Poetry Exchange!

[Olive]

Hello all!

I wanted to start a thread to share some of my own poetry as well as work that has spoken to me on a deep level. I would love to read some other people's work as well and words of poets that have affected you. I'll start with a poem I wrote this morning . . . still unrefined. And I want to share my two all-time favorite pieces by other poets.

Morning Commute
by Olive

Standing at the bus stop
watching the sharp-eyed birds
catch dawn on their wings.

I stand quiet, observant, smiling
a part of, apart from
the flow of traffic, drifting trash, school children.

Feeling the pressure of air
on the delicate bones
of a gliding gull.


Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.


The Guest House
by Jelaluddin Rumi

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty it of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

[misslinda]

Olive,
I like that--makes me stop to enjoy the day and take notci of the smalledst enjoyments.

I love Rumi!

Tickled,
linda

[misslinda]

Olive,
Here's one I htought you might enjoy!


Book: the Light Within
Author John & Eliza Forder

"Words cannot describe the joy of the soul whose impurities are cleansed in deep comtemplation--who is one with his Atman, his own Spirit.
Only those who feel this joy know what it is.
Even as Water becomes one with Water, Fire with Fire and Air with Air,
so the Mind becomes one with the Infinite Mind
and thus attains final freedom.

--Maitri Upanishad

[FEELIN'GOOD]

Nice work Olive! Very sweet...

[kiwikid78]

Linda,
Your poem reminded me of one by Robert Browning.

I think it's called "Imprisoned Splendour", but don't quote me on that.


Truth is within ourselves, it takes no rise
From outward things, whatever you may believe.
There is an inner centre in us all
Where truth abides in fullness; and around
Wall upon wall the gross flesh hems it in
That perfect, clear perception which is Truth.
A baffling and perverting carnal mesh
Binds all and makes all error, but to know
Rather consists in finding a way
For the imprisoned light to escape
Than in achieving entry for a light
Supposed to be without


-Robert Browning

[VeggieGirl]

I can't resist a nutty limerick here or there...I once had a couple friends who had an ongoing limerick war for MONTHS (nerdy I know, but very ingenious and funny) where they would just try to get each other back. Touche!

FOR EXAMPLE -
My friend Matt wrote me this one (note:I was a practicing massage therapist at the time)

"VeggieGirl, it's time for confession -
You have an immoral profession.
For the place where you work
has irreprobate perks:
all your clients are always undressin'."

and here was my response to Matt:

"Modesty's always a factor,
for a therapist or chiropractor
can skillfully care
for a body that's bare
so that nudity doesn't distract her."

Come on party people, let's hear your best RAW limericks. You get extra points for WIT and INGENUITY!!!

Here's my first stab.

Some people might think we're all nuts,
as we carefully fill up our guts
with raw food we adore -
fruits and veggies galore,
getting rid of the fat on our butts.

Wait, I'm on a roll...

Fruits and veggies piled up like a mountain,
and my Juicer just flows like a fountain
How my kitchen has changed!
And my life rearranged
since I've stopped all that calorie countin'.

alright, that one pretty much sucked. What about this? It's getting late...

Olive and Linda don't thirst
since their fasting began on the First.
Detox is more fun
when you cleanse with someone...
'till your bladder's so full it could burst!

Ummm.....I think it's time for me to go to bed. ;)
C'mon, Hit me with your best shot. I declare a Limerick War!

VeggieGirl

[misslinda]

Ya know Kiwi, that's does sound like a mirror image of each other--the authors are form different parts of theworld--that's waht intrigued me after seeing the two.


Veggiegirl (!!!!!!!!!!)

I'm quite impressed.......can't be more tickled than that! it'll tale me awhile to come up with something as good as that----be back with my raw lyrics.


composing 101,
linda

[twinyoga]

Very good, Veggie Girl. I am really impressed. I was driving today, trying to be creative, and I just couldn't think of anything!

I gotta work on this....

Debbie