Be clay
Don’t be half-hearted about this –
be clay.
You know all about clay –
be clay.
Humble, submissive, reverent –
awaiting the Potter’s hands.
Enjoy that humility, that surrender –
feel already so near God.
Now the wheel begins to turn –
the Potter is here!
Feel His hands – the more you feel them,
the more you know the love in them.
Now you’re being shaped:
turned on the wheel like a dervish turns,
you’re becoming like that tall column of stillness,
rising from the centre of the whirling skirt;
still; in the memory of the Potter’s hands;
you recognise yourself who waited for you.
*
[leaning on the poems of Hafiz]
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Related quotes
In the spirit of Rumi - 29
O Caliphs of the world
who have executed so many saints
for daring to say that ‘I am God within myself’ –
If you yourselves are not God within yourselves,
then who are you to pronounce punishment
upon any other man?
And now, every man who carries
a sword, a dagger, bomb or gun
would think himself a Caliph,
messenger of the Lord…
how wrong they are.
Yet Allah, the great, the merciful beyond our understanding,
allows them to live on after their victims’ death - gives
a little time to know themselves
as the wheel of the potter, Destiny, turns for them,
before they return to Him
as clay to be reshaped in the Potter’s hands
or dry and crumble into dust.
poem by Michael Shepherd
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Perfect Adultery
Nature’s game awarded the clay
To the potter’s neighbour
Who desires it not.
The potter finds his clay perchance
And longed to possess it whole, malleable and wet,
And when he does, it will become
A perfect adultery,
To the potter’s house she
Will go, to be molded whole and happy,
The potter is a good man they will say
But, good men though gentle and civil,
In things of love and romance, sometimes,
The animal in man takes over
And when it does, the potter’s act to claim his clay
Will become a perfect adultery,
When a woman young and inexperienced
Is lured into a marriage of baby making
By a man above his prime and manipulative,
When she’s abandoned in a romance of half moon
Per twelve circle,
She will yearn for love young and adventurous like hers’
To escape the boredom and loneliness of a single mother married,
When she abandon herself in a romance of young-full
Lover,
It will become a perfect adultery.
When a man gentle and pure
Falls into the hands of a woman that nags
In a matrimony of distrust,
When he stays away and befriends alcohol
And in his lighter brain finds a woman easy
And seductive,
He will submit to her bareback rough ride,
He will long for this escape at will
And when he does,
It will become a perfect adultery.
When adult-try relationship
Become a game of deceit and suspicion,
When couples seek an escape with another
Seen as compatible and trustful
And religion preaches sin of the flesh,
And nature thinks otherwise,
And the couples do their thing
Because separation is hard to get
And hypertension knocks at the door,
When they close their eyes in a romance
Of anything goes, it will be termed a
Perfect adultery,
Perfect adult-try?
Perfect adult-teen?
Perfect adult-tur?
Perfect adult-thorn
In the flesh?
©May,2010
poem by Akachukwu Chukwuemeka
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Faith
And is the great cause lost beyond recall?
Have all the hopes of ages come to naught?
Is life no more with noble meaning fraught?
Is life but death, and love its funeral pall?
Maybe. And still on bended knees I fall,
Filled with a faith no preacher ever taught.
O God -- MY God -- by no false prophet wrought --
I believe still, in despite of it all!
Let go the myths and creeds of groping men.
This clay knows naught -- the Potter understands.
I own that Power divine beyond my ken,
And still can leave me in His shaping hands.
But, O my God, that madest me to feel,
Forgive the anguish of the turning wheel!
poem by Ada Cambridge
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Potters Wheel
This song appears on three albums, and was first released on the different directions album, and has also been released on the john denver collection - annies song album. it has also been rele
On the john denver collection - calypso album, as a live version.
The world is fast becoming younger
The news is all theyve ever known
Theyve seen the wars, the hurt, the hunger
How will they choose when they are grown
What do you tell forevers children
When its their turn to hurt and heal
Whatever spins a grim tornedo
Can also turn a potters wheel
Take a little clay
Put it on a wheel
Get a little hint
How God must feel
Give a little turn
Listen to a spin
Make it into the shape
You want it in
Tell with your life the bloody story
Teach to theyre dreams not burning steel
Its not in bombs where lies the glory
But in whats shattered on the field
The potters wheel takes love and caring
Skill and patience fast and slow
The works it makes are easily broken
Once they survive the potters throw
Take a little clay
Put it on a wheel
Get a little hint
How God must feel
Give a little turn
Listen to a spin
Make it into the shape
You want it in
Some day some children will be digging
In some long forgotten ground
And theyll find our civilisation
Or whats left of it to be found
Theyll find the weapons of destruction
But buried deeper in the hole
Theyll find a message and a promise
In the sand, the potters bowl
Take a little clay
Put it on a wheel
Get a little hint
How God must feel
Give a little turn
Listen to a spin
Make it into the shape
You want it in
Earth and fire and wind conspire
With human hands, and love, and fire
Words and music by bill danoff
song performed by by John Denver
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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At Right Moment
'You have blown my mind' one of the reader commented
It was with reference to one of my poems posted
'Are there any more words for poet to say' she added
Now it was my turn to feel speechless as I was highly graded
It is nice to feel, when some one staying far, is commenting
Her feeling in simple but in effective way and presenting
I can understand about the state of mind when you are moved
There exists no double thought or opinion to be removed
'We are potter's clay' I humbly stated
We have found no other way
We sing in His praise and enjoy
That is how the life is to be spent with joy
We also know that not all pots survive
Potter makes all efforts to save them and revive
Yet he expresses helplessness at the end
Looks towards sky as if that blessing god has sent
How come poems emerge from tiny mind?
It has no place to store and convenient place to find
I have wondered many times but simply surrendered
It is nothing but a grace that has been showered
I shall relentlessly strive to present
At any place and in any form like crescent moon
It may not offer enough light but a rare glimpse
Still more to say that feeling of divine force
I would love to praise not only about him alone
But nature as well to have come to our aid as one
We fail to notice the merciful act from time to time
Yet they are sent regardless of what we err sometimes
I bow my head in silence and thank
To all those who have become my close friend
Not out of any personal bond or attachment
But due to simple words to have come at right moment
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal
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Annan II
Many are called but few are chosen,
But this strange world will never learn from the truth;
For, i am on the hard road of success to meet you my love.
Mix language,
And of your love so sweet like the Space Research!
For beyond the skies i will kiss you my love.
You are the potter on this love and,
I am the very clay in your hands;
So use me into any form that you wanted,
And i will always be Annan your lover.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Annan
Many are called but few are chosen,
But this strange world will never lean unto the truth;
For i have been on the hard road towards success to meet you my love.
Mix languages,
And of your love so sweet like the Space Research;
For far beyond the skies i will kiss you my love.
You are like the potter on this love and,
I am like the clay in your hands;
So use me very well into the form and shape that you want,
Because i will always be there for you my sweet Annan!
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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Can You, A Jar of clay?
How can a lowly piece of clay
Unto the Master Potter say:
'Let me be You for I am me,
Enough to be what I can be.'
Release me from Your Hand Divine,
Alone I stand, my life is mine.
My puny mental capacity
Can plan the course of the galaxy.
I will fix all worldly tangled mess,
Yes I can solve it with success -
Correct the climate, filter sunlight,
Outlive all beings though I'm finite.
I will cure diseases with one click,
Stop all wars, peace is quick.
From heaven pour all currency,
To rid the world of poverty.
In my spare time, piece of cake-
Rapists, murderers I will remake.
All these evils I will remove,
Just make me You, this I will prove.
I need no cross to save mankind,
That is passe and quite unkind.
I will set us up a world consortium,
I will even build my own asylum.
Make me You, I bet You will see
My little view is not blasphemy.
One more thing, God, can you tell?
For my info, is there a hell?
Then the Master Potter set
That jar of clay from earth's closet,
Released it from His Mighty Hand,
It broke to pieces, ground to sand.
Now just a sort of mild direction,
To jars of clay with like ambition-
Humbly think before you say,
You will run the world, can you...
a clay?
..................................... ..................................
August 10,2008
Philippines
poem by Cynthia Buhain-Baello
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Potter
Your whole body has
a fullness or a gentleness destined for me.
When I move my hand up
I find in each place a dove
that was seeking me, as
if they had, love, made you of clay
for my own potter's hands.
Your knees, your breasts,
your waist
are missing parts of me like the hollow
of a thirsty earth
from which they broke off
a form,
and together
we are complete like a single river,
like a single grain of sand.
poem by Pablo Neruda
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Pot
What hand
turned the wheel
threw this pot
shaped the clay?
What eyes
noticed it first
upon the shelf
picked it up?
What heart
fondled the bow
cherished the thought
embraced the gift?
What lives
put it to use
poured the wine
savored the moment?
What hand
moved in anger
threw this pot
shattered the clay?
poem by Mary Havran
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The Wheel And The Maypole
I've got the plow if you've got the furrow
I've got the rabbit if you've his burrow home
I've got the pen if you've got the paper
Time is but clay and I'll see you and the wheel turn
You and the wheel turn
chorus:
And if the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
Then we'll dash it to the ground
And if the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
If the pot won't hold our love
We'll build one bigger all around
goes the wheel
I've got the seed if you've got the valley
I've got the big stick if you've Aunt Sally's head
I've got the time if you've got the motion
Time is but clay and I'll see you and the wheel turn
You and the wheel turn
chorus
chorus 2:
Maypole
Maypole
Maypole you've spun me round and knocked me off my axis mundi
Maypole
Maypole
Maypole the ties that bind you will unwind to free me one day
and everything decays
Yes, everything decays
Forest tumbles down to make the soil
Planets fall apart
Just to feed the stars and stuff their larders
And what made me think we're any better
and what made me think we'd last forever
was I so naive?
of course it all unweaves
chorus 2
Pyramids and palaces to dust
Empires crumble in
Wedding cake begins to must and molder
And what made me think we're any better
and what made me think we'd last forever
was I so naive?
failing to perceive
Maypole (round goes the wheel)
Maypole (round goes the wheel)
Maypole (the ties that bind you will unw
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The potter sleeps soundly, for no one would steal clay.
Stone
The days have passed, nights are gone,
I'm still in love with a stone,
The seasons changed, the clay too came,
I still hold it with no moan,
The clay comes to me in so many shapes,
Wants me to hold it, whatever it may take,
But clay can hurt me, clay may fake,
Even if it's clay, I have a heart it can break,
The season may change,
The clay may go,
Slowing my heart beat,
All time low,
Stone is hard,
Stone is black,
Stone is emotionless,
Doesn't stab at back,
The clay, the stone, both make me die,
But if a stone does, even the clay may cry...
and I'll never ask why...
It's better to live with a stone,
not clay,
Clay is soft, but it hurts,
which is not the stone's way.....
poem by Apurva Jain
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The day has come
Potter moulds clay;
A day would come
For the clay to mould man.
Man mould nature;
The day has come
For the nature to mould man.
26.03.2010
poem by Rm. Shanmugam Chettiar
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Daybreak in Alabama
When I get to be a composer
I'm gonna write me some music about
Daybreak in Alabama
And I'm gonna put the purtiest songs in it
Rising out of the ground like a swamp mist
And falling out of heaven like soft dew.
I'm gonna put some tall tall trees in it
And the scent of pine needles
And the smell of red clay after rain
And long red necks
And poppy colored faces
And big brown arms
And the field daisy eyes
Of black and white black white black people
And I'm gonna put white hands
And black hands and brown and yellow hands
And red clay earth hands in it
Touching everybody with kind fingers
And touching each other natural as dew
In that dawn of music when I
Get to be a composer
And write about daybreak
In Alabama.
poem by Langston Hughes
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Hands Off The Wheel
Dont it make you sad
To lose the things you love
For what you never had?
Dont it make you cry
To feel the broken tie
And always wonder why?
Dont it make you feel
Like your hands are off the wheel?
Like your hands are off the wheel
Dont it tear you down?
Dont it your world around?
Dont it love to let you down?
Dont it make your day
To gather up your strength
And feel it slippin away?
Dont it make your day
To gather up your strength
And feel it slippin away?
Close your eyes its only
No surprise your not alone
Dont it make you sad
To lose the ones you love?
Dont it make you feel
Like its tearing you down?
Like your hands are off the wheel
song performed by by Oleander
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Wheel & The Maypole
Ive got the plow if youve got the furrow
Ive got the rabbit if youve his burrow home
Ive got the pen if youve got the paper
Time is but clay and Ill see you and the wheel turn
You and the wheel turn
Chorus:
And if the pot wont hold our love
If the pot wont hold our love
If the pot wont hold our love
Then well dash it to the ground
And if the pot wont hold our love
If the pot wont hold our love
If the pot wont hold our love
Well build one bigger all around
Goes the wheel
Ive got the seed if youve got the valley
Ive got the big stick if youve aunt sallys head
Ive got the time if youve got the motion
Time is but clay and Ill see you and the wheel turn
You and the wheel turn
Chorus
Chorus 2:
Maypole
Maypole
Maypole youve spun me round and knocked me off my axis mundi
Maypole
Maypole
Maypole the ties that bind you will unwind to free me one day
And everything decays
Yes, everything decays
Forest tumbles down to make the soil
Planets fall apart
Just to feed the stars and stuff their larders
And what made me think were any better
And what made me think wed last forever
Was I so naive?
Of course it all unweaves
Chorus 2
Pyramids and palaces to dust
Empires crumble in
Wedding cake begins to must and molder
And what made me think were any better
And what made me think wed last forever
Was I so naive?
Failing to perceive
Maypole (round goes the wheel)
Maypole (round goes the wheel)
Maypole (the ties that bind you will unwind to free me one day)
Maypole (if the pot wont hold our love)
Etc.
song performed by by Xtc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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4- Microcosm
Created from potter's clay
Breathed into His spirit
Sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch endowed.
While is purified-
Manifests the miror Devine sparkle!
Through love and devotion thy
can march forward.
O doll of clay!
O micro cosmos!
Ask thou heart,
Five servants are with you-
(Discursive thinking, imagination, doubting,
memory and longing.)
So
Fly dear fly with your 'free will' fly
Travel thy travel towards HIM.
submerge in heart
For the sake of HIS love.
Kisses, tender touches are on the way
Keep closer the devotee, the chaste ray.
No,
fear not desert, ocean, fear not foe
Care dare within you, say to satan 'no'.
And sure,
Return unto HIM with all reckon!
poem by Sarwar Chowdhury
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Body Of A Soul
with hands of fire,
and feet of clay,
forming worlds from
insignificant thoughts....
taking moments peeled
from a glance by chance...
forming stars from dust
that come raining down,
echoing in the empty....
for what is not oft is,
each and all have purpose...
when what cant be seen,
cant be held or defined...
given by the spirit that waits
and calls us to our selves;
and that which is finished
begins anew and afresh,
when our journey takes us home!
when hands of fire and feet of clay
inhabits the body of a soul!
poem by Eric Cockrell
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A Father In Heaven
Oh fools and slow of hart,
Don't you know that there is a Father in heaven? !
But the love of many had drawn cold and,
My ink will flow to teach many.
I am as strong as an iron on this earth of sin and,
I don't need signs to believe in the truth;
For, Yahweh is my light and my salvation.
Feet and toes as a potter's clay,
Hands and fingers as a poet's ink,
Remember the Saviour's words like,
He who has the truth to hare with.
Of the peoples, multitudes, nation and tongues;
A Father is in heven for us to loook upon;
But our lives do fade away like the fragments of pottery.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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