online today!socrates44 Poetry (156)

If you listen when it's still all around
You will hear the very sound of silence
It's the basic sound that is the background
That allows other sounds their existence

Silence gives music its reality
It's the space between notes that is free
This allows them to resonate freely
And that creates a sense of harmony

Silence is not the absence of something
It's a thing in itself with great power
Skilfulness of it's placement in speaking
Is the hallmark of a great orator

It can express feeling with great effect
Better than words during some occasion
Like a silent minute to mark respect
For those who gave their lives for their nation

A deeper awareness of the divine
Can be sought in silent meditation
Silence helps to focus the restless mind
Engaged in spiritual devotion

Silence is a balm for the weary soul
Providing peacefulness and upliftment
It heals the worn spirit making it whole
And fills it with deep seated contentment

I clearly recall Vigus who was around eight
Wearing a girl's dress climbing over their front gate
His folks thought this apparel would keep him at home
And discourage him from leaving their place to roam

When we played a game of marbles on the bare ground
He would tuck the dress between his legs and stoop down
This was in preparation for his turn to “pitch”
So he could aim at the target without a hitch

His first language was a version of French patois
Which he learned in his native island, St. Lucia
When we first met and he spoke French patois to me
I, not understanding, would nod approvingly

We made chocolate ice cream from sifted dirt and sand
And sought someone to taste our own special brand
He was my next door neighbour and as a young boy
Playing together as children brought us great joy

The grandeur of a majestic mountain
with its snow-capped peak
enveloped in fleecy white clouds
against a clear azure blue sky

The glorious majesty of a stately sequoia
the largest living thing on earth
its massive trunk over thirty feet wide
with its gnarled rugged beauty

The wondrous artistry of the setting sun
edging the darkened clouds with silver linings
and painting the evening sky
in brilliant colours of the rainbow

A friend like you is worth much more
Than all the treasures earth can store
Your worth I measure not in gold
But in the beauty of your soul
I think about you when we met
And there I knew my sun had set
A friend so true I then did find
A friend so gentle and so kind
I saw the beauty in your eyes
And then I came to realize
When you placed your hand in mine
My heart in friendship you did bind
My eyes you opened and just then
At last I knew I had a friend

Cats are natural destroyers of rodents
Protecting man's property from the same
Based on this, humans may have seen the sense
In giving household felines a good name

Cats are treasured in many homes today
And are viewed as part of the family
They just need some food to eat, and to play
And they can be quite pleasant company

Cats and young children make good company
They all share in a common playfulness
Having fun with each other cheerfully
And filling each other with happiness

There are persons who are isolated
And life for them can be very lonely
A pet cat can make them feel uplifted
And help to ease their feelings of misery

Egyptians gave cats a god-like status
This is shown in the writings of their scribes
Today, not all of that status is lost
Why else do we say a cat has nine lives?









Photo of Egyptian Cat Goddess Bastet

Clear sky of blue and clouds of white
Bathed by sunshine above
Create such a beautiful sight
Instilling feelings of love

Lighting up the greenery below
Of the trees, grasses and plants
Giving them an enchanting glow
Setting the stage for romance

The ripples on the nearby lake
Stirred up by a gentle breeze
Invite the viewer to partake
With feelings of peace and ease

Such samples of Nature's nectar
Are free to each one of us
We are all a part of Nature
and Nature is part of us

Alone I sit
staring at the cold grey sky
All around
winter's handiwork
so silent
so beautiful
fills the land

Drifting lazily upwards
pillars of smoke
rise ghost-like
from the chimneys

On the ground below
the freshly fallen snow
so quiet, so fragile
instils deep peace
within my soul

Standing alone in the distance
a church steeple
points majestically towards the sky
in silent testimony
of its God

Nothing stirs -
the sparrows have gone to bed
this cold winter's evening
dreaming pleasant dreams
of tomorrow's spring
when new life will take form
in Nature's world
or perhaps they dream
of yesterday's summer
when they flitted happily
from tree to tree
dancing in the sunshine
so happy to be alive
and free

Yet, dream on
my little friends
for even while you dream
cold winter must reign
a little while longer
still blessing the earth
with her deep silent beauty
--- as now the snow begins to fall
once more








(I wrote this piece in the late 1960s
when I was a university student
in Winnipeg, Canada.)

What has to be done must be done
Lazing around just will not pay
Grab hold of yourself and move on
Do what you have to do today

Despite the mood you may be in
Know time and tide wait for no one
Get busy, start the ball rolling
If not, you will be overrun

Hold on and sustain the effort
Though you may not feel to do so
Stand firmly for no matter what
Be assured success will follow

Keep on singing, bird.
I cannot see you
as I sit enclosed
by the four walls of my room.
But I do not need to see you
with my eyes.
Your song goes to the centre
of my being
making me ever aware of
the kinship of my spirit
with yours.
I do not hear you anymore.
Perhaps you have flown away.
But the vibrations
that your song has set up
within my soul
will go on
like the never-ending waves
of the ocean.
Thank you, bird!

glassy-eyed people
moving as in a dream
looking without seeing
seeing without looking

utter hopelessness
pervading their souls
filling them with despair
and pessimism

lustreless eyes
no inner joy
just a deep emptiness
stifling their souls

dried-up people
shutting others out
shutting themselves in
lost in their loneliness

It is strange
how things that we see
and take for granted
in everyday life
should suddenly instil in our minds
a new awareness
of their presence.

A silent moment
a brief pause
from life's ever quickening pace
a moment of peace -
In times like these
a common thing
like a dried old tree
becomes alive with beauty.

It stands like a quiet sentinel
who has witnessed many an event
through time.
Time has passed by but it remains
silently standing there.
O tree!
What secrets do you store
in your noble branches?
How many events have you recorded
that man knows nothing of?

In your younger days
when you wore your mantle of green
you nested the carefree birds;
to their offspring
you gave protection.
When the sun scorched the earth
you gave them cool shade.
On a cold windy night
you gave them warmth.
How pleasant was their song
to your ear
as they sang a song of thanks
to you.

You were a playmate to the children.
When they romped at your feet
or climbed on your branches
you smiled.
Time grew older
and the children became lovers.
You saw them kiss in your shade
soft with the light of the moon
The aura of their love
touched your leaves
and you blushed.

Today
they have all gone away
but you still remain
silent sentinel
still waiting and watching.
How many untold events
have you witnessed
faithful keeper of secrets?

O that my soul could commune with you
and share of your rugged beauty!
Most noble tree
forgive me for my
once-waxen eyes.

Kathy, Abby, Pink and Mady
Each a CS poetry lady
Keep the corner glowing warmly
Each one with her heartfelt poetry

This applies to all on this site
Each one who decides to indite
Seek to improve with every write
Your true talent shall come to light

Let your true feelings be your guide
And express what you feel inside
You can feel a deep sense of pride
Knowing that you sincerely tried

You are a new generation
To carry on the tradition
By posting your own creation
Of poetic inspiration