Long Sainthood Poems

There is nothing weaker than water
But none is superior to it in overcoming the hard,
For which there is no substitute.
(Laotse, "Nothing Weaker Than Water", Lin Yutang, trans.)

That weakness of mind and body overcomes strength
And uniting...

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Near Sainthood
by Mirza Ghalib
translation by Kanu V. Prajapati and Michael R. Burch

On the subject of mystic philosophy, Ghalib,
your words might have seemed deeply profound
and we might have pronounced you a saint...
if only we hadn't found
you...

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Last Night 
by Faiz Ahmed Faiz
translation by Michael R. Burch

Last night, your memory stole into my heart
as spring sweeps uninvited through barren gardens
as morning breezes revive dormant deserts
as a patient suddenly feels better for no...

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In America June 14th equals flag day
and in Pennsylvania a federal holiday.

"...I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation under god...

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If you run into first smart 1970s feminist to become President Elect Hillary,
please relay this message,
if you would remain so kind
and thoughtful of our regenerative nurturing selves,
cooperating together.

I appreciate and applaud your ability to nurture...

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Rebellious nonestablishmentarian Pennsylvania Yankee...
honored at freedom fête
of course in my dreams
where Tony the Tiger
roars Matthew Scott Harris 
ranks as one hip cat gr-r-eat
showcasing adroitness
with ability to turn a phrase
evident if we could arrange a tête-à-tête
where...

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Twas the night before Christmas…
…And I finally sat down,
After last minute shopping, running all over town. 
Deciding to rest now, I opened my phone
To visit the Soup and read a few poems.  

As soon...

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across the Doggerland dogged people trudge
  Neanderthals, Heidelbergers...Sapiens, the last ones standing
  hairy mammoths, heavy life bearing down
  the mighty maw of an ice wall crunches, enforcing southward retreat
  remoulding the...

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December 7 Relationship to God Bible Meditations Based on Hebrews 6-8

Key Verse– Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in...

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Casting All 'My' Gods Aside!

Let us cast Gods aside if false praise buys salvation,
our actions make Grace less germane (bring us blessing),
and pride (I am ‘saved’) means I judge those who aren’t!
Let us praise God...

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I thought I couldn't make it, I thought, there's no-need in trying to fake it. I thought I
couldn't make it, couldn't even if I tried. One thing I had going for me was the strength
of...

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Health brings freedom to live
intentionally
resplendently
maturely
resonantly
integrally
regeneratively
compassionately
resiliently
kindly.

Freedom is personal,
but also social,
political
but also economic,
ecological
but also theological.

Health requires freedom from addiction
to beliefs:

Some people are born to rule
and own Earth,
while others are born to be serfs
and slaves,
laborers
and frightened/angry addicts.

Some people...

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December 26 Relationship to God Bible Meditations Based on Revelation 13-14

Key Verse – Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord...

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It's difficult to imagine
a liberal hearing "capitalism"
where a conservative fears too progressively individualistic
ego-investments in "liberalism,"

It may be difficult to imagine
too liberal with win/lose secular commodification
of fragmented life,
choosing majority rule democratic process compromises,
sacrifices of disorganized rabblish...

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August 2 Relationship to God Bible Meditations Based on Jeremiah 51-52

Key Verse – Jeremiah 51:36 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause…

LORD GOD, YOU ARE MY CAUSE CHECKER			

Lord God, You are...

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The crazy neighbor down the street from me,  
always had her multi colored polka dotted curtains open for all to see.  
Music is playing very loud,  
there was a wonderful beat to...

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Whenever in the company of his trusted friends
St. Paul Lafargue had always said:
"I sure hope I never get a sainthood someday
- That would be supremely lame for an atheist
 In any day and age."
The man...

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A child is born nameless
© RAJAT KANTI CHAKRABARTY
29 th October, 2014







                        ...

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To be a human of value is better than to be one of success
                     ...

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An Idiot’s Guide to Being a Hero!

There are few that aspire to the wreath of a hero,
A garland men give to a man who risks failure or death
(Should that happen) to serve a ‘high purpose,’...

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June 15 Praises to God Bible Meditations Based on Psalms 16-20

Key Verse – Psalms 16:1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

PRAISE BE TO GOD WHO PRESERVES US	

Praise be to...

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She was Joan of Arc, the very essence of bravery
who, from humble beginnings. made a place in history.
And, inspired by God, with strong and grand visions
was convinced of her calling, and went on her mission.

Joan...

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In the mist, like a dream, she has weathered the seasons…
On the wind swept shelf, as if silently sleeping 
Where souls in her graveyard, are hers for the keeping
Staring out at the tide, where the...

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My First Love Poem
My thoughts, filled with twisted ideas and thoughts that could scare the devil,
This girl is also on that level.
She is crazy in every way,
I think about her every day.
Her laugh her, her...

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the sun is on its knees,
disease leaks out their eyes; alive, 
it fans the drain’s release;
a holy light complies; it dries and-
burned and held and spined.
their molting hair entwined; divine all- 
whole in scar and...

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