Tag: freedom

Categories
Poetry

a week before the fall

a slothful orb ascends,
            slowly across the southern sky
    already missing its peak
it shirks responsibility,
             no longer a light above by nine a.m.
in the yard, clocked shadows hold morning’s chill
            while, with a furnace blast, blazing warmth is cast
    lethally, from an expiring sun’s face

what a time of year
    one of dread and fascination

a reverse magic of the spring takes place
    dishearteningly unbelievable

everything once vital and green
    withers away, as flames to ash
full bushes decay under still-blue skies
                       crosshatched with chem trails

autumn’s appearance should sting less
    with each year of expectation
            but the knife travels the same scar,
    ripping the tissue open once more
            spilling the crinkle of leaves, isolated chirps
                                         icy rainfall spurts

there can be no love in autumn
       what — love for a dying thing?
we expect spring’s rebirth in its vein
    but it’s different
                  inconceivably so
    as nothing can come back the same
taking its time, different life does grow

I no longer delight in season’s change
    a witness to illness arising
                                  and constant pain
    raw attachment, unhooked anew,
            broken hearts where love once grew

I cannot bear to face the task
    of reliving seasons, to watch them pass
            as all things slip like time in glass
    my cageless prison, this life, outlasts

free me before I plunge once more
    through autumn’s orange enchanted door
            cold aversion ripening
                grasping at inherent things

I know it’s wrong,     so little worse
            than self-cherishing
                        my ugly curse

may I be free before the fall
        —    just one more week
                              to see it all
                                      correctly

Categories
Poetry

objectification

(alternative title: Self-Assessment)

I think my leg would make a nice lamp
   soft, supple, curved, and round

a good squeeeeeeze

if you look me up from down
   squish in the right place –
        and in the wrong
in front, a bright and lumpy face
   from behind, like every other PAWG
near-perfect ass – not too phat in size
   nicely shaped when I fold in half
        showing off some thick-ass thighs
   and big-ass ribs
an hour glass shape
   with small-ass tits
        deceiving, yes
        disappointing, almost entirely
   but most aren’t interested
in being surprised or disappointed
and so I’m left here unanointed
unbaptized but virginal – ah! a wish!
almost believable, but deceitful kiss
      when every swing returns a miss
except for the three, a perfect strike-out
who pitched to me? and filled me with doubt?

I think my arm would make a nice branch
   muscular, freckled, smooth, and strong

nice to tooooooouch

to whom does it belong?
   what soul could search and find
        a truly existent body
   independent of a truly existent mind?

no one!

   could it be a limb to build a nest?
 could it be a place of eternal rest?
could these arms wrap you up
 and hold you firm?
   or tickle-torture until you squirm?

 and would you understand
such impermanent nature?
or is your reliance political,
 predisposed to legislature?

squeeeeeeze instead

evaluate

and don’t forget
   your mind creates

and ever empties your plate
   but also fills you up

objectify this human creation
   dismantle parts with imagination
      for the whole is empty but of name
   and our mind is non-separate
we’re almost the same

 let last words be of virtue, love
      a wish for other’s happiness
and though I fit you like a glove
we play this silly game of chess
              you read these words,
            you leave them here,
            we’re left confused
           filled up with fear

       and then I pray and dance about
and use this body, to move, to shout
        and once again I live so free
   to end all fears and misery
all I’ve got’s one disbelief
        – how could it be only me?

Categories
Good Fortune Poetry

True Freedom is Self-Control

I am free

               listening to
‘The Fear’ by Ben Howard

               realization after realization
blessing after blessing pouring in

               no longer worrying
that my time is a little unclear

               no longer worrying
that I’m losing the ones I hold dear

               no longer worrying
that I live my life in the confines of fear

               I must not fear

listening to
‘Is That All There Is?’ by Peggy Lee

               Fear is the mind-killer

if that’s all there is my friends

               Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

then let’s go dancing

              I will face my fear.

consistent joyful effort is clearly worth it

               I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

the prayers, the meditation, the patience

              When it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

listening to
‘Self Control’ by Laura Branigan

               Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

I, I live among the creatures of the night

               Only I will remain.*

I’m living in the forest of my dream

               but I have self-control

I am free

*Frank Herbert, Dune

Categories
Dreams Poetry questions

How can I know?

I considered using a plant metaphor
           but I kill most plants

I don’t know anything about
growing leafy things
  only recent experience in
how to keep something alive

but I imagine a tiny sprout
protruding from the ground

I clearly see this sprout
I look around

                   – no one else notices –

I wonder what kind of plant it’s going to be
                              this little shoot

I start to wish it will become
              a wish-fulfilling tree

I know such trees exist, have existed
               in this world, in other worlds

and though rare, difficult to find,
               I know such saplings exist!

I cannot ask for anyone’s help,
  because even if this plantlet
is to become this rare tree,
no one will identify it correctly —
 it would be discarded! —
           and I just have this really strong
                                   feeling in my gut
that I have come across the growing sprout
                          of a wish-fulfilling tree!

I’m keen to protect it, and help it grow
       but I’m really really good
at killing all things green –

they don’t need help, it’s cyclical –

    and I really feel like I can’t talk
          about this rare treasure
with anyone I’ve met,
because, let’s be real,
people are, like, really good
at murdering dreams

so I just wish to myself,
              (pray)

         please, please may I have found
         a wish-fulfilling tree
         please, please, help me nurture it
         and please help me not kill it
         I know I’m so so so good at killing
         familiar with the action, as I’ve been
         please, don’t let me become
         attached to the idea of the tree
         that somehow wish-fulfilment will grant me
         happiness – I know it won’t!
         I know it is my virtue – but still!
         Think of all the good I could do,
         granting all those wishes,
         with wisdom of course

I would never abuse my power
          I act with self-lessness

and still, I confess
I do not have even the wisdom to know

what kind of sprout I have found
                            or if I have found
                                 anything at all

for I’m the only one who sees
this plant, so small

perhaps it is just a shadow
of desire that grows in the dirt

How can I know?

Categories
Buddhism Good Fortune Poetry

once free

Do you know what it is
to be without

fear, sorrow,
deluded doubt?

Do you know what it is
to be truly free

from anger, hatred,
and misery?

Do you know what it is
to go within

where all is pure,
without sin?

Do you know what it is
to exist in peace

where all causes for unhappiness
have ceased?

Do you know what it is
to know your mind

limitless potential,
joyful, kind?

I have finally found
such instructions pure
as my name imputed,
an unmistaken cure

now to follow
this joyful path
it alone is happy,
clear, unmatched

who will join me?
may it be all
with equanimity, love,
we shall heed the call

and finally discover
Enlightenment unbound
dreamlike true existence,
once unknown, now found

Categories
Poetry Saturday Expressions

What now? | Session 18

If it was never fixed,
    it can’t be rebroken

yet it’s shattered now completely

while I am made whole

I have been repurposed
                   utterly renewed

now I know
         freedom,     not heartache,
         ensues

amazing – I waited
                   so patiently —
. . .
         okay, no
                    I begged
I literally got on my knees and pleaded

(humiliating really)

for C L O S U R E

I practically pulled my own teeth for it

(I simply stole a toothbrush instead)

I was intoxicated by the lust for a bitter end –

while being denied it again and again

knowing it’s going to come
inevitably

so I begged for early release

the buildup was incredible
intense at times

(filled with that crazed yearning)

but, as it so often is, then withheld

so when the climax didn’t come

time went by and trepidation

S t R e t c H e d

to a numbed oblivion, almost
forgotten – then rediscovered and

(as I was waiting for, begging for)

followed by the instant explosion,

so incredibly quick we call brief into question

a lit fuse to a pinch of dynamite

I waited for the punch! And it never came

it merely sizzled
                 a spark, lacking flame
                                  and while I wish

so strongly, I could say,       you too
were just a sizzle to me

instead I just admit you were a strong second

(sorry, never a first)

and of course such thirst for you

has permanently ended

no hurt            no difficult goodbye

no hard feelings

             just sweet, sweet relief

what now?

Enlightenment

Categories
Poetry

significant irrelevance

the suffering of mediocrity
   may force descent
into obscurity
        creating happiness
in lack      a simplicity
   now tempting
soothing
   a balm for chaos
out of reach
        while chasing fame’s
   firefly light    —    too brief

but that’s all he had
    no eyes on me
and false transcendence
    on his teeth
a crooked smile
    that sucked you in,
        that devilish grin
and the way with words
   and pen

maddening
        my own seeds
of frustration
     anger
               ripening

never free
   until the causes
        are purified:    undo
unhappiness-to-be

enter —
         the space and freedom
of mediocrity

Categories
Firescape Fridays Poetry

My Mask Slips | FF 8

I have begun to forget my mask

I have started longing to be open about my dissent
from new normal

I am not a pawn to progress political agendas
and power struggles

Just a person longing for the rights & freedoms &
peace of her parents

Was divorce a prediction of politicians’
same social strategies?

Yelling, arguing toward dominion
never peace

If we remove the masks we hide behind &
relent our ruthless blaming

Can we find another way,
more loving, to behave?

Categories
Book Recommendation Philosophy

Book Recommendation | 1

I want to recommend Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth Series (of which I’ve read the original 11), bringing special attention to my favourite in the series, Faith of the Fallen.

Never have I read a fantasy, nor any novel for that matter, that sticks so fastidiously to upholding the honour and value of truth, logic and reason. There is a strong case for Goodkind’s argument that his books are not fantasy due to his honouring human nature before the fantastical elements. The magic he introduces is very natural and works with the humanity of his characters, never against it. 

And let’s talk about the hero: what a dream! Meet Richard, a humble woods guide turned wizard as he discovers the truth about magic, the world, and who he actually is, The Seeker. His nobility is uncovered throughout the series which is a marvelous allegory of the complicated struggle between good and evil. Through the development of the protagonists, Richard and Kahlan, we see how they work to restore peace, balance and truth to the world. 

excerpt from Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind

Goodkind’s series is exciting, dark, light, easy to read, and masterfully crafted. Despite its criticism, I have fallen in love with The Sword of Truth series and especially Faith of the Fallen.

I first read Faith of the Fallen over six years ago. In particular, this installment touched me because of the strong parallels it draws to our present bureaucratic quicksand, governing hypocrisies, the hopeless despair and laziness of modern man, and how, in the end, Richard moves people to take action to free themselves from their own enslavement. As the back cover describes, the book really is “a novel of the nobility of the human spirit.”

Freedom requires effort if it is to be won and vigilance if it is to be maintained. People just don’t value freedom until it’s taken away.

Terry Goodkind

I’m sitting down for a re-read right now!  How are you spending this glorious sunny day? 

Categories
Philosophy Poetry

Locked Out

So much for lock downs
Gone are the days when
Doing your part
Was staying at h♡me

Now to do your part
Is to submit your autonomy
To rulers intent on
Achieving numbers
Improving economy dependent on
Temporary numbers
To secure an insecure future

What will come next?
I cannot say
But someone should
Depose to dissent
If only to capture
At least one other perspective
Though there should be
Perhaps millions expressed
Hegemony or survival?