I AM miles away in outer space sending a message to the human race
Your wildlife is dying in fields of fire
And your ice cap is melting as the temperature gets higher
You have so much plastic that fills your sea's
And your world is being infected by a new disease
You have a problem without a doubt
And you need to act now to sort it out
You have a hole in your ozone that is getting bigger
But your leaders denied this they laugh and s
So I am sending you this message from outer space
You need to save your planet and the human race.
Your intergalactic watcher
A. LIAN...
The following poem is an slightly abridged and liberal translation of the poetic opening verses from Ch.31 of Upasaka Xia Lian Ju’s Infinite Life Sutra:
Wisdom as vast as the boundless sea,
Bodhi as high and wide as Meru peak,
Their halos bright beyond sunbeam,
Surpassing the moon’s luminous gleam.
Their hearts white and serene like snowy hills,
Their patience as enduring as the fields,
Their calm minds like pristine waters
That wash away the defiling dusts,
Their profound insight as keen as fire,
Burning away all worry and fraught,
Non abiding and breezing o’er any mire,
Sounds of Dharma: striking lightning,
Warning the deluded to wisdom ripen,
Pouring forth truth like soothing sweet dew,
Their grace like canopies of Linden trees,
Cool shades of respite for you and for me.
Poem released into Public Domain.
"You are mad!"
sometimes they tell you;
obscurity, unpredictability, and rebellion
sometimes become your stage name-
they forget Columbus' crew members
thought he was insane searching
for a new land;
they thought there was no other land
out there;
a "madman" proved them wrong
by stepping into America
And so centuries over;
Achievements have been gained
Not through cowardice-
From the likes of Queen Zinga to Susan Anthony
Zhuge Lian to Daniel Williams
Works of “many of our Colombus”
stood like the Everest, inspiring generations
and to this day they prove -
A mount or anthill of invention needs both skills and backbone
That bravery is freedom’s and progression’s wheel
Hear them, yet step on
Your destination waits
Contest: Guts and Gains
Teddy Kimathi & Grace Mutindi (09/07/15)