Category Archives: Universal Soul

Submerged

"submerged"  image by Ray Ferrer

“submerged”
image by Ray Ferrer

Quench my thirst oh mother time,
loose my worry along the line
between the temporal poles of love,
between this push of day,
this rhyme of life that presses so.
Hold me just above.

Grant this moment’s fleeting bliss
not leave me, hold me, softly kiss
and keep me infinitely bound
with my heart in sway.
Fill my soul to know just this,
this one – single – moment found.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
the incredible image comes courtesy of Ray Ferrer – http://urbanwallart.wordpress.com

7 Comments

Filed under Perpective, Poetry, Universal Soul

Afton’s Ashes

Ashes strewn by wind and weather,
from funeral pyre ‘cross hills of heather,
last mount be mine upon these rocks,
reduced to only watch my flocks
from this distant lonely brae.

Yet with the breeze, freer to roam
in ashen form, to seaside loam,
o’er lea and rill, through scented birch,
across the lane and round the church
where once they laid my body down.

Six carried me up to this mount
while bagpipes played and left the count
of clock just set past three.

And tho’ my brothers kept her home,
my Mary cried, “He’ll not go alone!
for I am wed to thee!”

The cairns along the path and rill
grew that day and stand there still,
holding place to honor me.

Then as my bones laid top that perch,
the piping waned to silenced search
of tolling church bells’ ring…
and so through sobs did Mary sing.

In gentle touch of fire’s life,
while softly sang my precious wife,
the pyre rose to carry me.

So raised in silken smoky spire,
I looked long the dell below this pyre
in sadness, I was free.

Yet gently gathered on the ground,
my earthly bonds there flitted ‘round
to touch my Mary’s face.

That through her tears and gentle song
I knew my soul would keep as long
as Mary graced this place.

Today my flocks still grace the lea
where by sweet Afton my Mary and me
found love among the winding rills.

Our birch shade kept for holding hands,
ties heart to hers and with this land
our destiny yet to fill.

So I now sing in low remorse,
echoes ‘cross this hill and course
of gentle rills that grace her sleep.

That when she’s done and joins the mount,
her ashen beauty mixed in the count
of what our histories’ keep –
Then o’er brae and lea we’ll sleep
The again we’ll love so deep.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poetry, True Love, Universal Soul

Meditation Gardens

Quiet setting juxtaposed to Shanghai’s metro scene,
but for one peaceful afternoon,
this treasure bends my heart serene.

Ancient texts in classrooms held in museum’s pressured pallor,
statuettes in work or war
echo truths in lesson’s valor.

Reflecting pond near silent stoops, echo strength to pause,
so stir the golden mirrored fin
rippling purpose in waves of cause.

Peace be mine, to escape, to learn,
granted calm in what I yearn.
So mends the fabric of this day,
so fills my heart in every way.

Yet as I overflow in hope, ancient lessons gather ‘round,
call to duty living merit
and life walked o’er this sacred ground,

that carry I in moments hence, values true at decision’s point,
to grant peace and understanding
at every moment’s joint.

Day ends, and through the gate I go, returned to city’s din,
yet carry with me all I’ve learned,
to share in passing, every grin.

In reflection of Meditation Gardens in Shanghai, China – Oct 2006

DSCF7533

DSCF7505

DSCF7523

DSCF7536

DSCF7542

DSCF7554

DSCF7564

DSCF7534

2 Comments

Filed under Perpective, Photography, Poetry, Universal Soul

My Stone Wall

Smooth and mixed, the stones betray
the purpose of each course I laid,
that mortar’s strength to hold them fast
denies my hope to see them last
in square to where each one I stayed.

Mortar cracked and crumbled clings
to stones once plucked from mountain streams,
each in purpose so selected,
that as my work neared done, reflected
the lane to which my heart would sing.

Years that dressed my lane to home
witnessed living thrusts since gone,
captured echoes of a purpose,
pushed from God to here, to surface
what this life and soul has known…

Triumph in a child’s eye.
Approving nod of passersby.
Winter nights in season’s mirth.
Awe and bliss in children’s births.
Fractured heart when stress had won.
Undoing of a wayward son.
Broken stride in parent’s deaths.
Splintered family and such regrets.
Falling from the strength to cope,
when whispers came in certain hope,
as lives careened between the walls
and hands repaired the fists in halls,
when tragedy begged into the room
to paint the road in front with gloom,
as fast this last hand grasped for life,
witnessed strength to break with strife.
Saw the hope that changed this heart.
Saw what fed and fueled the parts
of broken paths and shaken schemes.
Saw such love fold into dreams
and grant a smiling eye …
and all the years gone by…

My lane in stone wall’s soft repose
extends a peace that no one knows, but I.
It’s stoic stance is earned so well,
tho’ cracked and stained, not one stone fell,
that now in quiet solitude
has earned my histories gratitude,
and assuring nods from passersby.

Leave a comment

Filed under Family, History, Memory, Poetry, Universal Soul

Quietude

This quiet now enrobes me.
This peace I’ve so longed for, real.
To this moment my aching bones and tired heart reveal
the very soul of me, the body of an aging man,
the thoughts that always linger near,
that only now, in silence, can
the heart of who I am, address
the needs that rise within my soul.
Now, with peace and quietude,
through breath and patience, I let go…

Questions, purpose, tasks at hand…
I know there’s much that I must give
to fulfill their journey’s purpose,
to balance spirit, life, and live!

But quandary overcomes me,
when pressed by doings of the day,
so do I seek this solitude,
so try to find my way
to let this path unfold to me,
open up in simple steps,
by which my life can simply take,
through which my soul can let
the journey find its purpose,
in ease and knowing truth’s revealed…
So, this is why I sit here
and draw upon all that I feel.

Leave a comment

Filed under Poetry, Universal Soul

Lead

Thin line formed by those who know,
attracting those who know,
giving of their very core
to help the mass that doesn’t know…

Deep within the core of we,
a fabric bathed in soul,
that looks toward horizon,
that stands to lead where few will go.

Heavy burden carried quiet,
not a thought of “why” it’s done,
yet granted love in living’s moment
to lift and calm the worried sum.

At core, in every fiber,
we know it in our hearts,
this calling so belongs to us,
to lead and gather up the parts
of that which falls around us,
be it soul or act or wind,
that so upon this living field
we guide the hearts of men.

In twos we find each other,
in pairs we balance what we know
of what we’ve learned in life as one,
and what alone as two we show.

Balance, counter-balance,
by twos we change the world,
strength to ebb and recover strength,
in twos can such a power unfurl.

Saving lives through action,
mending lives through words,
calming spirits through simple glances,
till every ache and ailment cured.

As two who know the calling,
bathed in soulful fabric, shared –
the strength of both may burden one
when one is without its living pair.
Yet strong the stitch and weave endures
and pulls to balance, centered again,
that strength of two will right itself,
their fabric such, will always mend…
that not Newton’s motion or outside force
so worked upon in any sense
can undo the core of one or two,
but Newton, such to two will bend…

It’s in you and you know it.
You feel your strength in every day.
You feel the universe unfold and roll
at your feet as if to say,
“I’m here for you and all you are
and all you hope to be,
is mine to give at your request
for the core of you is me.
You lead for you’re beloved,
and love’s your strongest gift,
that when you’re two with soul as one,
no grief or burden can’t you lift.”

Believe the simple truth you know,
you’ve always known its strength.
Lead by what is best in you
till that’s all that’s left, at length.

2 Comments

Filed under Poetry, Universal Soul