The Philosopher's Study
A very average room, in a standard terrace house:
the welcome sunlight- ruthless though -
truth itself come down to earth -
reveals that the windows
could be cleaner; yet,
could be dirtier;
shows up the gentle layer of dust –
gentle in its fall, not gentle in its mercy – and
not rising from the earth, but
falling invisibly over time
from the ceiling whose last decorator
used a paint less than the best;
who ever invited dust?
But here it is, inviting in its turn
a passing twinge of guilt; it could be
a metaphor for the philosophic:
dust the mind occasionally,
time brings complacency
and thoughts grow stale,
minds decline…
to a stranger or interior designer
or feng-shui expert, all too cluttered;
too many books for home improvement mags;
not books horizontal, but books vertical;
one could remember how each comes to be there;
for its owner, convenience; occasionally
the slight annoyance of a book urgently sought
(I mistyped ‘ungently’ there..)
requiring the careful craft of extraction
from far down in some tottering pile…
here’s beauty of the mind
for those with mind to see;
and today, the early pale green leaves
from the trimming of the Japanese maple,
every single leaf looking as if it had been bred
by centuries of Japanese devoted to the belief
that man and nature, hand in hand,
may reveal a beauty beyond both –
each leaf tilted delicately towards you as if
as a host bowing modestly in welcome at the door -
these few leaves take your humbled breath away.
In this place, the world itself:
‘infinite riches in a little room’;
as above, so below; as without, so within:
here, heaven and earth, all, open to question;
here is the human mind at home;
meditating; dreaming; waiting in patient hope
like those humble maple leaves
for some new idea to enter,
to expand the loved, mysterious,
boundless glory of the world which constantly
threatens to shrink all to a tiny, wizened, unwise thing;
while unexpectedly at any time may come
a poem, interrupting the philosophy,
to say the things that have not yet been said.
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
what do we do to Mother Earth?
do not burn
let the leaves fall to the ground
let them stay there
layer by layer
heap upon heap
let mother earth
hug all the leaves
let the affection be
strong and heavy
let the leaves die
and rot and become
water and become dust
to dust
let all of us see this dust
we shall do what mother earth
and nature loves best
to dust we shall return
and be its permanent part
close to the bosom
of mother earth
forever
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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First Ray of Sun
First ray of sun
Travels to the earth
From high skies
Light of day begins to shine
Sun rises slowly, far in the sky
Goes higher and higher
As time trickles
Mountains are the first
To see the rising beauty
Sky is full with rainbow colors
Dark shades of night
Not to be seen
Every heart sighs in relief
Fills with joy when sees the light
Light and colors inspires every life,
Give a meaning to love and desire
Birds keep chirping
Wind keeps flowing
Mist is lost with the advent of heat
Evaporates to the sky above
Leaves on trees
Make a gentle sound
Their rumbling and mumbling
Make their presence felt all around
Thoughts of life
Keep coming to my mind
Touching the heart endless times
Beauty of nature
Brings words in my mind
I wish every soul to feel and hear
What I think?
Mountains and rivers never complain
Gentle breeze keeps on blowing
Mist is lost with the advent of heat
Evaporates to the sky above
Leaves on trees make a gentle sound
Their rumbling and mumbling
Make their presence felt all around
A full bright day has just begun
Cheering every face on the earth alike
Nature is the gift of god to mankind
I wish every life enjoys it fully
poem by Nirantar Dr.Rajendra Tela
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Gathering Dust
The books on my shelves
are now gathering dust.
I will get back to them
for I know I must.
But not just now,
can’t think of them somehow.
Their pages won’t solace me.
Their words can’t turn my mind.
For my mind just wanders
to you, I find.
Books need concentration,
not a vacant stare.
But other people’s stories
don’t take me anywhere.
If I outlive you
maybe then I’ll dust.
I’ll slowly try to read again
for I know I must.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Beauty, Beautious, Beautiful
Beauty is not a superficial form
Each has their own in essential nature
And in the actions they perform
Until the dissolution of their life
To leave beauty’s impressions in our hearts
Yesterdays beauty never leaves or departs.
Beauty is all around
Each and every place it may be found
As you look with open eyes
Upon the forms that nature makes
Then man seeks to imitate
Yearning to match that beauty all around.
Beauty if you cannot find
Beauty must be in mind
Beauty is in purity
Beauty of simplicity
Beauty runs right through and through
Beauty in me, and them, and you.
Beauty, beauteous, beautiful
Beauty in heaven
Beauty in fire
Beauty in earth
And finally beauty in a simple verse.
poem by David Taylor
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Think Trickles
if u think in trickles
it will just be trickles
thoughts trickling like
a trick
the mind tricks itself
on the trick of
the trickles
think about a rush of
the waters of the rain
think about a mountain
a river
an ocean
think about how wide
can this space be
how high can the sky be
how deep
can this earth be
think about you as a
speck of dust
on this universal hollowness
all things trying to fill
up this vast emptiness
to no avail,
think about you as another
insignificant atom
vibrating in random
with the rest
of this molecular world
always in flux
changing and shifting
and moving
now, u r as humble
as the leaf about to fall
from a twig
now you are as
weak as a fading sun
as gentle as the
waning moon
as silent as the star
about to die
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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I Don't Feel Like It
The sky is blue and a streak of
Magenta hovers beneath the early morning’s sun as
It rises over the treetops-
The air is cool, crisp and invigorating,
Blowing as a gentle breeze through the open crack
In my living room window, inviting me to walk outside-
Today I feel no motivation-
Today I fear the outside world
Today I cannot face-
Inside where all I can hear is the ticking of the wall clock and
The sound of eerie silence interrupting
The voices inside of my mind that wish me ill fate-
Today is just another day- I know today is almost magical,
There is so much outside that seems to be summoning- though
Today I cannot venture outward.
I hear the gentle morning breeze rustling the barren branches upon the trees-
I can recall my mother’s tearful voice and her frequently spoken words
“I don’t feel like it.”
Today I don’t feel like walking amongst nature’s bounty and
As my tears are falling down my flushed cheeks-
I remember my mother and how she didn’t care-
She didn’t care about whether she lived or died and
She didn’t care if the sun was shining or hiding behind clouds of misfortune-
And how I so believed she did not care about me?
The sky is blue in the early morning as
A magenta cloud hovers above the rising sun-
I have been told to try and understand my mother’s plight and
To bring her back inside my memory and wish her well-
My mother is dead and gone and
I cannot bring her back in any way – too much time has passed and
The voices inside of my mind keep telling me- she did not care.
I cannot bring her back- even if she were to become an angel in heaven-
No matter if the sky is blue on an inviting winter day-
I cannot venture outside and I cannot forgive my mother-
Some say I need to try and forgive her before the rain takes over and
Washes away even memories of all of good times-
All I can remember are her words as I repeat them-
“I don’t feel like it.”
Claudia Krizay
poem by Claudia Krizay
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How We Live
during those times
we did not mind the passing of time
we watch the leaves falling
and we do not give much significance
leaves fall we keep saying
nothing but a common recurrence
a day to day matter
then one day we see things differently
for every leaf that falls
we also shed a tear
time begins to laugh at us
we who have began to know fear
we who have seen the shortness of the sunset
we who have become
restless no more.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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This World Is Magic
Dreams can make you fly
This world is magic
Rainbows in the sky
This world is magic to me
Dreams can make you fly
This world is magic
We need peace on earth
The second birth of paradise
This world is magic
This world is magic to me
This world is magic
What is the magic of this world
What is the magic of this world
What is the magic of this world
What is the magic of this world
What is the magic of this world
What is the magic of this world
We need peace on Earth
The second birth of paradise
This world is what we share
The nature and the air
Life could be paradise
Eternal peace is what we need
To live in harmony
For human history
Pray for a better world
When you close your eyes again
Planet Earth, that's the name of my place
I'm born in this world, in the entire space
Planet earth, is my home, is my face
Follow your trace embrace this human race
In case, there's a new decade in human history
I'm talking about respect this is my destiny
Feel free, and stop running away
From the doubt in your mind,- never fade to grey
Planet Earth, gentle and blue
Then cold as a rock, or ice without a hue
Planet earth, made out of dust
A big ball of metal, condemn to rust
Pray, let your soul be free
Find out how to heal a bleeding wound don't stand around
Life could be paradise, peace on earth is what I found
All around in a magic world from the air to the ground
song performed by by DJ Bobo
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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In the steps of Rumi 88: Metaphor
Simile – what looks like something else –
that’s a fun game for the senses,
for the mind: oh look Dad,
there’s a scarecrow in that field
that looks just like a man, does it
really scare crows?
Oh look Dad, there’s a beggar in the street
who looks just like a scarecrow,
I wonder if the same crows
see him too?
But metaphor – ah, that’s something else:
explanations don’t quite explain it:
you see something; it brings to mind
something very different; maybe
you just forget it, pass on; maybe
you’re a poet, and you think,
that other thing casts a subtle light
on this first thing, I’ll see if others
find the same.. and, sometimes they do,
sometimes they don’t…
Metaphor brings the whole universe,
world upon world, to the mind:
you could write a poem full of metaphor
as long as the circumference of the world,
and when you’d written it out, you’d find yourself
right here again just where you were.. but
what a lot you’d seen on the way…
We’re so used to some metaphors
because by now, they’re shared,
written into language (lucky the people
who inherit languages such as these,
they’re born into poetry…) :
take ‘bread’: you walk past the baker’s shop
in the early morning when the air is clear –
or better, go in to buy your breakfast rolls:
the smell couldn’t be more wonderful,
more promising.. the bread’s so delicious,
and best eaten today..
ah yes, ‘daily bread’ – that becomes a metaphor
for all that each and every day brings –
waking up, new thoughts, new experiences,
all that brings life to life…
that covers so many subtle things…
where does it all come from?
that’s for you to say…
Sometimes it seems that the whole world
is a metaphor for something…
for what? For its own unity,
for its very creation,
for that which we call God,
for our very self?
that’s for you to say…
Metaphor. When you meet it,
does it make you think of
English class, another boring
poem, another boring question
to answer as you chew your pen –
‘What does the poet mean when
he speaks of, lies like oyster shells
to be penknifed for their pearls? ’…
or - does it fill your heart with joy
as if someone had given you
a golden key to a secret garden
which is all you ever hoped for;
more than you could ever imagine…
and yet you recognise
it’s all really just yourself? …
In the corner of your room
there's a little girl curled up
in a large armchair, reading a book.
Don't disturb her.
The book she reads with all her self today,
may never read again, doesn't need to -
is a metaphor for
all she needs to know today
about the world, about herself;
she finishes the book,
closes it thoughtfully,
looks up at you;
she knows herself
a little more today.
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Leaves (thread)
under the dogwood
leaves cover
a cat’s grave
early spring
one leaf still dangles
from the tree
palmistry
dew drops on a leaf
pick a vein
widow’s diary
pressed rose petal
the last leaf
with the rain drops
leaves flutter to the ground
fall showers
fallen leaves
circusing in the grass
merry-go-wind
October shower
leaves in the gutter
disembark
leaves changing colors
across the landscape
season's chameleons
morning rain
under maple leaves
tap my shoulder
leaves ripple
with melodies
cicadas song
These were published online by Sketchbook. See September/October “leaves” Haiku thread:
poem by Ben Gieske
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A Gentle Madness (Love Poem)
Love is a gentle madness that leaves you empty,
Giving everything and expecting nothing back.
Love is a gentle madness that makes you feel alive,
Taking pleasure in every little thing she does.
Love is a gentle madness that changes everything,
Making your life impossible without her near.
Love is a gentle madness that drowns your sorrow,
Blinding you to her perfectly obvious imperfections.
Love is a gentle madness that brings you peace,
Holding you closer than her breath each night.
Love is a gentle madness that turns your world,
Seeing only beauty as she looks into your eyes.
poem by Ian Beckett
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Beyond And Before
cast shadows in winter home,
Swaying branches breaking sound,
lonely forest trembling ground.
Masquerading leaves of blue run circles round the morning dew,
Patterns understood by you, reaching out beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down to hidden levels underground,
Say a few words to the wind, that's all that's left of winter's friend.
Reaching the snow in the days of the cold, casting a spell out of ice.
Now that you're gone,
The summer's too long and it seems like the end of my life
Beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down
song performed by by Yes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Beyond And Before
cast shadows in winter home,
Swaying branches breaking sound,
lonely forest trembling ground.
Masquerading leaves of blue run circles round the morning dew,
Patterns understood by you, reaching out beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down to hidden levels underground,
Say a few words to the wind, that's all that's left of winter's friend.
Reaching the snow in the days of the cold, casting a spell out of ice.
Now that you're gone,
The summer's too long and it seems like the end of my life
Beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down
song performed by by Yes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Myth of Winter
Once more! The earth tilted towards the sun
That sent the frigid wind from north to south
Making summer marked the earth as it leaves
The trees and grassy mountains thirsty and dry,
Doom of the universe that darkened the clouds;
Rains of fate are in Mother Nature’s hands best;
Cynical desire of an earthling is still incomplete;
Must he know how, how winter showers bleed?
Yet, look around the snowy-veil of this mountain;
As bride in the aisle of clouds, she is shimmering;
Willing to standstill upon the eyes of her beholder,
With question in mind: Why winter cries in flakes?
Bound to love the creation of God, this artist’s hand
Laid this endless beauty on canvas, when she dies;
Selfsame, self-story then from wall to wall, he hangs
With tireless doubt in mind: Why do winter leaves?
Then the earth tilts once more away from the sun,
And brought back the trees and mountains anew,
Yet! Still, this earthling has composed a question,
“Why do other places have no winter like mine? “
poem by Efren Petalver Carranza
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The Relentless Arms of August
The Relentless Arms Of August
I see the dust billow
behind the well-used pick-up
on the farm-to-market road
paralleling the paved, lined ribbon
which I drive.
In my yard,
a Robin splashes
in what is left
of my reflecting pond.
The awful browned grasses
and lethargic leaves,
created by a merciless white-hot sun,
and cloudless upper reaches,
turn my thoughts to the rich,
renewing rains of Spring.
But now, in the grasp
of late, stifling summer,
I struggle to break free
and launch into the cool,
embracing arms of Autumn.
Bring me the gentle rains
to quell the billowing clouds of dust,
soothe the browned grasses,
make supple the listless leaves,
and renew the aquafer
of Earth and Mind.
poem by Severien Meyer
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Sands Sift Between My Toes
If Fairy Dust could be sprinkled
Across the sands of time
It would undo all the harms I've done
To you and
To those and
Still to more of whom I do not know
But the fairies must have gone
Along with their magical dust
Instead of beaching under me
The sands drift over, around, and above
Grains gritting against my desperate pleas
I beg for them to take me
To the past
To the future
Unwilling, they say
It is here
Where I must stay
So here I have been left
To stand in stagnant air
Of guilt, of fear, of shame
Hand smacked each time I dare
To start life again with disengenuous flare
But blame the dust and sands I can't
Nor guilt, nor fear, nor shame
They are simply being true
To their birth, to their task, to their work
Inspired by these forces
I too must be true to
Whomever I am... or am not...
Or wish to...or wish not to be
In short, I must believe I add value
Just by me being me
As I think it, I can say it
As I say it, I can...
Reach out one more time
Eyes squinting recalling past smacks in my mind
This time mayhem does not make its way
No punishments doled
Despite the genuine truth be told
In its place a hearty laugh comes from the unknown,
'Go on about your life creature, for now you know.'
Suddenly, a quick of energy
Burst the black out of my soul
Leaving room for the dust of gods to enter
Waiting in ether for my true self to show
At this blessed moment
The sands of time stood still and fell
Allowing refuge from the pain
A flash of Self-Revelation
Joy be known
'Bless each tiny grain, '
as Sands Sift Between my Toes.
poem by Atty Davis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Falling
In love, in love
In love, in love
Slower than the sun goes down
Softer than the autumn rain
Surer than the earth is round
Gentle as the moring breeze
Warm enough to sleep and dream
There is no doubt in my mind
Im falling, (in love), Im falling, (in love)
Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, a reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
Make all this seem, a reality
Clearer than the morning light
Darker than the deepest night
There is no doubt in my mind
Im falling, (in love), Im falling, (in love)
Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, a reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
Make all this seem, a reality
In love, in love
Leaves that are falling around me
Make sense to me, a reality
Leaves that are falling surround me
Make all this seem, a reality
song performed by by Olive
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Door Between Two Worlds
this the door between our two worlds
it divides the inside and the outside
the light and the darkness
the choice is yours
there is no lock
there is only the hinge that holds the door to its place
when you open it
there is no sound
and when you close it
there is only this silence of the air sealed inside our minds
my heart does not sing inside
it is muted by the darkness that moment your gentle hands
close the door
it is patient, the mind
the incompatibilities of the things outside us
are too inviting
they tempt us to step outside and promise us
the magical wonders of freedom
we feel so light like our joys like cottons and clouds
they are no different from our wishes
i am in the middle of this door between us
& you look at me like i am the last man of this earth
your heart opens with eyes too careful not to know
what i do next is the suspense of this uncertainty
your eyes close, my heart bleeds
my hands wilt, your mind wanders like a lost wind
the door closes finally
walling us in
it locks upon itself and
the world sleeps soundly curling its feet on the beds of the
heavens
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Beyond & Before
Sparkling trees of silver foam
Cast shadows in winter home,
Swaying branches breaking sound,
Lonely forest trembling ground.
Masquerading leaves of blue run circles round the morning dew,
Patterns understood by you, reaching out beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down to hidden levels underground,
Say a few words to the wind, thats all thats left of winters friend.
Reaching the snow in the days of the cold, casting a spell out of ice.
Now that youre gone,
The summers too long and it seems like the end of my life
Beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down.
song performed by by Yes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Beyond & Before
Sparkling trees of silver foam
Cast shadows in winter home,
Swaying branches breaking sound,
Lonely forest trembling ground.
Masquerading leaves of blue run circles round the morning dew,
Patterns understood by you, reaching out beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down to hidden levels underground,
Say a few words to the wind, thats all thats left of winters friend.
Reaching the snow in the days of the cold, casting a spell out of ice.
Now that youre gone,
The summers too long and it seems like the end of my life
Beyond and before.
Time, like gold dust, brings mind down.
song performed by by Yes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!