Blog for Wednesday July 21, 2010 – Down but far from out

21 July 2010

Hey folks,

its been a rough and tumble couple of weeks. I broke my collarbone in a cycling accident a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully, I’m pretty much back into the swing of things again though not really on the bike. “On the Ground Again” was inspired by the accident and in that poem I tried to capture the feelings running through my head immediately following the crash. In addition, I am happy to release a new group of poems that I mentioned about a month or so ago. Look for new poems to be released every few days or so. I’ve noticed a change in my style over the last six months – I appreciate your comments regarding whether you feel the change is positive.

Peace

Paul

On the Ground Again

21 July 2010

On the ground again
My face bloodied
My skin torn Continue Reading

Glass Houses

7 July 2010

We all live in glass houses
In statues made of clay
By day we kneel
By night we prey
Continue Reading

The Lost Art of Talking to Strangers – Blog for Thursday June 24, 2010

25 June 2010

I apologize that this is going to be a bit of a lecture but it is my website…. I promise that I have some excellent new poems coming very soon.

I was stopped the other day by an elderly gentleman when purchasing espresso beans for the office. I’ve had the hardest time finding these beans lately so naturally I started loading up the cart. The elderly man approached me and mentioned that the price must be good for me to be buying so many packages. Tongue in cheek, I explained my dilemna. The man proceeded to engage me in conversation for the next 10 minutes. I was amazed that this “old school” gentleman had a talent that seems to be completely lost on young people today.

At one of our recent family functions I observed that a number of the 16 – 20 year olds who attended sat at their respective tables and made virtually no effort to engage the other 16-20 year olds at the party. I recalled in the good old days being naturally drawn to people my own age and basically spending the entire function with people in my age group. Disappointingly that no longer appears to be the case. When you strip these kids of their blackberries, their facebook accounts, etc there doesn’t appear to be any desire or interest on their part of engaging people face to face.

I have always aspired to be like my Dad who is a master (inspite of a limited formal education) of talking to anyone. I think it is a complete travesty that the art of striking an engaging conversation with a stranger is fading. What a horrible shame.

Peace

Paul

Poetry is Verbal Art!: Blog for Wednesday June 16, 2010

16 June 2010

Greetings Dear Friends,

I have a number of poems that I haven’t yet published which are part of the first batch of poems I wrote. Except in a few cases, the remainder of the poems are what I consider rather mediocre so I will publish them under their respective categories – they will not appear at the top of the list. Rest assured though that I have been writing away and have been harnessing the “divine” inspiration I receive as it comes to me. I intend to publish a slew of new works in the next few weeks and am confident that these new poems are among my best works to date. In particular “In the Winter,” a poem I wrote last weekend is one of my personal favourities and have heard nothing but positive comments about it. The soon to be released “Haunted,” a poem I just completed, is also one of my personal favourites. I’ve noticed a change or evolution in my style as well. Instead of rhyme as was common in my earlier works the reader will now find a copious use of metaphors featured in my poems. Perhaps the works are now more difficult to decipher but the beauty and imagery is there for a heart and mind willing and open enough to appreciate it.

I am in the process of entering into a few poetry contests as well – I would really appreciate it if my readers would assist me in determining which poem is among the best and most likely to win a contest. Please send me a comment as to which are your preferred poems.

Until then,
Peace

Paul

My God

31 May 2010

My God
Why has thou forsaken me?
Cast me offshore
Into the treacherous sea
Continue Reading

Another Sin

31 May 2010

So I commit this lie
This life
Of sin
Of whim
Continue Reading

Blog for Wednesday May 26, 2010

26 May 2010

“Even This Shall Pass Away” a poem by Theodore Tilton was referred to me by one of my closest friends R. Sharma. Thank you for making me aware of this wonderful poem that has a similar theme to my own “How Rich Am I?”.

“What I Am” is a poem inspired by a multitude of sources including the Beatles “All You Need Is Love”, and in particular the series of books written by Neale Donald Walsch entitled “Conversations With God”. The poem’s most basic premise is that we are all pure love and that love is all there is. We are all the same – no more and no less than anyone else and until we begin to realize this basic truth human life can not progress. Some of you may ask how a Hitler or the harshest serial killer could be considered to be “pure love” but my answer to that question is the following adaptation of a famous story:

One day a teacher asked his class if they believed God existed. Not suprisingly most of the students raised their hands in the affirmative. The teacher ridiculed the believing students by then asking them if God did exist then why had he created evil i.e., rape, torture, murder, etc. The teacher went on to say that God could not exist because an almighty God would not have created such evil.

A lone student at the back of his class raised his hand and asked the teacher if he believed in darkness. The teacher replied, “Well, ofcourse!” “During the day it is light and during the night it is dark.”
“Darkness is a human construct”, corrected the student. “What we humans perceive to be darkness is really just an absence of light”. The student went on, “It is the same with the evil that you just referred to. There really is no such thing as evil but merely the absence of love.” “God did not create evil, humans have constructed the concept to explain an absence of love in the same way they created the constructs of light and dark.”

The student’s name was Albert Einstein.

Peace

Paul

Even This Shall Pass Away by Theodore Tilton

26 May 2010

Once in Persia reigned a king,
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they;
“Even this shall pass away.”
Continue Reading

What I Am

13 May 2010

Every moment in time
Leads me to right now
Continue Reading