mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not sharing.”
The Buddha
The truth for a grade school student is not the same as the truth for a senior citizen. Perspective is the reason we believe one thing or another at any given time. Now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. This means that we have more knowledge of the bigger picture as we mature and travel along the road to truth. We should be acquiring sophistication and compassion for other living things as we become more visionary on this path. Observation of the world political situation leads us to believe that we are failing at that mission. We have wandered off the route into unmapped territory. Dark ignorance and evil intent appear to be taking ground in the battle against harmony and peace.
In all fairy tales and mythology the hero learns from tragic mistakes. At the end of the story the moral is clear and the lesson is imprinted in the mind of the audience. Once committed the hero has no choice. Like Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita, the hero is taught mastery through trust in divine guidance in freaky circumstances. He fights the symbolic battles he finds obstructing his way. The hero is fated to go all the way. That is what distinguishes his character from others. He finishes the difficult job, then shares the wisdom he has found within his quest. He saves the day and teaches an important social and political object lesson to the people.
Action without attachment was the lesson Krishna taught Arjuna during the heat of battle. It is impossible to know the moral of a story until it ends, so it is imperative that the hero finish his job. As I experience the presidential politics of 2016 I certainly hope there is a blue guy driving the chariot who will lead us into a surprise ending. These are certainly freaky circumstances with strong catalytic tendencies. How do you think this story will end, gentle reader? Fill in the blank.
I am a happy graduate of National Poetry Writing Month, 2016. This, my third time participating, taught me some good lessons. The best part of the month is always reading and discovering other poets. Here are just a few wonderful poems I found written during April:
There are more poets than I can possibly mention that show great talent and unique perspective. I hope you will investigate to find some poetry you like to read in this group or at the library. People take this 30 poems in 30 days challenge for different reasons. I find it stimulates my vocabulary as well as my visual sense because I always use an image with my poem. Sometimes I draw it. Each year I tell myself how therapeutic it is to create poetry and that I will continue the craft on my tumblr, which is linked for #NaPoWriMo with my wordpress for poetry month. This could be the year, gentle readers. The consistent lesson I have learned from these three years of participation is that other people like the poems that are not my own favorites, and vice versa. Later when I read some of my work I am kind of surprised it came from me, but there it is. These are a few of the reasons I urge you to write some verse:
You don’t have to show anyone what you write in order to benefit from trying your hand as a poet. You might be one…and don’t know it. Don’t wait until April 2017 to start. If you start now you will be sufficiently warmed up for the next round.
Blind to either side, the galloping force chases the scoundrels with intent
Misses the ongoing story, producing poverty, lowering standards for life
Hunger, insecurity, pessimism, lack of healthy enviornment, to a growing extent
Contribute to a downward spiral for those already sinking in economic strife
Streams and creeks full of excuses mixed with social work are clogged
Water is evaporating above the ground while we sink the drills deeper for the prize
Join poets around the world for #NaPoWriMo this April. Find new meaning in words.
Lazy floating clouds float over the roaring river in the canyon deep and steep
Rushing rapids, fishing birds, pine forrest covers the hillside where strangers sleep
Enveloped in dreamtime full of predictions, curses, spells, natural magic double
Sifting through remnants of vanishing memories found by picking in the rubble
Of abandoned relationships, casues, philosophy, belief, loyalty learned by rote
The current of memory is swift, rocking and shaking the flimsy leaking boat
Carrying karma back to the tributaries, evaporation lifts moisture toward the sky
The cycles are eternal never breaking the contract first to float and then to fly
Join the poets of the world at #NaPoWriMo in April to read, write, and indulge in poetry.
The key fits the opening of the light between the refracting colors swirling down
Slipping the skeleton into the rainbow takes precision, sophistication and heart
Careful with the riptides, the pirate crew left roaming the beach next to the town
The connection must be complete or the inertia of lazy innacuracy will start
To erode the memory and history of mankind leaving the core of the matter exposed
To elements corosive, destructive, mind numbing, passively aggresively confused
With foundations and structure built on mendacity that has been politically superimposed
The atmosphere, the liquids and all the thoughts, have been examined and excused
April is National Poetry Writing Month, aka #NaPoWriMo. Join the fun reading, writing and living the poetic life. Try something new!!
We find our place by reading the stars, following the charts to the destination
How far must we travel to reach our destiny and our eventual demise?
We loose our way while we become distracted and consumed by hesitation
Does this road lead us home or to a different universe where questions arise
About the nature of this well worn system we have followed blindly into hell?
Escape will be a struggle without the navigation tools we used to get here
It will be impossible to see how we fit in, our belief has fallen under the spell
Of false prophet pretenders telling stories designed to make us shake in fear
This month of poetry writing is soon to end. This year it has gone quickly for me. Find poets to read and enjoy at #NaPoWriMo in April every year. Consider writing some for submission. Join the poetry party.
Hanging from the tree to ripen, we fall when we are ready
Weight and pull toward the earth is constant and steady
Without orbit and centrifugal force we could not anchor to the ground
Our voices would float into space leaving no trace, vanishing without a sound
There would be no palpable difference between light and heavy
Our fate is to look up to find the place where divinity is dwelling
Religious orders, creation stories, iconic books are all-compelling
Yet earth itself holds us here with an understanding that we will return
To become dust when the time bell rings and we take our final turn
To bless this grave planet whose great wealth we have been selling
April is a month for poetry writing all over the world. Tune in to #NaPoWriMo to find new poets to read or submit your own work.
Where is the debate avoider
Controlling decider
Heavily armed, obscuring the truth
The invading, occupying force
Following orders that arrive
Trickling down from a wizard figure
Floating out of sight in a balloon
On a vector tangential to reality
Swirling in a vortex of candy coated spin?
The government is flying high on a cloud of delusion
Today’s prompt is to use kenning, a kind of riddle from Norse poetry. Since the elections are upon us during #NaPoWriMo I was inspired to write about the government. Join poets around the world this month reading and writing poetry.
Set your own priorities with no regard for reality or truth
Walk backwards into situations, the blind back of your head leading
Make sure you ignore the voices pleading, the garden in need of weeding
Blame poorly informed decisions and disruptive behaviors on the youth
Take no responsibility for the results of your actions, causes or effects
Turn your face in both directions speaking platitudes while thinking even worse
Ethical boundaries destroyed and forgotten by superstitious unconscious curse
Thoughts drift in the back door of imaginary enemies and fraudulent respects
Join the poetry fiesta all month in April at #NaPoWriMo . Submit your own poems and read the work of other poets.
Stretching out the vocabulary in search of catchy rich phrases to use as bait
To entice the dear reader to click onward with interest and intellectual curiosity
Words that sound funny when spoken are at the top of my title writing lists
These are followed by ironic twists and puns on popular trending events of the day
Alliteration is always appreciated as it is displayed across the stream of options
Decide to read or not to read, the precious investment of attention and time is given
To the words that signal a meaningful moment, a change of perspective, perhaps new ideas
Find poets to follow at #NaPoWriMo in April. Submit poems of your own and experience to joy of writing poetry.