning something learned, something new to the awareness. So part of this challenge is to make us pay more attention to what is around us and happening and then writing about it. What is something new you have gained today and how does it relate to you.
Jemmy XXXX |
What Have You Learned Today
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Divena CollinsOh sacred tree where natures treasures lie So sweet the golden sap that flows therein Thou gnarled tangled boughs shall never die Of ancient mystic charms that dwell within Ever protected from the bleak winter sky. What magical fantasies might thy now tell Of dryads and faeries throughout the glade Of maidens enchanted by their magic spells That bades the bleak winter solstice to fade Thy prophesy cast where wise wizards dwell.  ----- Some Day Some day Aurora`s shall form across the sky Then we shall learn the secret of the universe When angels of mercy spreads wings to fly Their voices thro` winds taught to converse Soft words to encourage tears not to cry. Some day soon lovers shall unite together Their love shall bloom within every season Then this universal globe shall unite forever For seasons may glow within loves reason And intellectual minds shall not fade ever. But some day when affections seem bolder All they have learned this day remains fresh Though memories fade as they grow older Still shall remain the passions of the flesh True spirits of love shall ne-er grow colder.  back to list |
Jem FarmerInside the girl, I saw what shouldn't be, Yet there it was as clear as darkest night, The voice that softly whispered it’s not right, The tears I cried while yearning to be free. Inside the girl, I saw my destiny, All wrapped in jeans with silver buckles bright, A vision of life that set my world alight, One single word that spoke 'Androgyny'. Inside the girl, I saw another view, A world I could begin to understand, Although it is not what my dreams had planned, It's something I knew this time I must do. A way of life I know I can enjoy, Inside this girl, there dwells her inner boy.  ----- A Midnight Dream Its warming glow says welcome home, Sit in a chair and stop awhile Meanwhile through the day gently roam, Memories roam then softly smile. An evening spent by the fireside, Inside my mind of restless thoughts, Old thoughts, new thoughts, I can't confide, Bona fide thoughts so long I've fought. By the fire a decision made, Made while searching a midnight dream, The dream that would not drift nor fade, The faded self has found esteem. ----- A New Romance A tune of sorrow played on fiddle strings, Unanswered questions haunting midnight's hour, The voice of melancholy softly sings, Beneath the stars that light the lunar bow'r, All waiting here for warmth that sunrise brings. With dawn, the fluffy clouds begin their dance, While chasing rainbows across the blue sky, The breeze of early spring now takes its chance, Just flirting with the budding twigs on high, The coming of life that sings a new romance. ----- A Tiny Flower O sweet white bloom blushing through snow, You gently kiss the north winds as they pass, Whispering to winter 'it's time to go', From your bluey-green leaves like blades of grass, Sweet drooping bells that mark the seasons flow. A tiny flower sets the world alight, And fills a wintered heart with deepest joy, New life from bleakest days and long icy nights, Through woods and fields, her bloom Brigid's envoi, As spring returns into our mortal sight. back to list |
Ryter RoethicleOnly in our dreams can we create our Heaven But would that Heaven we've created be perfect, Or with our basest thoughts be interwoven? In time like other toys begin to show neglect Then in time be cast aside for other things Where instead of veneration show disrespect! Some akin it to be like the palaces of kings, With feasts and orgies and other forms of delight Where servants pass around fluttering their wings Whist! Listen! Can you feel that horrible draught Of empty spaces created by those desires uneven? Proving that on the whole what we want is daft! Only in our dreams can we create our Heaven Where with our basest thoughts be interwoven?  ----- Freedom The sounds of the captured city wakens me Even before dawn, slaves hasten to the wills Of invisible masters that state what shall be. But I ignore that noise, and slumbers skills Erase what pain they caused, and eases my mind Finding myself again among Avalon's hills. I appreciate how my dreams are being kind, But will cast them aside and join the slaves That are considered to be normal mankind. Now I hear the traffic going past in loud waves As I go about my morning rites feeling free Realising that they are digging early graves The sounds of the captured city have woken me But I have no masters that state what shall be.  ----- How Stupid How stupid! What kind of fool am I That when I tell you that I love you I should expect a movement of your eye Your heartbeat to give a single clue When I tell you what you need to hear A few simple words to lift my blue Commit to love there's naught to fear To tell my lover of my love so strong Oh that moment waited will never near Faint heart in love was ever wrong To stand and wish and merely sigh In my foolish mood I wait too long How stupid! What kind of fool am I I should expect a movement of your eye.  ----- It Started With a Kiss It started with a kiss, two pairs of lips Eyes shining, looking into each other Two sets of hands reaching out fingertips Knowing now there can't be another All other loves you now eclipse Together through eternity your soul trips Reborn, certain as in loves cup you drink A never ending series of relationships In the dusk of time you lie back and think It started with a kiss, two pairs of lips.  ----- Joy at Dusk As I sit here, the day is ending for me The sun has gone behind the hills to sleep The day's been all and more I wanted it to be. As it settled I watched the shadows creep Hearing the birds settle in each cosy nest Watching the moon over the eastside creep. It makes me certain how well we are blessed This cool, late summer night bringing respite From working days where some are stressed Too soon suns rays will show again his might For now leaving us with subtle mental energy And for a while sleep comfortable at night. Because finally the day is ending for me And it's been all and more I wanted it to be.  ----- Life's Circles Time grows in rippled rings, spreading out, Circling round the things that you first did Sharing something you cannot be without Words and music your mind can never rid It is now part of your soul, there is no doubt. The food, the places you dined are all there That first night, and the splash you created Are those ripples of love formed with care And all that is your love can never be dated These memories are there for you to share. As time goes on, those ripples spread more Events happen, the memories accumulate Then one day you cease to count the score Happiness surrounds you and you mate Smiling, as together you close life's door.  ----- Regalo di amore, (Gift of love) Given to the light, is a gift of love I search the heavens to thank the stars But all I see are reflections from above That tells me that this gift alone is ours What is love but wealth undreamed of. I see a flight of angels delivering this gift One who has oft-times drawn his bow And rarely has his arrow flown adrift. His victims all possess that special glow Gained sometimes sneaky, oft-times swift. I do not question anything about you You offered your love, I willingly took If I'd my druthers, I wouldn't change my view Nor would I ever need a second look You are the lover that I always knew.  ----- Surfing Time On the seas of time we will always be, Board bound to the tides of thought Awaiting the wave for you, and for me This board, experience's dearly bought Those waves of time surfing for eternity.  ----- Time On and on it goes, on through endless time Never ever letting go of the person we love. Two souls are searching for the path sublime Connected yet apart, and always cognisant of That to others they will always be, a paradigm. They do not challenge love, they merely live it Awake to each others ways and sharing joys Welcoming changes never fearing to commit Knowing that secrets in love, always destroys Smiling as at the end of time Heaven admits.  ----- Useful Advice Like a candle your love burned too bright In your passion, you tasted too well, too soon Senses never sated until far into the night. Lust's fires extinguished, by loss of gloom With day, love sped away, into the light. Wisdom relit the gloom with second breath. An athlete may start hard but steadies the pace To do otherwise would be akin to death Causing you to drop from an important race Simply because you were out of breath. When you love take your time, and you'll be fine Consider love to be like the Tortoise and the Hare. Love is like good food, served with good wine Savour and chew, drink slowly enjoy the fare By the end of the meal thy lover will be thine.  ----- X The Secret Ingredient I have lived a long and full life I’ll tell you what I've learned. There are many days I've faced strife Every scar I bear I have truly earned Fate is ever a two edged knife. One thing I learned was to smile In spite of all the overwhelming odds Giving you the edge, things pause a while Sometimes putting twilight to the sods It's like an antidote to all the bile. Happy is the only way to live It's so much easier being this way You always receive more than you give Feeling blessed at the end of each day Falling asleep with nothing to forgive. Here's my well known, well proven tip Wear a smile as you walk out each day Make sure on your shoulder there's no chip. Perhaps even hum a tune whilst on your way And pain and misery you’ll easily outstrip.  ----- Zeberucht...(Eternal Flame) Tonight as the music plays I remember Later I will sleep and perhaps dream Thinking about what lit this fiery ember That heats my soul to hot extremes I wonder tonight if you will remember.  back to list |
Peter WillowdownIn youthful Love's season pedestrian reason is supplanted by emotion, no more infatuation but a joyful dilation and exultation of the senses by means of which all things are raised, mind and heart are moved to praise the formerly unperceived perfection of things, each minute and each hour seems to grow wings, the soul soars in a lofty expanse of high regard and benevolence towards all men and voiceless beasts, the forest gleams with emerald vitality, even the starkest mountain peak seems to bear a rose in his teeth, his gullies and valleys rumbling with deep laughter, inviting even storms and thunder to inundate him and swell his streams and rivers that he might sing all the louder and proclaim to the universe that he too knows love. The humble sparrow chatters extravagantly in his tree, the golden eagle contemplates great things from the fastness of his aerie, the poet permits his mind to be still, lost in rapturous contemplation of his beloved. Even the drunkard has momentarily had his fill of wine and vice and listens to the heavens for cheerful advice on how he best might live his life and clean his eye's dimmed windows. The rain of love washes all things clear, save perhaps the despot and the vile arms manufacturer; in his cell the condemned prisoner weeps in j oy at news of his unexpected release, the suicide takes second thought, his desperate scheme revealed as naught but passing clouds upon a limitless horizon. The murderer stays his deadly hand as he hears the ethereal strains of some far off madrigal taking him back to childhood days before each pure intention was warped and a gentle smile comes over his face. O Master of Love, O Master of Doves, spend your mystic benison over the world, not just to each boy and girl, youth or maid but above all created things made in His image: the spinning electron, the deadly nightshade, the typhoon and the tranquil hour, the massive elephant and the tiniest flower -- all are yearning for your touch and holy benediction. Illuminate the shallow personas of our self-wrought and self imposed fictions and elevate them to some higher station, uniting feuding towns and states into one greater,harmonious nation beneath the Sun and softly silvered Moon: not next year or in two hundred years but just as soon as thought can pass from Heaven to Earth, to little spirit from great spirit. Love itself knows no limits, it is only the fear, ignorance and self-interest of small men that seek to circumscribe it, building dikes and dams to control it and passing laws to ban it. Before the primal darkness broke Love cried in the wilderness, yearning to know itself; it is crying still within the hearts and souls of women and men, crying but to be released. In older Love's more stately pace he runneth not as in a race but moves in a more thoughtful manner, contemplating each newly revealed facet of his treasure carefully, yet though not driven by youthful fire he does not lack a subtle grace but reviews each passing hour fully, cognizant it may be his last. Ah, but catch his reflection in the moonlight's shimmering mirror and you will see that despite his somewhat serious demeanor, he is actually grinning. Is that a cloud passing over the Moon, or is the cosmos simply winking? Whatever the season, Love cannot be fathomed by the calculated guile of the scientist, tax collector, or government inspector. If he has a task to perform he will do it at his own pace, as measured as the winged bringer of passing pleasure or walking leisurely to accommodate and listen to the conversation of the wise old tortoise. A playful porpoise, a chorus for frogs, an insect sleeping in a log -- Love assumes many forms to trick and circumvent Satan. For his part, Satan plays the game quite willingly, for he knows that nothing is certain and that he who laughs last sometimes laughs loudest. God tested Job, Iblis was cast down from Heaven. When at last all days have run their course he shall separate the foolish from the wise by His own inscrutable standards. At last, perhaps, Love shall shed his rainbow disguise and be enthroned in all men's souls. ----- To Raise High Towers To raise high towers to view the sun, to sit by quiet lakes and hold your hand, to lay with you in the silver moonlight and thread fallen leaves on cotton to make a garland of autumn; to put flowers in your hair and bathe with you where waterfalls splash into clear bubbling pools, to walk with you beside golden streams with the hot sun falling off the overhanging trees like flakes of Eternity, and all the air alive with burning youth and summer. To watch the sinuous fish play beneath the surface and listen to the chorus or birds, the hum of bees and insects, the lowing of cattle and far-off bells. To make love to you in secret quiet places, temples of nature and the open heart - my lover, my companion and friend. back to list |
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