Poetry Wrote Over Several Years on Spiritual, Religious, and Devotional Subjects. |
Devotional Poetry My Search I Into the mystic realm, I let my mind take flight, Over stone strewn highways, I search the endless night. I was the Wanderer, Looking for a goal, And the Seeker, Searching for my soul. I walked the roads of idle fancy, Paths of material delight, Stumbling over stones of vain imaginings, In my search for the light. A voice deep within me cried: "Here doesn't lay your goal, Upon these darkened pathways, You'll never find your sou." II Into the mystic realm, Again my mind took flight, Over well traveled highways, I search the misty twilight. I was a Seeer, Seeking an unknown goal, And a Stranger, To my own soul. In this realm of half-light, I strolled the roads of tradition, Picking my way carefully, Through the shadows of superstition. Still from within came the cry: "Not in this realm is your goal, Upon these half-lit pathways, You'll never find your soul" III Into the mystic realm, Again I took flight, And walked the paths, Where God has shed His light. I walked the hallowed highways, Trod by the Prophets of old, Strolled the ancient paths, Strewn with nuggets of pure gold. This is the wondrous realm, Where all paths become one, This is the glorious land, Illuminated by God's sun. Through the Word of God, I have found my soul, In the Messenger for this age, I have found my goal. Poet's Note: ▼ |
To the Seeker on a Spiritual Journey February 20, 2019 at 8:19pm 1
To the Seeker
on a Spiritual Journey
Seeker,
this is the path of knowledge
that leads to salvation.
Inquirer,
in this day safety comes through
Obedience to God's law.
Searcher,
This the the Day of God,
The age of the King of Glory.
Suppliant,
have you heard of Baha'u'llah,
the Glory of God?
2
Seeker's Prayer
Help us to hunger, O God!
To hunger for the fruit of Your revelation,
that grows on the Tree of Life.
Help us to thirst, O Lord!
To ... [Read more] Growing Up: Meditation on Humanity's Coming of Age December 18, 2018 at 7:35pm Growing Up:
Meditation on Humanity's Coming of Age
Time is a spiral staircase.
ascending from past to future.
Each new age
is another level
in humanity's upward climb.
Each a new phase
in the development
of the race.
The present generation--
the missing link
between past and future--
stands at the midway point
between yesterday and tomorrow.
We are the bridge
connecting our parents
with our children.
Entangled in the present
we fight change,
and succeed
... [Read more] Feast of Masa'il (Questions) November 18, 2021 at 7:17pm Feast of Questions
Who is this splendor
illuminating the world?
Baha'u'llah,
the Promised One of all religions!
What energy warms
humanity's frozen soul?
The Glory of God!
Who is this beauty
reflecting divinity?
Baha'u'llah,
the Manifestation of God!
Why is God's grandeur
shedding grace on the planet?
To unite humanity!
Who is this mirror
reflecting the light of God?
Baha'u'llah
is Divinity's revealer!
Why is God's mercy
o... [Read more] Echoes from My Soul & Whispers From My Soul January 3, 2022 at 12:20pm Echoes From the Soul
Poetry is echoes from my soul,
descending through mind's corridors,
Whispering to my animal brain,
melodies of spiritual reality.
Rhyme is the right brain's interpretation,
of music descending from my spirit.
rhythms whose immortal melodies,
transcend physical reality.
Verse is the left brain's translation,
of echoes descending from my soul,
words cannot adequately express,
spiritual reality.
Whispers From My Soul
The dreams that come ... [Read more] Equality Dance December 17, 2018 at 3:07pm Equality Dance
Veiled in traditions
of ignorance,
she walks barefoot across the stage,
and kneels submissive at stage center.
Empowered,
by macho traditions,
he strides shod across the stage,
and administers
a choreographed beating.
Risen through education,
she asserts her right
as his equal,
proving--
through choreographed motions--
her abilities are innate.
Together
the dance in unity:
the wings of civilization.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this i... [Read more] Feast of Nur (Light) November 18, 2021 at 7:20pm Feast of Light
Life is renewed,
and creation reborn
for Christ ha returned
in the Father's Glory.
Stalactites of light
shine with crystal radiance,
while grandeur is reflected
from radiant stalagmites.
Stalagmites and stalactites
glitter in the darkness of matter
proclaiming the joyous news.
Silence transcends
for an abundance of reasons say:
That God's Promise is fulfilled.
Splendor's shadow hides
in the radiant reflection
of the Lord of Host
and the Ki... [Read more] Footprints in the Sand December 16, 2018 at 11:23pm Footprints in the Sand:
Contemplating Gender Equality
The line of footprints led
side by side
across the ancient riverbed.
Equal partners
in their battle for survival,
the couple walked
hand-in-hand
across the sand of Africa
and into history.
Frozen in time
the line of footprints led
out of Africa.
Her footprints slowed,
burdened by a load
heavier than any child;
he footprints lagged
one step behind.
Unequal partners
in their battle for survival,
they trudged
ac... [Read more] Fast Vahids December 16, 2018 at 9:27pm Fast Vahids
1
Oh, Beloved!
From the chalice of Thy book,
I sip the wine of Thy utterance.
2
Thirs flows across the desert of self,
Washing the dross from the mirror of matter.
3
Beauty of the worlds,
Sunset call the lost ones home,
To dine on the fruit of faith.
4
Resting in the soil of faith,
The kernel decomposes into roots and stems.
5
Desire of the worlds,
Sunset calls the wander home,
To drink the wine of Thy love.
6
Thirst flows acr... [Read more] A Babi's Reply to His Executioner December 15, 2018 at 7:35pm A Babi's Reply to His Executioner
It was not the tea that beguiled me!
I was roused
from my deep slumber
by the wind of God's utterances
flowing across the parched wind of my soul.
It was not the tea that beguiled me!
Inebriated
by the wind of faith
flowing from the Primal Point
I passed through the Gate of Paradise.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in 152 B.E. The inspiration was an accusation, by accusers, that the tea at Babi firesides was beguiled,... [Read more] Visionary Poetry December 15, 2018 at 5:11pm Visionary Poetry
This is the poetry
of boundaries drawn in pencil,
of boarders sketched lightly--
then erased--
between matter and spirit,
between life and death,
between the lover and the Beloved.
This is the fire that consumes--
in the soul of the poet,
and the mind of the lover--
the barriers to unity.
This is the prayer that rises--
like incense from an alter,
or smoke from a pyre--
to escort the living into paradise.
This is both wine and manna,
intoxication and s... [Read more] Day of Resurrection August 24, 2023 at 6:13pm 1
Day of Resurrection
This is the day of resurrection
when the voice of the Promised One
can be heard
intoning the verse of God.
From the heaven of revelation
descends the Book of God's Law,
descends the Holy City
the New Jerusalem.
2
Rejoice
Rejoice,
Lovers of God,
For this is the Day of Resurrection.
Raise your voices in praise
To the Glory of God,
To the Lord of Hosts,
To the Prince of Peace,
To the Ancient Beauty,
For this is the day of unity.
3
O... [Read more] Fast Meditation January 14, 2022 at 6:21pm Fast Meditation
1
O my Lord,
the questions thou hast answered
are my meditations!
2
O my Lord,
The wine of Thy utterances flow
across my parched soul
quenching my thirst.
3
O my Lord,
the honor of Thy Ancient Faith
is my joy!
4
O my Beloved,
The manna of Thy revelation descends
out of the clouds of Thy Covenant
sating my hunger.
5
O my Lord,
the sovereignty of Thy essence
is my unity!
6
O my Beloved,
Obedience strengthens the soul... [Read more] Faith's Journey: A Metaphor December 14, 2018 at 2:10pm Faith's Journey:
A Metaphor
In my journey I traversed
hallway without windows:
Without cessation or interruption,
I walked through artificially lit corridors
that lead to caverns illuminated
by various degrees of sunlight.
In my journey I traversed
corridors without windows:
Around blind corners
I trudged
to find dead ends,
secret doors,
locked gates,
or blocked portals.
In my journey I traversed
passages without windows:
Through arrow slits
I caught glimpses of my... [Read more] Feast of Ilm (Knowledge) November 18, 2021 at 8:15pm Feast of Ilm
Knowledge
wrapped in scented words
floats on the evening air.
Expression of God's love:
The Lord's Supper.
Feast of Knowledge
Black silhouettes against the dusk
mountains rise
out of the evening shadow.
O Lord,
the light of Thy knowledge
rises behind the mountains of our ignorance.
In the southwest,
Venus,
the evening star,
glows bright.
O Lord,
the rustling of the leaves of Thy knowledge
call us from our sepulchers.
The full moon
han... [Read more] Evening Prayers: Two Poems December 16, 2018 at 11:39pm Evening Prayers:
I
In the privacy of my chamber,
in the silence of my abode,
in the tranquility of certitude
we meet spirit to spirit
and soul to soul.
Together we walk through paradise,
beneath the Tree of Life,
and s peak in the language of love.
You hear my prayer,
You know my needs,
You see my sins and my strengths,
You whisper to my trembling soul,
You show me the path that I should go.
I am alone, but not alone;
I am the one who need forgiveness;
I am a child... [Read more] Execution In Iran: To Mr. Bahman Samandari December 13, 2018 at 7:48pm Execution In Iran:
To Mr. Bahman Samandari
On March 18, 1992,
after a three and a half year hiatus,
hate put forth its bloody hand
to silence Light's follower.
The Concourse on High
welcomed into their midst
Mr. Bahman Samandari.
On April 5, 1992
(The date authorities gave their permission.)
Mrs. Samandari,
unaware of her new status,
went to Evin Prison
to visit her husband.
Rather
then ask her to pay for the bullets that killed him;
they announced his demise
by g... [Read more] Forgiveness December 20, 2018 at 8:05pm 1
Forgiveness
In a small moment,
in the time it takes a thought to move
from dendrite to axon,
and from axon to dendrite
I forgave.
I forgave the silence of your absence,
I forgave the echoes of his fear,
I forgave the nakedness of my terror,
I forgave and in forgiving
I transformed doubt to faith,
and faith to certitude.
2
Grace of God
When the sun clears the horizon,
We get a second chance,
Through the grace of God.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote the... [Read more] Feast of Jamal (Beauty) November 18, 2021 at 7:24pm Feast of Beauty
The flowers of humanity gather,
To celebrate the Supper of the Lord.
Music in the background plays,
singers raising their voices in praise,
sing: "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha!"
Greeting each other with,
"Allah-u-Abha."
We enter the Lord's Supper.
Candles on the table burn,
Blossoms of red, yellow, and white,
release incense into the air.
Reading from The Hidden Words
we consume the Supper of the Lord.
Feast of Jamal
O Lord!
We ... [Read more] Friendship February 24, 2019 at 1:46pm 1
"Friendships are forever!"
Cathy
Brotherhood goes beyond the artificial boundaries
that divide by color and creed,
that separate by religion and nation,
the offspring of a human germ cell.
Brotherhood is eternal:
It is in our cells,
it is in our souls,
its is taught to us by religion,
it is taught to us by evolution.
Brotherhood is the lesson we must learn
or we will perish by our own hands,
or the hands of our brothers.
2
Friendship
Reposing
in perfect... [Read more] Fragrences of Mercy December 31, 2018 at 8:26pm Fragrances of Mercy
"All glory be to this day,... the day in which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things,..."
Baha'u'llah
The wind of dawn blow across the planet,
Carrying to waiting nostrils,
The aroma of cinnamon laced honey.
Rising from the pen of the King of Glory,
The scent of passion flowers and roses,
Mingle with the aroma of dawn.
The followers of light rise from their beds,
Inhaling the fragrance of immortality,
Intoning th... [Read more] For Those Who Live In Peace December 13, 2018 at 2:03pm For Those Who Live In Peace
For those who live in peace,
there is neither border nor boundary
to separate.
For those who live in peace,
Differences of color or thought generate
hope and love.
For those who live in peace,
peace itself
is their security.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in 144 B.E. I'm not sure of the inspiration; however, I think it was a fireside or deepening.
... [Read more] Feast of Kalimat (Words) November 18, 2021 at 7:26pm Feast of Words
Woven into patterns
His Words form the tapestry
of my heart.
His Words
unite religions
into the single faith of God.
Feast of Kalimat
Words of the Beloved
Spoken by the Friends
Exert influence on the soul.
Words of the Beloved
Read by His lovers
Announce God's New World Order.
Words of the Beloved
Read by the believers
Ascend into paradise.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}Feast of Words was written in 148 B.E. Feast of Kalimat was writte... [Read more] Feast of Qawl (Speech) November 18, 2021 at 7:28pm Feast of Speech
O Lord,
Thou hast created our vocal cords,
To give utterance unto Thy words.
O Lord,
Thou has created our tongues,
To sing Thy praise throughout eternity.
O Lord,
Thou has created our lips,
To intone the name of Thy Manifestation.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in 147 B.E. It was inspired by a feast I attended on the evening of November 22. ... [Read more] Feast of 'Azamat (Grandeur) November 18, 2021 at 7:29pm Feast of Grandeur
On the day of Baha,
in the month of 'Azamat,
united in purpose
and harmonized in thought
we celebrate...
O Lord,
Our diversity reveals
the grandeur of Thy Cause.
Men and women,
adults and youth,
raise their voices in praise
at the Supper of the Lord.
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in 147 B.E. It was inspired by a feast on the evening of May 16.
... [Read more] Feast of 'Izzat (Might) November 18, 2021 at 7:33pm Feast of Might
God's Ocean of Might
Surges casting onto its shores
The Pearls of Wisdom
The Lord of Humanity
Is God's Manifestation
The tears shed by God's lovers
Are their companions
The groans uttered by
the Seekers their comforters
Food of the faithful
Their own hearts' fragments
{dropnote:"Poet's Note:"}I wrote this in 148 B.E. It was inspired by a feast on the evening of September 7.
... [Read more] |