Beauty and Love

I scanned the news for this post, as I do every day. There was nothing there but bodies, fame, and sex…

Not too surprising in our current culture.

What is Beauty?

Never an easy answer to that question . . .

There’s an intriguing and compelling poem on PoetSeers by Khalil Gibran called Beauty. He says {and I do hope you’ll read the whole poem}:

“…beauty is not a need but an ecstasy.

It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth,

But rather a heart enflamed and a soul enchanted.

It is not the image you would see nor the song you would hear,

But rather an image you see though you close your eyes and a song you hear though you shut your ears.”

What is Love?

To answer this would take all the seas turned to ink and all the land turned to parchment . . .

But, still, we can approach an elevated answer.

I’m going to quote from a Work called The Seven Valleys by Bahá’u’lláh, but I want to preface that with reference to a much older work that has some relation to The Seven Valleys.

In the 12th century, Persian poet Farid ud-Din Attar wrote a work called, Conference of the Birds ( or, Bird Parliament ). Birds have been, from ages past, a symbol of Spirituality. In Attar’s work the birds must traverse seven valleys to attend the conference. Bahá’u’lláh made use of this ancient Persian theme when He wrote His Seven Valleys, but He extended and deepened the theme.

Some of His words on Love:

” Now is the traveler unaware of himself, and of aught besides himself. He seeth neither ignorance nor knowledge, neither doubt nor certitude; he knoweth not the morn of guidance from the night of error. He fleeth both from unbelief and faith, and deadly poison is a balm to him. Wherefore Aṭṭár saith:

For the infidel, error—for the faithful, faith;
For Aṭṭár’s heart, an atom of Thy pain.

The steed of this Valley is pain; and if there be no pain this journey will never end. In this station the lover hath no thought save the Beloved, and seeketh no refuge save the Friend. At every moment he offereth a hundred lives in the path of the Loved One, at every step he throweth a thousand heads at the feet of the Beloved.”

“Wherefore must the veils of the satanic self be burned away at the fire of love, that the spirit may be purified and cleansed and thus may know the station of the Lord of the Worlds.

Kindle the fire of love and burn away all things,
Then set thy foot into the land of the lovers.”

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Poetry Is Dead ?

Poetry will never die. It’s a deep expression of the heart of humanity. As mentioned in a previous post, I’m a poet. Not long ago, I decided to give my poetry away. Not because it doesn’t sell well but because it’s a gift I want others to profit from.

From The National in Abu Dhabi: Hunger that can be fed by poetry “Poetry,” wrote Robert Frost, “is what’s lost in translation.”

From The Economist: Adversity in verse “A mix of New York’s young and liberal have assembled to witness a poetry slam….This year’s championship, the biggest to date, boasted 76 teams sent from across the United States as well as one from Paris.”

Today’s post features one of my most favored poets, Anna. But I’m well aware that most folks don’t have much of a taste for poetry. With that in mind (and remembering that poetry is the music of words) I urge those of you who think you don’t like or understand poetry to enjoy an absolutely inspiring video lesson in how to feel the meaning of life.

My meeting Anna was mysterious, like many things in our electronic culture. I thought a short interview with her was an important introduction to showcasing a few of her poems.

~~~~~~~~~

Your poems often remind me of the Persian poets, especially Rumi. Are your poems to be taken at face-value or as spiritual metaphor?

There are times they may be taken at face-value; but a majority of them do have a spiritual metaphor/slant to them.

Why did you take up video podcasting your poetry?

I took up video podcasting of my poetry because I believe there are times that a person needs to hear the poem from the poet/poetess themselves.
Also, I enjoy hearing and seeing others, too.

What poets have inspired you?

Bukowski (at times), e.e. cummings, Anne Sexton, Anne Carson and a Mr. Jackson from Canada, as well as a few others.

How and why did you start writing poetry?

I started writing poetry at the age of thirteen. I was reading a magazine and found the poetry section and felt led to try it. I found out I did have the ability to write poems and just kept up from there.
I started off in free-verse. In the beginning it was an outlet for me. I grew up artistic though and would sketch. That is prior to writing.

Any personal life-details you care to share?

Well, I am twenty-something publisher/writer who loves to watch the television show House. I mainly write free-verse. I love salty foods and I love Newman’s Sweet Dark Chocolate.
I’m not opposed to doing abstract paintings and just allowing my Spirit to take the brush where it may.

~~~~~~~~~

Hope you watched that video! If you did (or, didn’t but already have a feel for poetry) I’m sure you’ll find Anna’s poems an inspiration.

~~~~~~~~~

fingertips paint

first i sketch eyes
drawing that aura within
no imperfections do i see unable
dusky
now breath and beauty drunk
tasting fingertips paint
dripping pale fuses and salt skin
nakedness
{what’s your thoughts}
brewing this night unleashed
bred is passion
i fall i fall there’s no easy way
delighting in an elixir
firefly lights pop those eyes
dewy smiles
pulsating swaying hearts beating
tranquil
dying to sloughing off new skin
approached new life bred rhythm
of its own birth a fleshed out soul
mid-night ecstasy

meat dripping from a cooler somewhere

a huge slab of prime rib
neatly sliced &
placed in white paper
twined tightly

yet, drip
drip
drip

blood soaking through
covered in ice
a cooler full
of hidden meaning

murmurs
can you hear
just frigid dreams
& promises

wanting a love
being entwined in
butcher’s wrapping

a muted soul
you’ve oiled & seasoned
over years
she’s coming undone

Satiated

Heart-beat flutters shutters murmurs…
involuntary twinges of love —
Heart-beat stalled; Yours that mine would make utterance
to slice open…spill upon Your feet…
Without sacrifice at the expense of Yours
Where will this match this flame this spark lead me ?
As far as grace chase for myself the least of these ?
Is it enough now that I’m overcome ?
Or can You squeeze more death-looming from I; from the internal to external ?
It cost me when I refuse to listen that I’m Your beloved…
I find my hunger then satiated by a silhouette and I grasp for You —
With a return of my own brokenness…
Once again yes once again I find You overcome;

Tell, tell…dear child
Come tell Me more that remains on your heart
I draw you close
I have been reaching for you
As you have been reaching for Me
Your tears…they are not lost
Your ache…it is not untouched…not ignored
Pour out…
I want healing to come as a salve
Not just something that keeps getting re-bandaged

Anna Speaking Some of Her Poetry

Today’s Spiritual Quotes:

“What is music? It is a combination of harmonious sounds. What is poetry? It is a symmetrical collection of words. Therefore, they are pleasing through harmony and rhythm. Poetry is much more effective and complete than prose. It stirs more deeply, for it is of a finer composition.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá words to Mrs. Mary L. Lucas, as quoted in A Brief Account of My Visit to Acca (Chicago: Bahá’í Publishing Society, 1905), pp. 11-14

“As a Persian Poet has written: — ‘The Celestial Universe is so formed that the under world reflects the upper world.’ That is to say whatever exists in heaven is reflected in this phenomenal world. Now, praise be to God, this meeting of ours is a reflection of the heavenly concourse; it is as though we had taken a mirror and had gazed into it. This reflection from the heavenly concourse we know as love.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 46

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The Search For Truth

I search for news that I can comment on while raising the issues to the level of Principle—reaching the truth by climbing out of the mud…

Most media and almost all politics are miring swamps.

From the Bahá’í World News Service: Iranian media attacks on Baha’is and Nobel Prize Winner Shirin Ebadi seek to stir “irrational fears and prejudices”

From The Huffington Post: The Media’s Problem Of “False Balance” Showing Itself In Electoral Map Analyses

From the Lancaster Eagle Gazette: Candidates taking low road: Dirty politics is never helpful

From the Tampa Tribune: Truth, Please

Often, I find refuge from the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” in fiction. I am a poet and many would claim that poetry is fiction, along with myth and tradition . . . Contemplate these quotes:

“Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Fiction is the truth inside the lie.”
Stephen King

My favorite author, C. J. Cherryh, spins beautiful tales, taking media, politics, poetry, fiction, and myth to realms that reveal truth more clearly than most any media or political source available.

Consider these quotes from this multiple award-winning author:

“It is perfectly okay to write garbage—as long as you edit brilliantly.”

“Deal with the Devil if the Devil has a constituency – and don’t complain about the heat.”

“Trade isn’t about goods. Trade is about information. Goods sit in the warehouse until information moves them.”

“We’re in the hands of lunatics.”
“Of financiers. Far worse”

“The interests of all humans are interlocked…and politics is no more than a temporal expression of social mathematics.”

“Ignorance killed the cat, sir. Curiosity was framed.”

Want to join a community that honors and discusses this author’s work? Travel to the Realm of Shon’jir !

Today’s Spiritual Quote:

“Oh! why will man, the disobedient child of God, who should be an example of the power of the spiritual law, turn his face away from the Divine Teaching and put all his effort into destruction and war?
“My hope is that in this enlightened century the Divine Light of love will shed its radiance over the whole world, seeking out the responsive heart’s intelligence of every human being; that the light of the Sun of Truth will lead politicians to shake off all the claims of prejudice and superstition…”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 150

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“Hope Springs Eternal…”

image credit

Here are the first ten links I found [9:22 pm edt, 2Aug08] using the word “hope” in Google’s News Search:

HOPE FOR A CURE
Leading article: Enjoy the Olympics, and hope
Vice-president hope fades for Hillary Clinton
One Million Homes Lost and Counting: How to End the Foreclosure …
Pat Nevin: Hope is in the air before the pressure really kicks in …
Jobless Rate Hits a High, Dims Hope For Recovery
New Hope For Answers In Anthrax Case
Petition offers hope for schools
Zimbabwe has to figure out its future – the West can only hope it …
McCain tells Urban League that Obama talks about hope, but isn’t …

All of them are about very Earthly hopes.

I don’t expect today’s news to carry items about Spiritual Hopes (unless they’re buried under all the hopes of our materialistic cultures).

I’m now a Baha’i but was raised a Christian (I honor all Faiths…) and in their scripture is this Hope: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

This, to me, says that heavenly things should happen here; that, on planet earth, our wills should be directed by spiritual concerns.

By the way, to those who cringe at their will being oriented toward spirituality because it sounds like their earthly life is unimportant and their dearly loved material relationships should stop [like I used to think], my experience says:

Material concerns will never satisfy or bring profit if they have no spiritual core. Spirit drives the body, gives sight, allows dreams to soar…

I decided to include a poem from Poet Seers—Poem of The Day. For those disinclined to read poetry, please try this one. I’ve found that most good poetry needs more than one reading to have its full flavor develop; like a relationship . . .

The Instinct of Hope

Is there another world for this frail dust
To warm with life and be itself again?
Something about me daily speaks there must,
And why should instinct nourish hopes in vain?
‘Tis nature’s prophesy that such will be,
And everything seems struggling to explain
The close sealed volume of its mystery.
Time wandering onward keeps its usual pace
As seeming anxious of eternity,
To meet that calm and find a resting place.
E’en the small violet feels a future power
And waits each year renewing blooms to bring,
And surely man is no inferior flower
To die unworthy of a second spring?

John Clare

One final spiritual quote:

“My hope is that through the zeal and ardour of the pure of heart, the darkness of hatred and difference will be entirely abolished, and the light of love and unity shall shine; this world shall become a new world; things material shall become the mirror of the divine; human hearts shall meet and embrace each other; the whole world become as a man’s native country and the different races be counted as one race.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, p. 38

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