Tag Archives: poets

CHRISTIAN CAPITALISM

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Poets of “the spirit,” to some, may appear un-American
Because “America” stands for a boyish “toughness” –
For men pursuing women with showers of strength
And women carrying out the role of store-window mannequins of beauty.

However, the spirit, in essence, is beautiful by itself!
Which is why it’s so unknown in all 50 states –
After all, people didn’t come here for beauty
They came for money
And, for some at least, there’s been plenty of that.

There’s a surplus of energy banging around in the good ol’ U.S. of A. –
Lots of striving to make “big house” dreams come true
Culminating in hierarchies of unequals – originally imported from the Old World
But, more recently, branded “Christian Capitalism”
Worshipped by cold and intolerant Evangelical hearts
Without the necessity of any spiritual foundation whatsoever.

It’s a mystery why beauty never became more important in America –
Perhaps it’s our dedication to “first things first”
Or that we simply never got around to fully appreciating it.

Treating “beauty” in this way, however –
Imagine how unlikely we’re ever going to view “love” or “truth” –
Much less “God” in a serious manner either.

PEACHES ARE “PERSIANS”

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In the West, people thought peaches came from the East –
From Persia (actually, originally, from China).

In Persia, peaches were “perse,” which became “peche” in France,
And then “peach” by the time they reached England.
Westerners believed they were eating fruit called “Persians.”

Persians themselves love their peaches, along with their poets.
They eat peaches while, gloriously, memorizing poems –
Which are usually all about God.

In the West, poets rarely write about God anymore
And few people bother memorizing poems either.

Given that, which country – America or Iran –
Do you now think is truly civilized?

POETS AND GOD

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Great poets desire to express the inexpressible
And that’s why the greatest of them – spiritual amateurs all –
Reach for the Divine.

Early on, Christianity got rid of spontaneous poets
And replaced them with orthodox priests and ministers –
And this is why, eventually, Christianity evolved into a religion of rationality –
A religion without fresh poetic inspiration.

People on a long journey towards the holy, however,
Want their favorite poets free to “sing” to God
Because they understand that spontaneity
Is essential in expressing spiritual truths.

Once they’d given up holy ecstatic singing,
Western poets, over time, increasingly became colorless and dull –
Proving that poets need the energy that can be imbibed
From the “living juices” of a “living God.”

In other words, artists (which all true poets are)
Require a subject matter that is “colorful” – “packed with life” –
Like the Divine (the “face” of God)
And Nature (the “back” of God).

In sum, to have the experience of God remain “fresh” –
God needs poets who are willing to reach out to the Divine –

So, tell me, how did Western poetry ever get so far off-track?

HOLY CORRESPONDENCE

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Some poets enjoy exploring beauty in nature –
While others prefer “punching out” big ideas.

Some poets muse about where we came from –
While others look ahead to where we might be going.

Some poets get depressed and lie down in their cups –
While others become, and sometimes remain, righteously angry.

But the greatest poets – the truly great ones –
Look right into the face of divine nothingness
And express the inexpressible.

The truly great ones fall so deeply in love with the Holy
That they write shy “spiritual letters” to eternity
Which sometimes provoke surprising responses from God
And anyone fortunate enough to stumble upon this holy correspondence.

POETS: ARTISTS OF THE SPIRIT

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Poets used to write primarily for God
Or about the kinds of people who take long and dangerous trips in search of God.

Their tools were images and symbols that could “light up the truth” –
Truth that uninspired reason, by itself, wasn’t able to touch – much less attain.

I believe poets are ready to return to these artistic/spiritual roots –

Pouring out light into our contemporary darkness,
Displaying literary compassion to sustain people through their Trumpian confusion –
Along with uncovering intimations of a God hidden in plain sight
Behind all the materialism now drenching our greed-stunned world.

INEFFABLE LOVE

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The love of God is like a cool fountain
Continually shooting joy up into our hearts –
Or a bright flame that illuminates our minds
And never goes out.

Once you experience ineffable love
You’ll know what God is like –

Nevertheless, this is difficult to describe
Even for mystics or poets.

POETS ARE BAKERS (for National Poetry Month)

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Poets are bakers
Kneading wonder words into the food we need.

Sometimes, though, poets can start believing they’re even more ancient than the gods
And attempt to create greater worlds than those gods were ever able to achieve.

Poets’ most critical work, however, is discerning fresh uncharted paths
That they can barely see –
And have rarely had the opportunity to walk on themselves.

Poets also are carpenters
Building worlds not yet in focus – much less existence –
With unsettled words
Plucked out of the sweet invincible air.

Poets use words like nature uses colors –
And diligently work to design magic glasses
Through which “reality” may be seen.

Poets – humanity’s last surviving “world-makers.”