Buddhists don’t talk of original sin
The way Christians do,
But they both talk about the same thing;
That in the beginning there was light
And the Word, and the missing of the mark.
For Buddhists this “sin” is basic ignorance,
The ignoring of who and what we are.
For Buddhists experience is divided
Into two basic categories;
Enlightened, or Nirvana, and
Deluded, or Samsara.
Nirvana is peace.
Samsara is suffering.
The experience of each are thus polar opposites,
But the simple original sin,
The fundamental deviance,
Is that Samsara arose from the desire
To improve Nirvana, our original nature.
So Samsara is Nirvana plus desire,
The desire to personalize it,
Put our mark of identity on what was
Already always perfect.
To extend the cross cultural metaphor
You could say we wanted to give it
The mark of the beast.
And that’s how we lost the light.
(8/16/26)
Thank You
Honor You
Acknowledge You
Need You
Know You
See You
Greet you
Include You
Value You
Invite You
Notice You
Give You
*This season of Thanksgiving would be a great time
to personalize this poem by using the word "I"
before each line. It could greatly 'bless' someone.
Gene editing offers revolutionary possibilities in medicine, agriculture, and beyond.
In healthcare, it could eradicate genetic diseases, enhance immunity against infections, and personalize treatments.
Agricultural benefits include improving crop resilience, yield, and nutritional value, potentially alleviating hunger and malnutrition.
Additionally, gene editing holds promise for environmental conservation by mitigating invasive species or enhancing the adaptability of endangered ones.
Overall, gene editing has the potential to transform human well-being, food security, and ecological sustainability.
Consider the unlimited possibilities of the creative mind
In the realm of the fine arts many genres of expression
The world’s museums could not contain the whole, I find.
Music accounts for equal numbers of diversities in kind
Literary arts from the classics to the sultry confession,
Consider the unlimited possibilities of the creative mind.
Then, of course, think of the poetic works being mined
Adding to the storehouse of lyrical and verse impression,
The world’s museums could not contain the whole, I find
These cover only a small portion, add graphics assigned
For therein lies art, in almost everything now a profession
Consider the unlimited possibilities of the creative mind.
With forms of art, I could spend much of my life confined
Forgive me if I personalize this poem, a bit of digression,
The world’s museums could not contain the whole, I find.
Art, friends, is not merely for sophisticates or the refined
Without it, many of us would be thrown into a depression
Consider the unlimited possibilities of the creative mind,
The world’s museums could not contain the whole, I find.
Written August 28, 2022
sympathy for an American
fighting for freedom
now buried in the Ukraine.
he loved the orphans-
hopefully they’ll gather
at the Hungarian or polish borders
ready for pickup
of loving arms and hearts.
so many stories -
we can personalize a few.
a loving cup-
the hands of God
with the world painted
in all colors
the mountains and valleys
the sea and plains.
all the troubles nailed into the Lord’s palms.
so many stories to tell.
we can personalize a few.
2/28/2022
My Meraki Gifts
So special are some days to celebrate
for family and dearest friends I know;
a joy that fills my heart is to create
a splendid card for each, my love to show.
I blend my gifts of art and poetry
to personalize each and every one,
designed with help of new technology;
computer art, my words, then print when done.
How special to present my unique cards
with names upon and wishes that hit home;
a joy for me to show the deep regards
I have for each with art and words my own.
With soul, deep love and creativity,
each card presents a little piece of me.
Sandra M. Haight
~3rd Place~
Contest: In The Moment
Sponsor: Heidi Sands
Judged: 06/18/2018
~2nd Place~
Contest: Meraki
Sponsor: Silent One
Judged: 12/21/2017
"Meraki [may-rah-kee] (adjective) This is a word that modern Greeks often use to describe doing something with soul, creativity, or love — when you put “something of yourself” into what you're doing, whatever it may be. Oct 20, 2010" - Google
Heart searching eyes,
Responding to personalize,
Feelings interwoven,
Ties that can't be broken,
The soul yearns to free this heart,
It is part of who you are,
Say nothing if you must deny,
It is better than telling yourself lies,
Who you are,,,,no better than the other,
Just a name doesn't bring us together,
The shallow may label on this earth,
But the heart is always eventually unearthed,
What was that? You say you can't have both,
Has the fear stricken, and judgemental scare you the most?,
To deny the name you were given at birth?
Do you honestly believe that depletes your worth?,
My dear friend, don't deny this part,
It is a piece of who you are,,,,,
Will the shallow come looking once you've given it away?
Yes, but fear plays no part, you must see past that game,
Your love is stronger for yourself and others,
Why do think God has allowed us to meet one another....
Window covered by a sycamore tree
Constant friend of my snowy Maple days.
Memories spring as insects on a tree
Turn my gloomy days in glorious days
Hippocrates got his inspiration
for search in medicine he began.
Buddh sat under it for meditation
and enlightenment of mind to attain.
Desdemona sat sighing under it
in agony to hear willow song treat.
Flying to Egypt Mary stopped a bit.
Crann ban “Money tree” in Irish spirit.
To demystify health, to personalize,
To me sycamore is to poetize.
+++
December 2, 2014
Form : Sonnet {Iambic Pentameter)
Dr. Ram Mehta
Sixth Place Win
Contest: Structured Forms by Georgio V. Venetto
You like most carbs and sweets
But you hate bitter gourd,
When you type your shout outs, tweets
Sixteen letters entered, ten letters
Are being alone and cold
As you say hello and wave your hands
Your triceps also say hi,
I’m glad that you lose negative pounds
Oh my darling! : ) at least you try…
Your favorite place at the mall
Is the fitting room,
But you shine
Like flowers in full bloom
When we walk together with hands
Embrace to each other,
We form the date of our monthsary,
Number “10” and forever
I don’t afraid in calm, cold days and nights
Because I know that you are here, by my side,
You’re my pillow, my blanket, my Bed
Your tummy makes it complete,
My future wife, I will love you till the end…
Love, even though you have your own measurements
And even rings require more gold, diamonds
Personalize…
Especially for you…
You’re so sexy… and I’m happy
That God gave me the most beautiful girl,
My heart… My destiny…
The morning has officially begun
It’s the new reality of my life plunging ahead in full gear
It’s only fast forward from here to forever on
I don’t wanna look back but whenever I try…
I’m impressed by how fast that bit of history fades away into insignificance
A brand new life with brand new possibilities
My greatest dreams revised
This sure has to be the time of my life
All the signs are bright to this light
Today I celebrate mediocrity’s demise
I know what I want and I know I can get it as soon as I want
I swear allegiance to creativity, discipline and commitment
I sacrifice my unnecessary pleasures for study and prayers
I’m focused on the rewards, for they belong to me if I dare to believe
I’m the prince of a dream and it’s now time to conquer reality and personalize it
( A Shakespearean Soonet - with 14 syllables- rhyming abab,cdcd,efef,gg)
My balcony was covered by a huge sycamore tree,
My constant companion during the snowy Maple days,
Memories come as insects around a flowering tree
Turning my gloomy days into that of glorious days.
First candid approach in medicine to initiate,
Hippocrates sat under sycamore tree to explain,
As Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree to meditate,
Nirvana or the enlightenment of mind to attain.
Father Cavanaugh aptly called it ‘The tree of vengeance’,
Othello’s Desdemona sat sighing by sycamore,
Flying to Egypt Virgin Mary rested under once,
Known to be as crann ban “money tree” in Iris folklore.
To demystify health care and known to personalize,
My sycamore exists to socialize and poetize.
=====================================
Fifth place winner in
Contest: Shakespearean or English Sonnet in honor of John freeman
My balcony covered by a huge sycamore tree,
My constant companion of snowy Maple days,
Memories come as insects around flowering tree
Turning my gloomy days into glorious days.
The first candid approach in medicine to initiate,
Hippocrates sat under sycamore tree to explain,
As Budhha sat under the Bodhi tree to meditate,
Nirvana or the enlightenment of mind to attain.
Father Cavanaugh called it ‘The vengeance tree’,
Othello’s Desdemona sat sighing by a sycamore,
Flying to Egypt Virgin Mary rested under the tree,
Known as crann ban “money tree” in Iris folklore.
To demystify health care & known to personalize,
To me sycamore exists to socialize and to poetize.
==============================
Ninth Place win in Chris's contest
Personalize these words and say after me,
I am next in line for God’s blessing to show,
It will come unexpected, this one thing I know.
He‘s never late, but always on time. The
Most reliable, trustworthy friend you can find.
I am next in line for my blessings, promised two
Thousand years ago. Blessings of health, a good
Family to share, going out, and coming in he’s
Always near.
I am next in line; he’ll soon call my name,
Come my child reap much more wealth
Or fame. Come see this fine mansion prepared
for you, where you’ll always be happy, and not sad
And blue.
My balcony covered by a huge sycamore tree,
My constant companion of snowy Maple days,
Memories come as insects around flowering tree
Turning my gloomy days into glorious days.
The first candid approach in medicine to initiate,
Hippocrates sat under sycamore tree to explain,
As Budhha sat under the Bodhi tree to meditate,
Nirvana or the enlightenment of mind to attain.
Father Cavanaugh called it ‘The vengeance tree’,
Othello’s Desdemona sat sighing by a sycamore,
Flying to Egypt Virgin Mary rested under the tree,
Known as crann ban “money tree” in Iris folklore.
To demystify health care & known to personalize,
To me sycamore exists to socialize and to poetize.
Bliss be quick
I'm fading fast
toward the sunset's
shadowed grasp
Like a smoking candlewick
Like our conversations past
Bliss don't switch
your gears and leave
the moon to tend me
as I grieve
She has no real warmth to give
She can't show me how to live
Bliss settle in
and make your home
please promise me
you'll never roam
Scroll out a list of things to do
to nurture my weak fortitude
like stringing beads of glassy ink
and rolling out thoughts to make one think
or searching the sky for green parakeets
sitting on phone lines, lined up neat
Crushing up coconuts, drinking the juice
Flying for miles to declare a truce
Watching the seeds of the sweat peas grow
or dipping my feet in the ocean's flow.
Bliss I'm lost
unless you're with me
I get caught in the
solitude frenzy
Where there's no one to bounce things off of
Where the moon laughs her cooling head off
Bliss be kind
to this weak frame
and personalize me
with your name
I'll live up to your expectations
Drop your guard and your reservations
Bliss you are
my mirror image
I won't let
my eyes be timid
Shine my skin and temper my glow
for, Bliss, you do these things bestow...
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