Smudged Ink

Loin cloth draped around his anorexic body the Buddha

Searched for the Middle Way between Nothing and All

Counted his blessings and figs as his thoughts focussed

In meditation for humility compassion and lasting peace

The tree of life’s branches lightened his shadows of doubt

Enticed the suffering of suffering to lead from above


Aristotle escaped from Plato’s cave into the sunshine

Golden Mean on his mind he foraged for balance of virtue

Moderated knowledge with feelings of exploring for wisdom

A tiny window of opportunity between secrecy and honesty

Reckless and cowardice tempting from both incomplete ends

Good humour and absurdity longing for tranquility’s resolution


Carl Gustav Jung took up the reigns drawn by polar opposites

Between living and death in archetypal subconscious conscience

Monumental conflict depicted as complements not contradictions

A seeming paradox of incongruent and existential proportions

Like the jester in Tarot’s antimony of beginning and infinite end

The persona became more than a mere mask or Janus faced challenge


The poet’s stream of consciousness meanwhile flows as ink in his pen

Scratches at the surface quite tense in his hand pointing the quill

Towards investigation and unexceptional essence of lost meaning

Guided by the inner Self and nemesis of turmoil and equilibrium


19th January 2020
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 2/6/2020 1:37:00 PM
Congratulations on an excellent composition and a well deserved win!! Like the way you merged and compared polar concepts and beliefs!
Login to Reply
Date: 2/6/2020 9:37:00 AM
Bravo, Kai.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/20/2020 3:59:00 AM
This is such an impressive introspective write Kai. Very philosophical and thought provoking. I enjoyed it very much. I too take the middle way. xxoo
Login to Reply
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 1/22/2020 5:10:00 AM
Thank you Connie. I appreciate that and will try to sit under my Bodhi tree today. Kind wishes, Kai
Date: 1/19/2020 9:29:00 PM
Thank you for the gift of your poetry this evening: )Kai
Login to Reply
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 1/20/2020 3:29:00 AM
Thank you Pixie. I need that poetic self-expression and am glad that you liked the poem. Kind wishes, Kai
Date: 1/19/2020 4:14:00 PM
Wish I knew more about the philosophers you mention, Kai. And I can see the connection between thoughtful poetry and philosophy. Beautifully penned! Best wishes, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 1/20/2020 3:36:00 AM
Thank you Carolyn. I studied only one year of philosophy in my mid fifties and it was so worth it. Kind wishes on a path to the Golden Mean, Kai
Date: 1/19/2020 3:37:00 PM
Deep contemplation, Kai. Perhaps East meets West in the writings of poets. Cheers , gw
Login to Reply
Wolf Avatar
Gershon Wolf
Date: 1/20/2020 1:19:00 PM
Yes, Hesse was a great one alright. His novels were a grand (and pleasurable) way to learn something about Buddha and Buddhism. I even got away with teaching one in a Yeshiva high school one year. Hard to believe now... Thanks, Kai. ~ Gershon
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 1/20/2020 3:40:00 AM
It does. Hermann Hesse is one of the great writers, Who achieved just that. Kind wishes, Kai
Date: 1/19/2020 1:31:00 PM
love the title...it drew me into the depths of this write... very deep depths to your words... great use of language and vivid imagery... wonderful penning Kai :) hugs
Login to Reply
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 1/20/2020 3:43:00 AM
Thank you Sandra. As long as we can think and write, we are blessed. Kind wishes, Kai
Date: 1/19/2020 1:25:00 PM
reading this, I can easily infer that you are very interested in the study of philosophy and asking the bigger questions! Deep one!
Login to Reply
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 1/20/2020 3:47:00 AM
Thanks Andrea. Studying one year of philosophy has changed my thoughts and my life. Kind wishes, Kai
Date: 1/19/2020 5:21:00 AM
Very philosophical indeed... deep thoughts etched through your pen..
Login to Reply
Neumann Avatar
Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 1/20/2020 3:49:00 AM
Books are my friend and so is my pen. Let the ink flow, smudge and realign, Kai
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter