Even though I've never read Leaves of Grass, by the great American poet Walt Whitman, from cover to cover, I know certain passages of it well. I think my all-time favorite, and the one I vote for as a true Life Guide is this: This is what you shall do. Love the earth and sun … Continue reading Is There a Greater Life Guide Than This?
Category: Poetry
Do You Allow Others to Define You?
Greetings fellow MindTrekkers! Do you allow others to define you? “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” R. W. Emerson Today -- with constant news, social media, and the incessant buzz of celebrity in our faces and ears -- it's incredibly difficult to … Continue reading Do You Allow Others to Define You?
Are You Connected?
Are You Connected? You say there's no God. You may be right. Now come sit with me Under this tree And be still Looking up into the branches Then follow me to the shore And let your naked feet slap Along the waves and the foam Before you look up to the sun After that, … Continue reading Are You Connected?
Be Quiet For Awhile
Camera! Lights! Action! Activity and action seem to be the bywords of our lives. They certainly seem to be so during my lifetime in the 20th and 21st centuries. Maybe it's always been so. Being busy is rewarded with words and often with money. "Idle hands are the devil's workshop" springs from some Biblical passage … Continue reading Be Quiet For Awhile
Connect
You say there's no God. You may be right. Now come sit with me Under this tree And be still Looking up into the branches Then follow me to the shore And let your naked feet slap Along the waves and the foam Before you look up to the sun After that, throw on your … Continue reading Connect
Nature Cures What Ails Ya, Lad
Here's a part-poem, part-love song to my favorite beach town, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Thank You, New Smyrna Beach Old Man Overwhelm has stopped by Along with his demon cousin, Lady Anxiety Don't know why... Life's been sweet They're always nearby, and they love surprises The sun shines through the blinds I roll over … Continue reading Nature Cures What Ails Ya, Lad
A Tribute to Mary Oliver
I'm pretty much a newcomer to poetry. I had plenty of doses of it in high school and college -- and had a brief run with a few of the English romantic poets, especially William Wordsworth and Percy Bysshe Shelley, thanks to my great high school English teacher Mr. Bill Langdon. In recent years, I've … Continue reading A Tribute to Mary Oliver
My Favorite Line — What’s Yours?
Although I've only recently rediscovered poetry, I've been collecting some of my favorite poems and sections or lines from those that strike me as most meaningful. One of my favorites poems-- and my current favorite line -- comes from Mary Oliver"s poem, The Summer Day. I found a tile inscribed with that line, and I … Continue reading My Favorite Line — What’s Yours?
For International Peace Day, Which Should Be Every Day
A good friend shared this poem with me a few weeks ago when he was talking about the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated 21 September of each year. This poem comes from Eusebius, a Greek historian of Christianity, and contains powerful words for people of any time and any (or … Continue reading For International Peace Day, Which Should Be Every Day
The Greatest Poem Ever Written
I'm pretty much a latecomer to poetry... sure, read some in high school and college for required courses but, until the last few years, I've never really gone out of my way to sample the poetry wares. I think my interest in poetry has been stimulated by the The Sun Magazine, a super great … Continue reading The Greatest Poem Ever Written