Devotional Poetry

The Heart's Garden and The Prison of Self

The Heart's Garden

Within the walls of self a garden grows,
Planted with seeds harvested from life's blows.
If we don not choose carefully the seeds,
In the heart's garden fear and hatred grows.

But if we choose carefully the seeds,
We will grow flowers and fruit instead of weeds.
When we plant seeds of love and sacrifice,
The heart's garden grows exquisite deeds.

The Prison of Self

"At Wadsworth Prison the Master, 'Abdu'l-Baha, worte in the visitors book: 'The greatest prison is the prison of self.'"
Vignettes from the Life of 'Abdu'l-bha, Page 9

A prison without shackles or iron bars,
Secured by the voice of insistent self,
Reverberating through cluttered corridors.

In narrow passages,
The transgressions of yesterday collect,
In rotting piles around the doors,
Of cells overflowing with assembled sins.

Poet's Note: ▶︎

The first poem I wrote in 152 B.E. The second was written in 155 B.E.