It sneaks up on all of us
Imperceptibly at first
But dawning slowly over time
Until it's time we took a hard look
In the mirror… and faced the truth
It's inescapable
It happens to all of us
First born, last born
People, places, governments, movements, principalities
It catches up with all
We must confront what we've become
Has the age of enlightenment become the age of entanglement?
That many-legged arachnid known as truth
Waits silently at the edge of the web… that tangled one we weave
When wonder becomes plunder, and balance becomes challenge
And the age of reason becomes likened unto treason
Who do we deceive… and what will be consumed?
when light fractures into noise…
I embrace the outburst
with emptiness chewing up my nerves.
The void softens the impact—
can’t break what never arrived.
What you don't know about writing
is that it doesn't know you,
until the two of you are willing
to stew a mess of your own -
brewing your blood's greatest enigmas
right down to its own bone marrow -
why not say hello,
at least?
Thou who would bear the name of truth-teller,
Reverberate the sound of truth with words of flame
That the gen’ral mind daren’t whats’ever.
And set forth a heart of righteousness unrestrained.
Neither friend nor acquaintance matter not,
Thy words thou shalt heed and to thine own self be true.
For only hyp’crits utter without thought.
And the awareness of mind thou art to pursue.
Thou who wear the title of Honesty,
Amidst thy companions and brethren of mankind,
Thou would know the secret which guarantee
A reputation which the masses have defined.
To touch the heart of man and speak at will,
Thou shalt deem not the quality of righteousness
A regular household chore to fulfill.
For unexcused blunders strike due to mindlessness.
Beneath the surface where thoughts often stray,
Lies a bias that colors our view each day.
Invisible threads weave through the mind,
Shaping perceptions we're blind to find.
We see through lenses that age has stained,
Distorting the world with judgments ingrained.
The mirror reflects a skewed truth's face,
A filtered reality, a hidden disgrace.
History’s shadows linger, stark and clear,
Biases persist though we claim to steer.
Masks of fairness cloak the hidden guise,
Concealing the biases that our heart denies.
Turn the gaze inward, seek the inner light,
Where biases drift in the depth of night.
Only by facing what's buried inside,
Can we untangle the truth that’s denied.
Acknowledge the flaws that quietly remain,
And let our minds break free from this silent chain.
For true change begins when we recognize,
The unconscious biases veiled from our eyes.
A stream of optimistic visions embalmed with vivid imagery,
Strength from mental energy kinetically dissolving fears,
Passions observed without words inner peace without mystery,
A sanctuary of hope where disbelief holds no ground here,
An anchor in times of need when shallow waters aren't what they seem,
Disillusioned by physical senses my soul is quite aware of what's authentic,
Imagery converged with empathy expresses the heart's path,
Emotions engage excitement from depression's wrath,
But my shield is a thought enshrined by wavering ideas,
Dreams are a birth a gift and a curse perception is key,
Deception is keen though I realize the rhythm of cycles,
The confusion of idols movement is vital life's an expression.
The universe swallowed my thoughts
In another instant of uncertainty
Truthfulness and doubt together were something
Morphed into a new creation of nothing
As if my time itself were the black hole
And I, a dwarf star in the infinite sky
Waning in the moment’s loss of control
Where another hope was left to die.
Shapeless and unseen in darkness
Lost in the infinite, recessive light
A contorted mass of possibilities gone
Like the dim light of a rainy dawn
Ambitions and plans stricken by loss
And I, a fading star in a familiar crowd
Carrying an even more familiar cross
To be convicted of the sins I’ve avowed.
Brighter stars illuminate without me
Much like the brilliance I once exuded
A new creation of barely something I’ll be
With much less to adore in low luminosity
And as the universe recycles these thoughts
Uncertainty strangely becomes known
In all my doubts, I have become a have not
With my mistakes left with me for which to atone.
Journey Journal Page
SELF-AWARENESS
By Leon Enriquez
Awake
Meet mystic fate
Here at the gate
Early not late
For goodness sake
Aware
Greet magic state
Stern poise that plates
Your happy date
Of happy fare
~~~~~~~~~
Align
Your peace of mind
As soul now binds
Your heart’s own find
In fond design
Appeal
To greet goodwill
The way you feel
For words can heal
What thought reveals
~~~~~~~~~
Amass
Blessings of grace
Light on your face
In sweet embrace
In touch of class
Arouse
A feisty fest
Surge of fond zest
Feel wit urge jest
Play your full house
~~~~~~~~~
Abide
A certain feel
Strings words that heal
Know true goodwill
Love needs no pride
Await
That lovely tryst
To groom a kiss
In sexy bliss
Prompt lavish state
~~~~~~~~~
Appease
Feel touch most kind
Forge peace of mind
As beauty binds
Joy in warm lease
Agile
Know then the way
To live this day
Ground fun and play
Frame touch worthwhile
~~~~~~~~~
Leon Enriquez
22 February 2023
Singapore
My pain doesn’t decorate me like precious gems
It’s a raggedy noose around my neck
That I can’t stop tugging
My scars aren’t displayed as badges of honour
They’re fetid rotted wounds
That I won’t stop picking at
My experiences weren’t lessons for growth
They’re barbs of poisonous shame
That I flagellate myself with daily
Mistakenly I thought that I’d let go
Confused, yet I thought I’d grown and improved
Tender thoughts and hands to myself I must use
As a smokless; human spirit; I yet celebrate'
New Zealands move, not to bin it.' The choice
To use that nicoteen.. Or not.' Is what
We now; are seeing..A drug if types.? Yet not
Invasive, unlike the jabbing drug paraded on
Every screen and radio.' Hordes of presenters
So gung-ho.! So positive in much unknown to
Kids adolecents and fully grown, past 2008 no
One it seems? Can be self determined it hits
My spleen, a different bile allbeit so' we all must
Prevent deny, it though' might and bluster will
Be used' yet the corrosive threat; is our freedom'
Being abused, a crushing of soul specially among
The younger.' Is there a move that this group are to
Be senseless intended? Just malleble drones i well
Consider? This should through all Nations send
Great shivers.!
I stand in the glow of the earth
Dawn to twilight, each day rebirthed
Under stars I gaze to dream deep and wide
The moon’s face pales my lifelong pride
Full circles of my history where I find my identity
enfold in shoreless places that set me free
Rejoicing to be one with all in eternity
Breaking the bonds of my earthly jubilee
When I pass into the stars of my substance
I will know the timeless secret of love exists
Where my footprints fell and my heart did drift
That love and beauty overflowed with abundance
With the essence of knowing such humble gifts
SELF AWARENESS
I pass days after days through several colours of rays,
Yet not confused when life is dark,
but enthusiastic and zealous,
confident and decisive to overcome ill luck.
Never pessimist, always optimist
whether free or got stuck.
Endured enmity, not lost dignity.
I honour my ego till it supports self esteem
to fulfil desired dream.
Always brave, even in grave.
Life is a challenge to explore transcending death.
12/09/22
A Brian Strand Premier Choice No.54
Contest by Brian Strand
And here I am under your majestic embrace
Giving into what your nature shares
Wondering why you need those spiky pods
Is it to protect what you treasure most?
When autumn comes you then let it go.
I too have my spiky pods
Holding on, not wanting to let go.
Keeping safe my inner soul.
As the leaves changes I hold my breath
And realise that I am autumn past.
In order to fully realize and activate your inner child
You must put your minds aside
Your reptilian mind and your cognitive mind
If you want to be fully self-actualized and enlightened
I stared at the soothsayer, but kept my mouth shut.
My minds were both running in all kinds of directions.
I know what I speak of, he assured me. I was not convinced.
Maybe we have different ways of obtaining enlightenment.
My path might be totally devoid of ignoring my minds.
My feelings laughed in my ear.
Believing he knew more than I did.
My muse began to hum and dance.
That’s the first step he told me.
You are on the right path.
His poems were about racism.
About the white man who wouldn't hire him
because he was a “dirty Mexican.”
My mind shivered in disgust.
In the end he said, “…and I thank my wife…”
He spotted her in the audience, nodded, and
smiled lovingly.
I immediately turned to look for the Hispanic
woman in the crowd.
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