Unfilled to over-flowing,
as was her bottle of tears,
with weeping for the fallen woman,
while from her lips to God's ears...
said the Mother Superior,
“I have completely lost track
of how often the Archbishop and I,
wearing ashes and cloth sacks,
crept into the crypt
and made the beast with two backs.
Altho' no one can hold a candle,
to his Grace, yes,
not even the Venerable Abbess,
flagellation notwithstanding,
as a nun married to You,
who committed sacrilege,
I'm ashamed to confess,
I broke your Lord's Commandment
as an unrepentant adulteress.”
When your heart and your head
Have a major disagreement,
Which body part should win?
Certainly not in every case,
But in 2020, my heart won.
Two of our dearest friends offered a gift to my
wife and me. My wife immediately consented
Without question, to the opportunity to go on an
All expenses paid cruise. I immediately said "No"
With my head, but I could not find the heart within
Me to say anything but "Yes".
Our friends had gone on 29 cruises and wanted
To share one of their greatest joys with us. Indeed,
I have what we call a bucket list, but going on an
Ocean cruise is not on my bucket list.
I confess that there was a secret war being waged
Between my head and my heart. With my calculating
head, I was losing one of the biggest conflicts of my life.
Moreover, by consenting to accept the gift, I learned
Experientially, a great lesson about selflessness.
Due to circumstances related to the COVID-19 virus,
The government canceled the scheduled cruise.
Notwithstanding, the heart of our dearest friends will
Forever have a special place in our hearts.
I am simple yet complex in my simplicity;
I have many masks and facets,
and will wear a multitude of hats.
I show the me I need you to see,
you'll never know the whole of me.
I am the person I want you to see
and am only satisfied if you're baffled
by the multiplicity of me.
Submitted on July 24, 2025 for contest MULTIPLICITY OF THE SELF sponsored by ALICE REYNOLDS
If life were a game of chess,
I would not be holding the chess pieces.
I wish to become a chessboard,
So I could see the wonders of life and be free
Or I may in another way I can explain
A plain tea that reflects the story of life,
The chess pieces will show your past life
How life battle is won through tactical warfare
The 64 squares is like arena of prizefighter,
Where you live life everyday like gladiator
Notwithstanding the hardship I face
Only at the end I won life with honor
Nevertheless the worn out skill of wisdom,
Made it all for me to victory and reward.
after Because I could not stop for Death, by Emily Dickinson
Because I would not stop for Death,
he kindly stopped for me.
A wilted bouquet in one hand—
a reminder of life's mortality.
We began to walk—he knew no haste—
side by side, as we always were.
In silence, no sympathies were spoken,
as he knew I often preferred.
We passed the house where I once strove
to play and know no sorrow.
We passed a creek whisking ashes downstream—
something I was hesitant to let it borrow.
Or, rather, it passed us—
the mist in the air quivering with a dog's final breath—
for only I began to falter
on our beaten and lonely path.
We paused before some foothills that seemed
serene, yet all too demanding.
The soon-to-be graves were scarcely visible here—
urns in my arms notwithstanding.
Since then, it has been decades, and yet
it still feels shorter than the day
Death first took my warm hand in his own
and his comforting coldness became mine for eternity.
There are people with whom
One might disagree at certain levels.
The dividing levels might even be ones
Of insensitivity, discouragement,
And even hurtfulness.
Notwithstanding such disagreements,
One might yet endorse and support
Such a one on other, more vital levels.
In so doing, one should see it, not as
a conflict of interest, but rather as
a higher view of the big picture.
To the best of my memory, the word brainwash
has been used in reference to me only twice.
The first time happened more than 50 years ago.
The second one occurred less than a year ago.
One referred to my religious involvement.
The other was connected to social ideology.
The first one came from a stranger
The other came from a relative.
When told that I had been brainwashed
in reference to my beliefs about Christ, I felt
nothing amiss about such assessment.
In fact, such a veiw of me was acceptable.
However, when charged by a relative that I had
been among certain people and allowed myself
to be brainwashed by them, I was taken aback
and deeply hurt.
I took offense by my relative's accusation and
told him so. He apologized for how it made me
feel, and I have forgiven him. Notwithstanding,
although the subject has not risen again, there
is a very thin wall between us regarding that
encounter. We are close friends, but I cannot
deny that something 'not good' happened that day.
A marriage, once strong, is slowly disintegrating.
People and negative forces r a g e against them;
Laughed at in the trenches, yet, they fight to
Keep everything glued intact. They fight against
Gravity pulling their world down to the abyss.
They fight to keep their flame from dimming out.
Notwithstanding the hardships, what they have is
Still unbroken. Love remains their candle; the life,
The love, the family they've created; all worth
Fighting for. They're winning the war, it seems.
Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive".
Notwithstanding, a life of giving one's self sacrificially is pricy.
Indeed, a 'self-giving life' is rewarding but also costly.
The air in that sphere of life is like mountain air.
The higher one goes the thinner the air becomes.
People in such a high zone are rare breeds.
But thinner air does not mean a bitter life.
A giving life is by far the sweetest life.
012825PS
Arrogance does reign
hoisting human nature’s gain ---
notwithstanding, we are led toward downfall pain.
Beyond towering pride
that offers us jubilant ride---
nevertheless, there awaits fatal stride.
Admitting weakness blight
we seek God’s help for righteous plight---
now, we walk along divine light.
Freed from selfishness-guile
we are braced to walk along kindness’ mile---
negating heart that projects fake smile.
Exuding confident meekness so vibrant
our spirits glow, graciously radiant
nestled in sincere faith*, serenely triumphant.
*Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
January 18, 2025
10th place, "Our natural state" Poetry Writing Premiere Contest
Sponsored by Unseeking Seeker; judged on 1/18/2025.
It tells a lot about Prez Trump,
Long shall US carry this lump
And long shall show the scar--
Long as lives Polar Star,
A burden on its back as hump.
Yet, it also tells us a lot:
Its pillars stand on righteous spot,
That, its top court can be
Firm as to disagree
With who so has White House well fought.
_______________________
Happenings |19.01.2025| USA, political
Poet’s Note: Notwithstanding what this ditty says, one might believe, Trump will have to endure embarrassment of being a felon as president. Unlikely alas. He will not only own it, but brag about it. Most likely, both him and the courts will be tested in future.
I keep asking myself - What is romance?
Why do people make a big deal of it?
I don't find it so special... at first glance;
- Just a strong attraction, you must admit.
But then I understood it's true meaning
- it's not just about doing things they like;
All it took was a little "mind-cleaning"
- it's not physical, or thinking alike.
Romance is more about understanding,
valuing and respecting their beliefs;
It's about commitment, notwithstanding
life's ups and downs, happiness and griefs.
The meaning matures along with our age -
That's why Romance remains such a huge rage.
liberating...
the recognition
of a job well done;
infinitely more worthy
than any trophy.
a chef's kiss explosion
at the realization
that an accomplishment
is, at last, celebrated
that one crying for help
is seen and heard
that one is enough
for the Lord
notwithstanding
walking with feet of clay
ain't it grand...
one soul -
out of a billion -
knowing
how bright another shines?
isn't it a blessing
that he or she sees
the spark
of the besmirched gem
deep within
when the universe remains
hopelessly blind?
it's an answered prayer.
I think of the multitudes of humans
Who have trod this world since the
First who stepped upon it. Every birth
And death has become just so much
Anonymous Humanity. Paul who?
A newborn today joins the race as ignorant
As Cain but equipped with better killing tools
To contend with ever keener competition;
Notwithstanding the occasional diversion,
To fulfill the primordial drive for procreation.
Ever competing, exploiting any advantage;
An innovating user of tools gaining
Planet share. Humankind,
Ever advancing, never advancing.
Paul Thomson copyright 2022
Precious years have come and gone, not a few,
Robbing us of times and things we once knew.
Troubling times whose clocks, we would have turned back,
Realizing now that so much was out of line and off-track.
Young and immature, we longed for things that we had not.
And presently, we wish that some memories would rot.
Notwithstanding, we have made amends beyond measure.
And the lessons learned shall forevermore be treasured.
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