Line Gauthier Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

~ my heart is in this piece ~

FYI - 'nam myoho renge kyo' is a chant expressing determination to embrace
and manifest our Buddha nature (Tina Turner was a devout practitioner)

Listen to poem:

Borrowed Bits of Spirituality

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
The chant of purity
The cleansing my soul
The freeing my heart

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
I light a candle for an offering
And bow my head in prayer

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
I strike another match
Light the stick of incense in my hand
And take one deep breath

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Most often though I prefer to burn some sage
And imitate my native ancestors
By cleansing body heart and soul

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
Life is at its utmost best
When I close my eyes and hover
Midway between heaven and earth
Leaving behind a mundane world

Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
The final words I want to utter
As life departs my lips



AP: 1st place 2025, 3rd place 2025, Honorable Mention 2026, Honorable Mention 2023, Honorable Mention 2020

Submitted on  April 23, 2020 for contest A POEM HONORING SPIRITUALITY sponsored by CAREN KRUTSINGER  -  RANKED 1ST

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Greg Gaul May 7, 2020 at 3:47 PM A Buddhist phrase is such a powerful notion and it expresses the breadth of your spirituality. Thank you for professing it so in this poem, lovely as it is. Well deserved high placement. Honored to be along side you on this one. Line Gauthier May 7, 2020 at 8:11 PM Thanks for your lovely comment, Greg.

L. J. Carber May 7, 2020 at 12:30 PM Congrats Line on your win--curious what language the phrase is in--Thai maybe? Line Gauthier May 7, 2020 at 8:13 PM Nam Myoho Renge Kyo is a phrase generally attributed to a 13th century Japanese Buddhist monk called Nichiren.

John Watt May 7, 2020 at 10:08 AM Line, thank you for giving us this insight into your spiritual nature. Very peaceful and meditative. Cleansing of soul and freeing of heart. Beautiful. Line Gauthier May 7, 2020 at 8:14 PM Thank you so much, John. Most appreciated.

Gershon Wolf February 27, 2018 at 12:09 PM Wow! Powerful! Shades of Hamlet, chancing upon his father-in-law in prayer, so he could not kill him then,...or the ten martyrs of the Roman destruction of Israel/The Holy Temple, who went to their deaths with "Sh'ma Yisroel" on their lips: Hear, O Israel, The Lord Our God, The Lord is One. Ommmmmmmm, from Alan Ginsberg. Bravo, Line! :) Gershon Line Gauthier February 27, 2018 at 6:48 PM O Gershon, you crack me up. Yes this is exactly what I had in mind when I wrote this poem. LOL! Thank you for your wonderful visit and comment.

Kim Rodrigues February 27, 2018 at 6:25 AM I’ve experienced the hovering in prayer, once! I’m a Christian. Your poem is lovely, dear Line! Line Gauthier February 27, 2018 at 7:09 AM I read where God was compared to a mountain and religions were different sides or paths. I never hurts to go on hiking trips.

Robertina B. February 26, 2018 at 10:55 PM Wow Line that was absolutely incredible!! Another Amazing poem of yours!! Words so deep and expressive.. Enjoyed reading!! Line Gauthier February 26, 2018 at 11:08 PM Thank you so much, Robertina. I love that we are so in tune. Line xx