Poetry

Embracing Paradox.

Poetry, compact and symbolic in nature, is a perfect medium for conveying feeling - how it feels to ride that paradoxical razor's edge, and how one might possibly reconcile the pairs of opposites by embracing them, symbolically.

Inspired

Captures my imagination and
aims the Arrow of my aspiration,
gives it a name,
ignites it aflame,
and fires it forth upon
the bow of my subconscious
towards that which God Desires.

Fueling the Fire of God's Desire.

The Fool

Here I am again, Ha, Ha
Another Peak Attained
I am Adventure - Eternal Youth
Happiness - my Quest for Truth
Sure of Foot, with laughter, me
Attainment is my Destiny.

THE TRICKSTER'S CREED

When I looked into your guise,
your ego took me by surprise.
Then, I just could not resist,
I felt you needed to be diss'ed!

Now, please dear reader, don't get pissed!

For when we hold our form so dear,
we can't see clearly, out of fear.
Then where God dwells, we mistake a ghoul,
so to help us see, we needs a Fool!

Wrath

Deer in the headlights
Cat up a tree
Crossing your legs
but don't wanna pee.

Like trying to "think"
What's good and what's not?

But Life says:
Shit or get off the pot.

Hell knows no Wrath like self-scorn.

Testing

So turn up the heat
and feel the beat
and let us meet
upon the field of honor

For in the fight
to see what's right
We'll come to see
the Unity,
or else we'll be
a goner.

(not "exactly" what I wanted to say, but at least it Rhymes)

Who am I ?

i am not the fiddler.
i am the fiddle.
and the breath of life is God's bow across my strings.
My job, it seems, is to cooperate in getting this,
His instrument in tune,
so that when He plays me,
I make beautiful music.

Do-Be-Do

Am I the mover or the moved?
Am I the groover or the grooved?
Am I the fooler or the fiddle, or the fiddler being fooled?
Am I the doer or the diddle, or the ditty being sung?
Or am I just a fleshpot climbing up a heap of dung?
Whatever lies behind the mask, for now, I cannot see,
alI I know is that to DO, I also gotta BE.

Self Defense

For it is the Buck Deer
who levels his antlers
and stands in the way
of the Wolf,
looking for prey
and says to that Wolf,
Go ahead,
make my day.

Paradox

When you're locked in a box
and there's no way out
there's no need to pound and shout.

You have the key.
It's recognizing paradox.

Paradox, it locks the box.

Pandora's box t'was said contained
all the evils of the world

The Tree of Knowledge t'was also claimed
would bring to mortals, death unfurled

But, the box was opened,
the apple, downed

Empires were built
and Kings were crowned

Knowledge was gained
and Idols were sung

Yet every limitation
was a box to be sprung.

Paradox, it locks the box

Yet what is this thing called paradox?

We build a fortress to what we "know"
Our knowledge and laws - a thing for show.

We puff it up, the crown we take
To "modesty", we drive a stake

We think we've done it!
Barred the gates to Hell.

Then comes a flash
at once we see

Our fortress is a prison cell.

How can it be?
Can't both be true ?!

We seek escape
our pride we rue.

We had the world,
now we're in a box

It's just another Paradox.

But if "recognition" is the key,
then turn that bugger,
set me free!

Turn it, I say,
do it now!

You cry and fumble
you don't know how.

Oops!

Didn't they tell you?

Paradox unlocks her box
Only when we bow.

"Bow?", you say
That's so unfair!

It's all right

Remain in Hell without despair

Forgiven

Can you forgive me
for what I did or said?

        Now Jesus loves you -
        I put a bullet in your head.

Yes - and as you stand there
justified in your wrath,

another generation hones their hate.
You can do the math.

        But they had it coming!
        They deserved it, don't you see?

The wheel it turns,
the copper burns,
the bell, it tolls for thee.

        I'll take my chance.
        I know I'm right!

        To stop this evil
        I'll stand and fight!

        I'll punish wrong.
        The bad, I'll slay.

        Defend Truth & Justice
        come what may!

So, you're the captain of your fate, eh?

Wheels, within wheels, within wheels . . . .

The rich, the poor,
The old, the young,

The right, the wrong,
The yelled, the sung,

The good, the bad,
The gallows, and the hung.

Northern Ireland & the IRA,

The FBI & Tim McVeigh,

Zionists & the PLO,

What you reap & what you sow.

Up and Down,
Night and Day

The pairs of opposites
have their play.

Still think you can cheat the wheel
and have your way?

Get in a few good licks
then run away?

The tide which rises,
soon must fall,

and all your demons,
were but shadows on the wall.

The only way to see what's real
is to get your self off the wheel.

        So what are you saying?
        That I should quit the field and run away?

        Live to fight another day?

No. For that too is illusory shadow play.

If you want to run, then run.
If you want to stay, then stay.

You'll want to do
what you want to do.

In that you have no say.

But through the cycles of give and take
we learn to see the beds we make.

It rises in the East, and in the West it falls.
The goals we set, the means we choose,
it's the same Sun after all

which lights the sky - and every eye
reflects beauty in the great and small.

        Well, if it all ends up the same
        then what is this useless shadow game ?

Through experience we learn to see
the game's not played by you or me.

All of life is but a dance
of separation and of unity.

Ends and Means
Friend and Foe
Self and Other
Yes and No

Are all but masks,
appearances, show.

We're not the doer.
We're the done.

A swirling drop
in an ocean of One.

        OK, OK, I see you're right.
        I'll give up this useless fight.

        You have shown me what is true.
        Therefore, I forgive you.

Now you're really getting arrogant.

You think you're being generous
for giving me a break.

First you sought to bury me,
now your own tomb you make.

The pardon that you offer
is but a thin disguise.

Your ego still thinks it's in charge.
You're only but Half-Wise.

        Is this the thanks from you I get
        for making this sacrifice!

        You have taken virtue
        and made it look like vice!

        You sir are no friend of mine.
        You're just a "do-good" hack.

        I'll still bury the hatchet though.
        I'll put it in your back!

Now you're finally being honest.
There is hope for you yet.

Forgiveness, though, is not for me.
It's you who are in debt.

For when you form attachments
from hurt, or fear or hate,

you lash yourself to the spinning wheel -
to those things you share their fate.

Forgiveness then, means letting go
of your need for retribution

because you have the faith to know
that all of us do surely sow,

and reap our rewards,
blow by blow.

So, Respond to Life,
Let your light show.

You'll find your resolution.

            I now see what it means, "to forgive"
            please show me, master, how to live.

Go and do as you see fit,
but keep this thought in mind

If you can give it All your might
and yet not care who wins the fight

the World, it shall be yours by right,
and you'll bless all things in kind,

because at last you'll finally know
just who it is that runs the show.

All things revealed in time.

Just one more thing on how to live:

A master of forgiveness knows,
there's nothing to forgive.

The Shadow

Fearsome shadow
who be that?!

Shine the lite.
It's puddy cat!

Choice

Am I "the doer" or "the done",
Or am I God, just having fun?

Should I "hold on", or just "let go",
Or are my "trials" just one big show
for an audience of ghouls
getting joy from tortured fools?

Does it really matter what I think or do
if I am not the doer?

Is it all the same?
the Gold, the Lead the Angel, and the Sewer?

What choice have I to pick and choose?

I choose what I desire.

What choice have I to pick and choose?

Desire makes the choice, not I,
and then brings on the fire

Which burns away the dross,
which only feels like loss,
cause' I made that "thing"
the object of my desire.

Trick-fucked once again into doing what the ONE wants done.

Yaszm Boss!

I gave it to you,
and now I take it away.

So, Who's your Daddy?

It is not my journey.

It is THY journey.

Enjoy the Ride.

The Way

I find nothing to disagree with.
Thus I am not disturbed.
Should I find something to disagree with,
the problem is mine.
As long as I know the finger is pointing at the moon,
I am not disturbed.
The finger is pointing at my self.

Dualistic thinking is like everything else.
The monkey grasps the candy in the jar.
His hand is trapped.

It is the dull knife which is dangerous.
To strike with cunning is to call me friend.
I will not be offended.
I can only be shown where I am attached.
If there is hurt,
it is my own finger pointing at myself.
Don't worry about it.

I offer No Advice.
I insist on your freedom.
Actually, I insist on nothing.

What is this drive towards union?
It is our nature.
I am tired of fighting the stream.
I let go.
I find myself arriving at my destination anyway.
Go figure.

If I knew how far I had to go
I would not be myself.
Better to be here, now.
Just my opinion.

It is what you want to do.
You recognize this.
Now we're getting some where.

You call me a liar.
Is this a typo?
I thank you anyway.
I am a fool, after all.

Devil's Peak

Lies giving rise to wood
the false tower grows taller
until struck by lightning.

Great balls of fire!

After the ashes,
there appears an opportunity to learn.

Under the midnight moon
a new way of living begins to grow.

The Sun dawns over a new day.

Fairytale

The fairytale of Suzy Q.
Who liked to bite off more than she could chew.

She sampled this,
she sampled that

She got her fill
till she got fat

Then reduction came to the fore,
Thigh-masters, Butt burners, Lypo, and more!

Diets, potions and pills she did take
On her rear she'd tatoo'ed: "Body by Jake"

Remaking herself, she now termed it "good".
Her bod, it was said, could give skeletons wood.

Now men, they came calling,
and love she did try.

Her lovers were many,
for awhile she was high.

But as another tryst ended,
she gave a great sigh.

They all ended the same,
men were becoming a bore.

Good for a thrill,
but not too much more.

Is that all there is?

Reproduction and Death?

Pop your cork one more time,
as you take your last breath?

So Suzy looked high,
and Suzy looked low.

What she was looking for,
she didn't quite know.

But this she did know:

She was bored.

Oh God, she was bored!

For awhile,
she even looked for the Lord!

But even the holy
had holes in their souls,

and seemed to pursue
some quite wacky goals.

So finally, she gave up,
and down she did sit.

And found she didn't mind sitting,
not one little bit.

So she sat and she sat,
till her bottom turned blue,

And she sat even some more
till her mind sat down too.

So sitting in the silence,
she took breath after breath,

She gazed into nothing,
and waited for death.

Finally, she sensed it,
the bottomless pit.

At first it scared her,
but gradually, by a bit

She began first to sense
and then finally to know,

that to end all her suffering,
she would have to let go.

And let go of her fears,
and cast off her false wings,

like her favorite delusions,
and attachment to things.

So finally she did it.

And she fell, and she fell
into what she had "thought"
must surely be hell.

But it was not what she'd "thought"

How can I explain it.

It was NOT what she'd thought!

For the great Naught
was NOT Naught!

It WAS!

And it caught her!
It filled her!
With Joy,
beyond bliss!

The ONE,
it had found her

The Ultimate Kiss

Stunned, she awoke
from this lover's embrace

and she looked at the world
Why, it had a new face!

Her viewpoint reversed
in a moment of grace.

Then she looked back in thanks
over ALL of her life

to the struggles, the sorrows,
the joys and the strife,

and she said to her self,
and to heaven above

It was worth it! All worth it!
For I know what is LOVE.

Half-Assed

From the relative point of view
the facts you have really are few

so from half-cubed perch
the Devil you search

But he's moved on to somebody new

(boo-hoo)

What If

What if this?
What if that?
What if all your truths fall flat?

(they will, you know)

What if you fight
for what is right
and die anyway?

(it's going to happen)

Do only fools
go to schools,
obeying ALL the rules?

And the one small rule that you ignore
is the one that shuts for you, the door.

And now you stand outside
crying for some sympathy.

(I'll give you some)

Want to get past the gate?
Move straight to "GO" and avoid the wait?

(here's your "Get out of Jail Free" card)

Use your imagination.

What if you're already getting what you want.

Now.

Do Me

As you entrance, so you become entranced.
As you persuade, so you become persuaded.
As you seduce, so you become seduced.

The trickster always ends up tricking himself.

As you DO, so are you DONE.

The paradox of Doing Vs. Not Doing.

To Lisa

I have to say
I enjoyed your post.

The tone of it
Impressed me the most.

Don't mean to dote,
but here you wrote:

"There is real paydirt
in seeing a law in action,

rather than getting attached
to one pole of its expression."

Here is dirt
of tremendous worth

for Its power be integrating,
if it be turned ta' earth.

THE ONE

Once again Duality
has inspired me
to seek Unity.
Where?
In poetry!

I am the One
I am the Sun

But we're not done
Let's have some fun!

Although there's none
that's not the One

Yet still the son
is lead to run

For there's a prize
that's to be won.

What is that prize?
Ah, here's the pun!

The One becomes the son
and the son goes out for fun

Until he sees, upon his knees
that the "doer" is the "done".

Daddy, I'm home!

Swing'in

I like to swing
I like to flit

up through clouds,
and down through shit.

I get too dizy
so down I sit.

The ride's too rough!
Let's change it a bit.

Do I shorten the rope
and give up hope

of hitting those highs
and feeling those skies?

Nope.
Don't be a Prozac dope!

What if I just push it less
make less of a mess?

Yes, but ...

Where's the fun in that?
Moving little, sitting pat?
Take no chances - just get fat?
Acting "normal" - like a rat-race rat?

I've got an idea,
here's what I'll do

Let's climb the rope,
we'll get our view.

Climb the beanstalk?
Steal the goose?
Take the harp
and Let music loose?

Wanna be a hero, eh?

It's known that all heroes must face death.
For the cause, give their last breath.

Giant finds you, then you're dead.
Grind your bones to make his bread.

Big bad ego don't scare me at all.
Bigger they is, harder they fall.

The Tower must fall to return safe, that's true.
But that which must tumble is the ego in YOU.

Then eyes will be opened
and the view be unfurled

For You will find Your Self
at the Center of the World.

Biting The Big ONE

Projecting intellectual phallus
others wipe their faces in disgust
sending planes full of fuel in return
the tower crumbles
In shards of broken glass
reflections of the One
gently tapping us on the shoulder
remember me, my son?

True Lies

Lofty goals and lofty aims
Always seem to end the sames
With abstractions we do fumble,
down to Earth then soon we tumble.

With our gaze on distant peaks
we fantasize and play
with symbols but don't realize
we're not quite "making hay".

Let's tell the truth
Let's not conceal
that ever upward gazing means
avoiding what is real.

The beggar at the door
the love that you ignore

The brother who's a bore
Those things to whom we whore.

Death and life
Joy and strife

It's in these things
that we must find
the elixir of life.