Writing Poetry is a Spiritual Experience

For me
writing poetry
is a spiritual experience.

I pray,
intoning the prayers
revealed by Baha'u'llah,
the Bab,
or 'Abdu'l-Baha.

I think,
I meditate,
I contemplate,
and I let min intuition find
the title,
or the first line,
or the rhyme.

I write
allowing my soul's insight
to discover
the rhythm,
the metaphors,
and the similes.


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Pivotal Event

His appearance
came at a critical time
in human history.

The Bab declared his mission,
at a time
when the veils of dogma
concealed the lamps
of religion and faith.

He proclaimed a new day,
heralded one greater than He,
and emphasized unity.


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The Fragrance of Mercy

When I read God's revealed Word,
and meditate
on the scriptures
inscribed by the Bab,
the fragrance of mercy
wafts through my mind
and across my soul.


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To Know God

The goal of my soul
is to know and love God,
but how can I,
a creature of matter
know that which is pure spirit.

Knowledge of God
comes to me
and the rest of humanity
through God' Manifestations
who in this age
are The Bab and Baha'u'llah.

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God's New Day : To The Bab

Darkness conspires
to conceal the light of dawn
behind the charcoal clouds of hate.

Dawn comes
its light turns the clouds scarlet
and awakens the birds of morning.


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Two Poems A Day

One hundred and seven days
to write one hundred and sixty four poems:
Is this possible?

Withe the help of Baha'u'llah
and the Bab,
I believe it is.

If I write two poems a day
it will take me eighty-two days,
that will give me twenty-five days
to review what I have written
to celebrate
the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab.

I also posted this poem in the journal, Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com portfolio. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

The Catalyst

Two centuries have passed
since His birth in Shiraz,
and humanity moves toward unity.

His birth in 1819,
and His death in 1850
were the catalyst
to humanity's transformation.

This year we celebrate
the Bicentenary of the Birth of the Bab,
who--along with Baha'u'lllah--
has created a vision of unity
for humanity.


I also posted this in the journal, Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items in my writing.com portfolio. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Thankful Thursday: A Prayer

Dear Lord,
I thank you for this day
and for revealing to me The Bab
and Baha'u'llah.

I also posted this in the journal, Writing in Snow,  under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com portfolio. Visit My Portfolio @ Writing.Com

Reflection: A Poem about the Bab

The reflection of God
The Bab proclaimed a new day
God’s Kingdom on Earth.

 

I, also, posted this in the journal Writing in Snow, under the folder Awardicon Items, in my writing.com port.

 

 

Bedtime Prayer

Now I lay me down to sleep, 

I pray the Lord my soul to keep, 

If I should die before I wake, 

I pray the Lord my soul to take. 

There are two or three different versions of this prayer. The one in this entry is the one I learn when I was a child. I don't know precisely how this version of the prayer affected me. When I say the prayer with my Mother or Grandmother, I never thought much about the meaning of the prayer. The only thing I thought about was the protection it gave me, and the spiritual feeling I had after saying it. 

This was the first prayer I memorized. Mom and Grandma saying it with me helped me memorize it. I don't say this prayer anymore. I say a prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah. It isn't anything like this prayer, but it does giving me spiritual feeling when I say or read it. Sometime I just say one prayer, and other times I read more than one. Most of the time I say or read about three prayers before going to sleep. When I read three prayers, I usually pick a prayer by Baha'u'llah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha. 

Poetry Sunday: I Contemplate Love

I contemplate love, 

The love God shed upon the world 

When he sent His Divine Physicians 

To minister to humanity. 

I contemplate the Divine Love 

Shed upon the human race 

By Buddha, 

By Muhammad, 

By Christ, 

By the Bab, 

By Baha'u'llah, 

By all the Divine Physicians 

Sent into the world 

To heal our wounded souls. 

I pray 

For those who, 

For what ever reason, 

Spread hate. 

I pray 

That all humanity 

Will see love's golden ray 

Uniting the religions 

Of humankind. 

A New Week Begins

I pick up my datebook, open it to the month of May, and look at today's date. It is Sunday, May 21, 2017. It is the fourth week of the month. It is the third Sunday in May. It is the beginning of a new week, with  wonderful possibilities. 

The Declaration of the Bab will be commemorated on the evening of May 22 about two hours after sunset. The Ascension of Baha'u'llah will be observed on May 28 at 3:00 AM. These are Holy Days which last from sundown to sundown, on which work should be suspended.  The day of the Declaration of the Bab begins at sunset on May 22 and ends at sunset on May 23. 

I know I won't be doing any surveys on those two Holy Days. I am planning to write a poem or essay about the Declaration of the Bab. I will also read the sacred scriptures and pray. Other than that I will play it by ear. 

Sundry Sunday: A Beautiful Day to Pray

Jamál (Beauty), 7 Jamál (Beauty), 171 BE - Sunday, May 4, 2014 about 8:18 am Pacific Daylight Time

It is Sunday morning in Las Vegas. The temperature is about 78 degrees and it is supposed to get up to around 9:00 am. The temperature has not gotten into the triple digits yet, but I do have to turn on the cool air between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. It also means I have begun drinking iced coffee instead of hot coffee of a morning or any other time of day.

It is a beautiful Sunday morning in Las Vegas. It is a good morning to pray; to say other prayers besides my normal morning prayer. I opened my prayer book to Detachment. The page that it opened to contained a prayer revealed by The Bab about taking refuge in God and putting your whole trust in Him. I read the prayer aloud and felt the spirit of God flowing from the words into my soul.

It is a beautiful Sunday in May.
It is a good day to pray,
A good day to take refuge in God.

A Blue Monday Afternoon

Kamál (Perfection), 5 Masá’il (Questions), 170 BE - Monday, December 16, 2013 about 12:21 pm Pacific Standard Time

It's a blue Monday afternoon,
with a partly cloudy sky,
a day to remain at home
and complete
unfinished tasks.

This afternoon, the only thing that keeps me focused on any task is reciting the prayers reveal by Baha'u'llah or The Bab. This morning focus wasn't as difficult as this afternoon. Of course, this morning before starting word I prayed and meditated, so perhaps I need to stop what I'm doing to meditate and say prayers.

wisp of scattered clouds
decorates afternoon's sky
chilly a slight breeze

 I look out the window and watch wisp of clouds scattered across the blue sky. They don't seem to move while I'm watching them, but if I look away for a few minutes and then look back I can see that there is slight movement. I still have some newspapers to carry out to the garages, so I guess I should get up and do that. I think while I'm out there I'll stand in the warm sun for a little while.

2011 a Stress Filled Year

Fidál (Grace), 19 Qudrat (Power), 168 BE – Tuesday, November 22, 2011 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

2011 a stress filled year, which may explain why I got this Baha’i year (168 BE) confused with last year (167 BE). The stress was so bad that my psoriases got worse instead of better. The situation has calmed down a bit, my psoriasis is getting better and I have got my dates straight again.

What caused all this stress? I think it was a combination of issues. I am my mother’s caregiver and she has Alzheimer’s disease. Then there were the financial issues plus a bunch of other things; everything just pilled up and I stressed out. Even though the stress is still present, my life is becoming calmer.

I am meditating on the prayers revealed by Baha’u’llah, and the Bab, as well as those written by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. I am writing my problems in an offline journal, instead of using the journal as a place to rant. Ranting seems to increase the stress, while free writing about the issue helps find a solution. Prayer and journaling is the best way to alleviate stress and find solutions to my problems.

Things I am thankful for on July 31, 2008

Istijlál (Majesty), 19 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Thursday, July 31, 2008 about 6:04 AM PDT

Today is Thankful Thursday and the idea is gratitude. No matter how difficult life gets, once a week an individual can always find something for which to give thanks. On Thankful Thursday, a person lists then gratitude things.

Today I am Thankful for

1. The prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah
2. The prayers revealed by The Bab
3. The prayers written by 'Abdu'l-Baha
4. Dawn
5. Getting up before the alarm clock sounds
6. Coffee
7. Carrot cake for breakfast
8. My mother still being with me
9. The Nineteen Day Feast
10. The way the morning light shines on my open garage door

In the Weary Morning

Istiqlál (Independence), 13 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Friday, July 25, 2008 about 4:40 AM PDT

I was really tired when I went to bed last night about 10:30 PM. Somewhere between 11:15 PM and 1:15 AM, my doorbell ring three times. I woke up from a sound sleep, set straight up and looked around. Then I got up and went to the front door. I looked out the door's window, my front door has a nice little window and not a peep hole. There was no one standing on my front stoop, so I opened the door. I had locked the screen door from the inside before I went t bed.

The only things I saw, were the trashcans setting under the stone pine tree. The trashcans were setting there before I went to bed last night. I then went to the living room and looked out the window. My car was still setting in the driveway, so I got the keys, unlocked the screen door and went out to the car. I rolled up the car windows, checked to see that Mom's walker was still in the back seat and locked the car. I lock the car before sunset from now on.

I still don't know whether I actually heard the doorbell or if it was part of a dream. I've been having some really intriguing dreams lately. Wednesday I dreamed I heard my sister's voice in the house she was talking to Mom. Thursday I dreamed there was a big wind and it destroyed some cactus Mom had in the backyard (there are no cactus in the backyard except in my dreams). Last night I dreamed about people doing something and then the doorbell ring.

I don't think the doorbell was part of my dream, but you never know. When I went outside to roll up the car windows and lock the car, I heard police sirens. Of course, sirens aren't anything unusual in Las Vegas, we hear them all the time. Still the events of last night was disturbing, unfortunately I won't be able to take a nap until late this afternoon.

Before I went back to sleep I said a prayer of protection. I said a prayer before I went to sleep the first time, but I don't remember if it was a protection prayer. Another thing I am going to do every night before going to bed. I will say one the protection prayer revealed by the Bab.

Remembering my Grandmother on Sunday Morning

Jamál (Beauty), 8 Kalimat (Words), 165 BE – Sunday, July 20, 2008 about 6:38 AM PDT

On Sunday morning, my Grandma Newland always went to church. She went to a Southern Baptist Mission in Blackwell, Oklahoma. The littler church was located in the Smelter Heights in what many considered the wrong side of the tracks. The rail roadtracks separated the Heights from the rest of Blackwell.

On Sunday morning, Grandma would get up, take her shower, get ready for church and then get the rest of us up (if we weren't already up). Grandma would put on her apron and fix breakfast for us. After breakfast, before leaving for church, she would wash the breakfast dishes and put them away. This done, Grandma would make sure we were all ready to go. My grandparents and four kids would get into Grandpa's car (usually a Ford or a Chevy) and Grandpa would drive us to the little mission, which the First Southern Baptist Church built in the Smelter Heights.

On Sunday morning, Grandma would set at one end of the pew, Grandpa at the other end and we four children between them. This is where my memory gets a bit fuzzy, because I can't remember whether Sunday school was before the preaching or afterwards. However, I think Sunday school was after the church service, which included preaching, singing and praying. After church, we went home and Grandma fixed the noon meal.

Grandma always fixed a huge meal for the Sunday lunch. She fixed mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, salad, southern fried chicken, and desert, which was usually a pie Grandma made from scratch. If we had pie for desert then there was ice cream to go on the pie.

I am no longer Southern Baptist and I haven't been back to Blackwell in over thirty years. Yet I still remember Grandma on Sunday morning sitting beside me in a wooden pew. Grandma taught me that I didn't have to wait until Sunday to pray. Grandma helped me learn the Lords Prayer and the Twenty Thirds Psalms, both of which I still remember.

Another thing I remember from my childhood. I could memorize prayers and scripture verses much easier then I can today. It takes me longer to memorize scripture verses today then it did then. I still work at memorizing them, but now I have to review them everyday or every other day or I forget the verse. Right now I'm working on memorizing prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah, the Bab and 'Abdu'l-Baha. I have the some prayers memorized that I read everyday, but it takes longer to memorize a prayer.

On a Late March Evening

Fidál (Grace), 5 Baha (Splendor), 165 B.E. – Tuesday, March 25, 2008 about 5:57 PM PDT

On a late March evening
when the sun approaches the western horizon
I look through my prayer book
at all the prayers revealed by the Bab,
at all the prayers revealed by Baha'u'llah,
at all the prayers written by 'Abdu'l-Baha
and realize
that as my life advances toward its western horizon
and my fortune changes
like the pendulum of a Grandfather clock swing
back and forth
these prayers give me comfort and joy.