Archive for the 'poetry' Category
Dear Readers,
I have recently been neglecting my travel blog as I have focused my creative spirit on my new blog Enlightenyourday.com. My new blog encountered tremendous initial success lately by gaining well over 33,000 visitors in only three months of publication. I have listed below my top ten posts that readers have enjoyed and commented on over time. I hope you will take the time to explore this new endeavor with me and find yourself smiling, laughing and gaining useful information to brighten your day. A daily cup of enlightened Zen for the soul anyone? Interested, subscribe today!
Funny Zen story of two monks and a lovely girl
Timeless Relaxing Zen quotes to soothe your being 
Great lessons and a little Zen I have learned on Stumbleupon
Wise and inspiring Zen instructions on life from the Dalai Lama
Wonderful Proverbs complimenting Beautiful Photos
Use the power of positive affirmations to change your life
A photo definition of cute and some Winnie the Pooh wisdom
Deliciously Healthy Juice Recipes for the Heart and Soul
Shambhala the Sacred Path of the warrior Part 2
The Pink Bubble Technique a simply beautiful meditation
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Tags: , blog, enlighten, inspiration, zen
A second Treasury of Kahlil Gibran
Loneliness
“Life is an island in an ocean of loneliness, an island whose rocks are hopes, whose trees are dreams, whose flowers are solitude, and whose brooks are thirst.”
Merit
“A man’s merit lies in his knowledge and in his deeds, not in his color, faith, or descent. For remember, my friend, the son of a shepherd who possesses knowledge is of greater worth to a nation that the heir to a throne, if he be ignorant. Knowledge is your true patent of nobility, no matter who your father or what your race may be.”
ON LOVE
“I was eighteen years of age when love opened my eyes with its magic rays and touched my spirit for the first time with its fiery fingers, and Selma Karamy was the first women who awakened my spirit with her beauty and led me into the garden of high affection, where days pass like dreams and nights like weddings.”
OF THE FIRST LOOK
“It is that moment that divides the intoxication of Life from the awakening. It is the first flame that lights up the inner domain of the heart. It is the first magic note plucked on the silver string of the heart. It is that brief moment that unfolds before the soul the chronicles of time, and reveals to the eyes the deeds of the night, and the works of conscience. It opens Eternity’s secrets of the future. It is the seed cast by Ishtar, goddess of Love, and sown by the eyes of the beloved in the field of Love, brought forth by affection, and reaped by the soul. The first glance from the eyes of the beloved is like the spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, giving birth to heaven and earth, when the Lord spoke and said, “Let there be.”
OF THE FIRST KISS
“It is the first sip from the cup filled by the goddess of with the nectar of Life. It is the dividing line between Doubt that beguiles the spirit and saddens the heart, and Certitude that floods the inner self with joy. It is the beginning of the song of Life and the first act in the drama of the Ideal Man. It is the bond that unites the strangeness of the past with the brightness of the future; the link between the silence of the feelings and their song. It is a word uttered by four lips proclaiming the heart a throne, Love a King, and fidelity a crown. It is the gentle touch of the delicate fingers of the breeze on the lips of the rose-uttering a long sigh of relief and a sweet moan. It is the beginning of that magic vibration that carries the lovers from the world of weights and measures into the world of dreams and revelations.” Take from A Second Treasury of Kahlil Gibran
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Tags: beautiful, Gibran, kahlil, kiss, loneliness, love, merit, passages, poetic, poetry
Kahlil Gibran writes with unparalleled beauty. I wanted to share with my readers all of my favorite quotes. So I decided to combine them into a little poem for your reading pleasure. I hope you enjoy! “Love is trembling happiness”
Sitting in the meadow, the old man suffered with all his heart; shouting into the wind with these words “Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children.”
Hearing a desperate cry, a butterfly slowly descended and whispered; “To understand the heart and mind of a person, look not at what he has already acheived, but what he aspires to do”.
“We fear death, yet we long for slumber and beautiful dreams.” “Just living isn’t enough,” said the butterfly, “one must also have freedom, sunshine, and a little flower.” “And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”
The old man replied; “I prefer to be a dreamer among the humblest, with visions to be realized, than lord among those without dreams and desires.” “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.” ’But now; all is lost.’
Resting upon his shoulder it whispered in return;” What difference is there between us, save a restless dream that follows my soul but fears to come near you?”
‘My heart’, he replied, ‘for I have given it long ago to both my true love and my work; now they are gone’. The gentle whisper continued; “The giving and receiving of pleasure is a need and an ecstasy.” “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” “Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice”
The old man went on to say; ‘my saddened heart can no longer dream of a new day.’ “Of life’s two chief prizes, beauty and truth, I found the first in a loving heart and the second in a laborer’s hand.”; ‘now I have neither’. And so the butterfly replied: “Yesterday is but today’s memory, tomorrow is today’s dream.” ”Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.” “Trust in dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.” “… joy and sorrow are inseparable . . . together they come and when one sits alone with you . . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.”
The old man spoke; “When you work you fulfill a part of earth’s furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born. And in keeping yourself with labour you are in truth loving life, And to love life through labour is to be intimate with life’s inmost secret.” Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfish to seek other than itself.” ‘My work is now done’.
Be happy with yourself old man, for “It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.” ’Listen to the sound of my music’; “Music is the language of the spirit. It opens the secret of life bringing peace, abolishing strife.” ‘For me’, said the old man; ‘my sorrow is too much to bare my friend’. ‘Always remember’, said the butterfly, “When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.” “All that spirits desire, spirits attain.”
Reflecting upon time; the old man smile at his previous delights; looking around the man could no longer see his friend; he could only sense his presence.
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Tags: , beauty, butterfly, delight, favorite, Gibran, happiness, kahlil, kahlil Gibran, love, old man, poetry, quotes
When my heart feels the sad longing for beaches and sunsets of Costa Rica; a good rant will bring a nostalgic smile to my soul. The eternity of stars twinkling wonder from above; I gazed in complete merriment. I miss the ever present smell of mysterious warmth flowing freely from the Ocean; the multitude of green shrubs brightening the day as tiny flowers show their grandeur. To bath under the life breath of the planet while searching for nothing more then to just be present. Ah, just being! Dreaming the unforgettable dreams of the traveler, so tangible and near; so possible and present; so alive with imagination. Closing my eyes for a moment, I can feel the song of freedom playing ever so gently in the wind, whispering one-whispering here-whispering now. To once again feel excited for the simple pleasure of watching the sun cascade below the horizon in a myriad of changing hues. How did I not know to kiss my Tico lover one more time on the sandy beach before the moon, one more kiss for my unforgettable memories; one more kiss to leave my soul singing Pura Vida. Would that have satisfied my insatiable soul? Maybe two kisses or three, maybe even four, perhaps five or six. Could I ever cease wanting more? No or never, it matters not, for I was always destined to miss; just that one more kiss.
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Tags: , beaches, costa rica, kiss, lover, rant, reflection, Santa Theresa, soul, sunsets, wonder
The hot permeating red sky soaks the sea with a sailor’s beauty of never-ending horizons and soft present dreams; illuminating a lust for more, for more, for more…
The crimson darkening purple sky inviting onlookers to sit peacefully and marvel as the scent of the free Ocean fills the soul; soothing the heart… 
The cascading dream of the lovers’ peace falling ever so gently in time as the past and future fade to the unreachable eternity…. 
The soul of the universe beaming forth the ending light of day; challenging the limited to believe in something only the few have ever witnessed; the miracle of being… 
Soft soothing and present colors fading into eternity as the lonely feel loved by a greater force exuding beauty beyond thoughts or feelings; being beautiful for no reason at all… 
The fading distant sun scraping thought from the mind as the lonely soul tastes the wind and hears the soft cry of the sand…. 
Time standing still on the free art mural seeking to be noticed for the unmistakable beauty of free expression inscribed in present moment time… 
The road most traveled still enlightening a glimpse of hope to the longing traveler; weary of the present day ending before his eyes; dreaming to cross over into the now… 
Widened eyes of beauty expressing pure love and openness to the world: the clean slate of the mind never having learned anger or hate; Pura Vida born free within…
The Red fading orange sunset inspiring the running child’s mind with present moment joy; seeking only to be free and happy before the beauty of the universe…
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Tags: , beautiful, beauty, costa rica, enlighten, enlightenment, inspire, moment, picture, pictures, poetic, present, time
It’s Monday morning, the Giants just pulled off the biggest Super Bowl upset of all time; for obvious reasons I have no clear and decisive thoughts to share with my audience. So instead, I will rant randomly in a true nonsensical manner about everything I love to miss about Costa Rica. So forget about proper English for the moment; embark on this small voyage while my heart spews forth the rant of an inspired traveler. I miss the sheer and stark beauty of it all, the magnificent splendor of the sunsets; Feeling freedom deep within my soul. Not knowing or caring what time it is, and then finally figuring it out by looking at the position of the sun in the sky above: Everyone acknowledging your presence with a nod or smile; hearing Pura Vida time and time again. I miss longing for being soothed by the sounds of waves crashing upon the beach; to see the remarkable beauty of the sunrise and to feel the absolute openness of other people; just because it is right. Not knowing what the day will bring. Thinking that if I died it would be to the sound of new music in my ears while knowing all the strangers I see generally like me; and they don’t know why this is or care to figure it out; it is because it is. The feeling that I like them for no reason at all, because of the oneness shared by all: thus I miss knowing today will be remembered. Living a life devoid of routine while enjoying the gentle gawking cry of the gecko; the heart pounding desire within me to make this day special as my nose becomes filled with the enchanting smell of ocean while the warm sand tickles my toes. I miss enjoying the feeling of being completely happy and free for no reason at all; while being touched deeply by the random love in my heart and the heart of others: The cool refreshing waves daring me to push forward. Loving it all and not having to worry why; the true sensation of being lucky to be here at this moment; knowing no matter what that I will meet someone new on this special day, love sweet love. Knowing that the monkeys in the trees are living in peace and freedom: and that I’m making a small difference to the soul of the world by nourishing it with happiness by being, just being; by living, just living. I grave the Feeling of the now more then the present or past while loving each and every moment of my small existence to the maximum of its potential; Loving everything just a little bit more; expecting the world to taste better. Now, I am enjoying sharing with you this knowledge, and the knowledge that one day nostalgia will bring my soul back to Costa Rica. I miss it all; even simply writing in Costa Rica the true statement Pura Vida forever into my Moleskin journal.
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Tags: , beauty, costa rica, heart, I miss, inspired, knowledge, love, magnificent, miss, nostalgia, ocean, openness, past, poetry, present, random, rant, sand, soothed, soul, splendor, stark, sunset, the now, the world, things, time, travel, traveler, waves, writing
I found this beautiful and inspiring poetry book called Notes From the Inside by Doug Rose. Anyone wishing to read some inspiring poetry about Traveling should continue reading.
Offerings
Facing forward, looking back the way I
Travelled all I could see was a crystal ship
Suspended from the rear view mirror. Beauty
For the future or the past? Stay here in the
present, the waves are better, it beckons me
inside. Sail to the emerald isle, covered in a
hundred shades of green, drinking beer
beneath ancient trees surrounding Trinity
College. An old man (he could have been
the next James Joyce) sits on a park bench,
waiting to see what he missed. All the words
that eluded him are piled up, running
through other people’s veins. If I was cut
open I would offer him some with bloody
fingers.
Doug Rose Notes from the Inside. P.57
Travel Guides
“That tidal wave crushed me down into the
sand, left me gasping for air in unfamiliar
territory. When I roll over I’ll find it’s all
been a dream, or discover how to breath
again. Did I make a conscious decision
many years ago to be alone? Somewhere, in
The far recess of my mind, turning a
corner, not recognizing where I was, I kept
going anyway. A sense of wonder, an aura
Of mystery perhaps? Did I really think I was
the first one, the only one to go down that path?
Keep logging those impressions, maybe
one of us will produce the next Mona Lisa
or at least a new Travel Guide.”
Doug Rose Notes from the Inside p.18
The Wrath Of Angels
Stay with me here, in this moment. It’s the
Only one that matters. I can’t undo
Yesterdays, I’m not looking for tomorrows.
Drown me here and now with flowers of
Love. Slap me with blossoms, tattoo my skin
With striped stems, rake me over your coals
With fine intentions. Then, if you told me
You loved me I’d believe it. I can’t hurt you
Anymore, I’ve sold that too. This is for you,
Kept for all these years. An angel took it
from my hands, exchanged for ribbons of youth.
Doug Rose Notes from the Inside p. 87
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Tags: blog, doug rose, dreams, enlightened, Idream, inspiration, notes from the inside, now, quotes, road least traveled, travel blog, zen
This is my favorite poem Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson. A truly inspiring piece of literature that I love to share. This poem is Ulysses last speech to his Mariners inviting them to keep traveling towards the unknown horizon and continue living a life of adventure to the very end. The finishing line “To Strive, To Seek, To Find, and not the yield” is where I take my own personal philosophy in life from.
To Strive for Love, To Seek Knowledge, To Find Happiness, and yield not to Fear. JMH
Ulysses By Alfred Lord Tennyson
“I cannot rest from travel; I will drink
Life to the lees. All times I have enjoyed
Greatly, have suffered greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone…
I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known - cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments…
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet experience is an arch where through
Gleams that untraveled world, whose margin fades
Forever and forever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnished, not to shine in use!..
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought…
Come, my friends,
‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
For my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
Ulysses
By Alfred Lord Tennyson
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Tags: alfred lord tennyson, blog, blogs, dream, enlightenment, I dream, inspire, motivation, now, poetry, quotes, travel, Ulysses, zen
Nothing beats a great used book store that is filled with the owner’s love and passion for books. My favorite book store in all the world is Dark Horse Books in Victory BC. The owner Robert is straight out of a Kerouac novel. An old time hippie who can tell you real stories about Haight-Ashbury, travelling, and much more. His shop is filled with exactly what I love to read about. Books by Artist who were possessed by Love, Magic, Miracles, Travel, Art, Beauty, Freedom, underground, Music, Poetry….
That’s where I found this little poetry book by a Vancouver artist named Ed Varney. In this book, I found my first piece of literature that I felt compelled to respond to with a poem of my own.
Here is Ed Varney’s Poem titled Happiness from his book What the wind said
A man gets up, goes to work, works & goes home.
He gets up, he goes to work, he works & he goes home.
He does this for five days, the he has two days off.
This is called the weekend.
On the weekends he cuts the lawn, washes the car,
plays tennis, does some work around the house & takes the kids to a movie.
This is called Fun.
A man goes through this fifty times in a row.
Then he gets two weeks off to do what wants-
that is, if he can remember what he wanted to do.
The pressures, the decisions, the routines, the boredom,
the obligations, the interruptions, the confusion, the frustration,
the constant appraisal & reappraisal have scrambled who he was &
washed it down the drain of his ambition until
all he can think of is lying in the sand on a beach
drinking gin & tonic
to drown out the last shreds
of his imagination.
This is called happiness.
What the wind said The Caitlin Press
This is my response to Ed’s Poem titled Happiness
The happy man’s response
Man gets up, Masturbates, then smiles.
Man enjoys both a hot and then cold shower.
He goes to the park for fresh air and sunhine.
He reads, he writes, he paints, he smiles.
He does this for as long as he likes.
This is called the good life.
In the good life he smells the lawn,
Cruises in the car while enjoying his health.
Man allows himself to feel good about his accomplishments &
He always seeks entertainment with loved ones.
This is called fun.
If man goes through this infinite times in a row.
Then man’s life is a Vacation to do with what he wants.
He can’t remember the pressures, the rules, the pains of past.
He washes then down the drain of the Now.
He smiles wide, smells the freedom of the Ocean
and feels wonderful beach beneath his toes,
all the while Drunk on love and imagination.
This is called Happiness.”
By JMH
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Tags: blogs, books, enlightenment, happiness, idreamnow, inspiration, meditation, poems, poetry, quotes, travel blogs, zen
