Notes About The Poem
Seijaku Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Silent One
Contest Winner MedalFirst Place
 
Seijaku   Tranquility or an energized calm quiet, stillness, solitude. This is related to the feeling you may have when in a Japanese garden. The opposite feeling to one expressed by seijaku would be noise and disturbance. How might we bring a feeling of "active calm" and stillness to ephemeral designs outside the Zen arts?

Seijaku It's Time

Strumming along to a troubadour's lament
tears pool and flow while I press  
the strings playing out the notes
forcing myself as  
I struggle to forge forward
overcome with a sorrow beyond sorrows
and a grief with no relief
Through the rhythm of the music
my heart relaxes
the timing, the tempo 
measured with intimate design
the lyrics vibrate softly
streams of colorful patterns
hues of indigos and yellows                        
suffuse my mind 
resonate within and through me
soothing the jarring cacophony
unblocking the dark kaleidoscopic roots
strangling my bright spirit
and writhing aspiring soul 
It’s times like these
I know I’ll be calmed
as I cradle my guitar
and let the tears fall and wash away
this incessant tempestuous scourge
with the prayerful affirmations
It's time to put it away 
rest its strings
along with the gnawing merciless
uncertainties
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Beaufort Avatar
September 2, 2024 at 7:03 PM
Anaya, you have created a very emotional and compelling piece. For those of us who dwell on things, it is a very important message of hope and moving forward. Making me smile.
Woods Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 12:11 PM
So beautifully expressed...I felt myself relax under the calm of your words and flow of the poem. Id have to say that equal to prayer and meditation, music is the soother of souls. It can also be a motivator or emotions inducer depending on the music and song! Lovely poem! Xoxo and love the song!
Anaya Avatar
August 25, 2024 at 9:39 AM
Ty Crystol! I'm delighted you enjoyed both the poem and song :) hugs~Anaya
Goldsmith Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 9:11 AM
Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed reading your wonderful/lovely write. Music is good for the mind, body & soul. Love your line, "as I cradle my guitar." That shows will love. Have a great day/weekend writing away.......................
Anaya Avatar
August 25, 2024 at 9:38 AM
Ty Paula! You too, have a great day xo
Gasun Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 8:51 AM
I love your poem a lot my dear poet friend Anaya. Music is a stress reliever and great mind relaxer. So beautifuly written. Congratulations on your first place win! Thanks for sharing. God bless. Hugs
Anaya Avatar
August 25, 2024 at 9:37 AM
Delighted you enjoyed, Len! Ty, blessings xo
Sinha-Roy Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 6:57 AM
Congratulations on your great win. Music is profound soother, truly.
Anaya Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 8:32 AM
Ty Subimal Sinha Roy! I appreciate it ~Anaya
Empress Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 6:06 AM
Dear anaya! Congratulations! I knew this will score high. Well deserved
Anaya Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 8:33 AM
Oh, my goodness, Ty Ink Empress! I appreciate it~Anaya
mysore Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 5:02 AM
'let the tears fall and wash away this incessant tempestuous scourge with the prayerful affirmations' so beautiful. congratulations dear poet.
Anaya Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 8:33 AM
Hi Thriveni, Ty! I appreciate it~Anaya
One Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 4:02 AM
I loved this poem, love the analogy and use of metaphors, especially how you relate it to music... I could feel the angst in your words and how things like music help you release stress and tensions... One of my favourites in this contest... Congratulations on your first place in the contest.
Anaya Avatar
August 24, 2024 at 8:36 AM
Wow, I'm very honored for the award, Silent One! You made my day. I always put music and poetry together, and when I'm down, I do listen to music it works! I enjoyed your contest very much, Ty~Anaya
Kavanagh  Avatar
August 19, 2024 at 12:37 PM
I’m only seeing this one now Anaya, it’s extremely poignant yet uplifting in parts, a wonderful free verse poem, with a brilliant song selected to match, my favourite Foo Fighters one too, keep cradling that guitar, super poem, cheers David
Anaya Avatar
August 19, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Ty, David. One of the best to strum along to. Cheers!
Edmonds  Avatar
August 19, 2024 at 2:04 AM
Lovely poetry Anaya, music does have a calming affect, I admire those that can play a musical instrument, it’s truly a precious, special gift… Beryl
Anaya Avatar
August 19, 2024 at 9:16 AM
Ty, Beryl. Music and poetry go well together I find them both a calming balm.
Empress Avatar
August 16, 2024 at 1:45 PM
Affirmations during challenging times is what calms us and keeps hope close through it all, as life can be a rollercoaster of highs and lows! I absolutely love the lyrical wordplay throughout this profound write depicting seijaku with metaphors and imagery! How clever! Especially “ unblocking the dark kaleidoscopic roots strangling my bright spirit and writhing aspiring soul” love that! You are such an artistic soul! I used to play guitar too and play paino. BOL. Sending you light always
Anaya Avatar
August 18, 2024 at 1:05 PM
I'm thrilled that you enjoyed and that we have now two things in common! Ty
Buhagiar Avatar
August 16, 2024 at 1:04 AM
Glad you can play the guitar and hear music in your soul. I do not play anything but when I write a poem, I hum a tune. Brings me inspiration. Keep playing romantic music and write wonderful poems. Hugs.
Anaya Avatar
August 18, 2024 at 1:03 PM
Ty, Victor! Once I hear a tune like this I love, it stays in my head, for a while. Hugs
Onclaud Avatar
August 16, 2024 at 12:22 AM
music nourishes the soul...a gem of a poem like a lyric vibrating softly...remarkable, ana!
Anaya Avatar
August 16, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Ty, Nette, music and poetry go together, so glad to have met you. Im honored ~Anaya
Mcintosh Avatar
August 15, 2024 at 9:33 PM
Oh, so beautifully done, such a melody will never rest alone. It belongs to the souls who know lonely. Love this. God bless you with a win, much love, Gina
Anaya Avatar
August 16, 2024 at 6:22 PM
Regina I wish only joyful days for your deserving gentle soul. Ty for sharing your faithful thoughts, peace be with you ~Anaya
Kauffman Avatar
August 15, 2024 at 11:41 AM
Anaya, as a fellow musician and guitar player I so resonate with this poem, your wonderful images, "dark kaleidoscopic roots" and poetic music "rest the strings." Your words resonate like the guitar against the body. This is wonderfully written and I am so glad I found it today. Your poem is a reminder to find and tune my guitar and let it's resonations encourage the expression of some endorphins! Thank you for sharing this poem. Blessings!
Anaya Avatar
August 15, 2024 at 1:43 PM
Already loving guitar, finally I heard Yngwie Malmsteen "Rising Force" & so many other guitarists, well I attempted the classical classes! Today, I enjoy strumming along to fav songs, it takes the edge off. Ty, Sam, tune it!
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