posted November 06, 2008 12:07 PM         

I'm no closer to finding a kick-ass forum gift for you. No prose. No pics.

Can I just tell you that I love your mix of faith, grace, humanity, thoughtful optimism, and philosophical abandon? I do. The world needs all the highly intelligent believers-in-humanity that it can find. Faith isn't always easy to find, and I think people like you become a surrogate to have faith on the behalf of others when there's none to be found.

I thank you for being you even if you had no other choice.

posted November 06, 2008 09:03 PM           

Thank you for thinking of me, silverstone, CrimsonChyld, starr33, wheelsofcheese, Pearlty, and teaselbaby!

I did, I did, have a wonderful birthday!

Melody,
That picture!!!
And the rest of it...
I want to thank you more personally.
See you backstage?

AG,
You are the most tender man...
I think you know, your words are some of the loveliest I've received.
And they carry much weight, as befits the words of a true Capricorn.

And now for some of that "philosophical abandon"...

Marcel Proust once wrote, "Desire engenders belief."
Perhaps he was saying, "Scorpio engenders Sagittarius,"
and my Scorpionic desire kindles my Sagittarian faith...
But faith of that sort is tailed by a shadow of doubt;
hence, the somber cast of pragmatic Capricorn....
What is it that Aquarius finds, greater than Sagittarian faith and optimism?
Perhaps it is only the awareness that life goes on, even after Capricorn?
I would be a better Uranian, and a better proponent of Uranus, though,
had I graduated from Saturn's lessons, and not played sick that day.
Its easy to carry the torch, or the towel, for others,
when they have spared me so much of the leg work.
But, if I can do that, well, then, I guess, its the very least I can do.
The truth is, while I may maintain the faith of others by my own faith,
my own faith is maintained by the works of people like you,
who manage a life of action, while still according philosophy her fair share.
What I have faith in, brother, is only the thing which you have accomplished.
That, to me, is something noble, inspiring, and worthy of tremendous respect.

posted November 09, 2008 04:02 PM           

Thank yous!!!!

posted November 13, 2008 05:19 PM         

The Marriage of the Soul

DESCENDING to the earth,
That strange intoxicating beauty of the unseen world
Lurks in the elements of Nature.

And the soul of man,
Who has attained the rightful balance,
Becoming aware of this hidden joy,
Straightway is enamoured and bewitched.

And from this mystic marriage are born
The poets' songs, inner knowledge,
The language of the heart, virtuous living,
And the fair child Beauty.

And the Great Soul gives to man as dowry
The hidden glory of the world.

Sa'd Ud Din Mahmud Shabistari, The Secret Rose Garden

juni

------------------
~
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world is immortal"~

posted November 14, 2008 06:19 PM           

juni, that's a good one! Thank you.

posted November 14, 2008 06:21 PM           

THE EYE AND THE LIP

WHAT is the nature of the eye and the lip?
Let us consider.

Coquettish and intoxicating glances shine from His eye.
The essence of existence issues from His ruby lip.
Hearts burn with desire because of His eye,
And are healed again by the smile of His lip.

Because of His eye hearts are aching and drunken.
His ruby lip gives soul-garments to men.
His eye does not perceive this visible world,
Yet often His lip quivers with compassion.

Sometimes He charms us with a touch of humanity,
And gives help to the despairing.
It is His smile that gives life to man's water and clay;
It is His breath that opens heaven's gate for us.
A corn-baited snare is each glance of that eye,
And a wine-shop lurks in each corner.

When He frowns the wide world is laid waste,
But is restored every moment by His kiss.
Our blood is at fever point because of His eye,
Our souls demented because of His lip.

How He has despoiled our hearts by a frown!
How He has uplifted our souls by a smile!
If you ask of Him an embrace,
His eye will say "Yea," His lip "Nay."
He finished the creation of the world by a frown,
Now and then the soul is revived by a kiss.
We would give up our lives with despair at His frown,
But would rise from the dead at his kiss.

posted November 22, 2008 12:34 AM         

I appreciate the poet you are.