My Farewell

My Farewell

I sat around a fire and thought 
- of you. 

Take your greatest moment of pleasure,

and multiply that by a millionfold,

then you might barely 

conceive what I am talking about. 

Has your life been so restrained 

that you never collaspsed onto the floor

from ecstasy? 

As for me, nothing of me will survive,

so these poems are my farewell. 

To my readers, 

       What does it mean to lead a life in which you take this mantra to heart "nothing of me will survive"? Does it mean to use up every gift you have been given, to pass on every blessing you have received, to burn passionately the full width and breadth of yourself?
       When I graduated high school (June 2010), I asked my close family members and friends to write me letters for a “Time Capsule” that I would open upon my college graduation (May 2013). I asked them to reflect, to offer advice, and to emanate Love. The reason I have chosen to end with this post is because that is the poetry of Life, the hallowed words of the ones you love, the enriching spirits of those who love you. You won’t always feel connected to the words of Hafiz, though I hope within them you find gems and treasures and immeasurable worth. Conversely, you will often draw upon the encouragement of those near and dear to you. Hold close to these jewels, they are such gold to carry.

In closing, I would like to share some of the pertinent advice my father wrote to me in his letter:

“Dear Arden,

      As you start the next chapter of your life (or is it really a new road), it is appropriate to offer advice. As you know, I love poetry and I have often found wisdom to guide me in the short verse of poetry. We have both enjoyed reading the poems of Mary Oliver – “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” What will your answer be to this question? What will be your “credo”? – best translated as, “I have given my heart to”.

      You are an individual, trying to fit into this world. Treasure your achievements, find the joy of learning, and thrill in the discovery of not only new things, but also old things seen in a new way. You will meet many people and this is the best way to grow and change. Try to find something you love and you will never need a job. Try to find someone to love and you will experience all the emotions of joy, hurt, beauty – but it will make you have experiences that will fulfill your dreams.

     It is not important to measure the number of years that you complete in life. More importantly, you should measure the moments that make us human, that connect us to a spiritual place, or that enrich your soul.

So this is what I would like you to take with you into the future:

• Strength – to persevere against the mountains 
• Passion – to explore and question 
• Courage – to continue when hope seems to fail
• Honesty – to yourself
• Love – for your family 

You are a great person. You will probably do great things.

           Love always,
                           Dad

P.S. I am also including a diagram for an origami 5-point star. Who knows, one day, it may be all you need.”

       That's just it, who knows what you will need one day? It may be Love, it may be Courage, it may be Laughter, it may be a kind word, a soft touch, a caring smile, or it may be a 5-point origami star. I will leave you all with this final line from Hafiz: "Laughter is when the spirit, like an arrow, takes flight above the hour's concern." 

      Thank you for taking this journey with me, it's been a great year!

      Wishing you all a life full of laughter!

                                        Arden 

A River Understands

A River Understands

I think a river understands me,
I used to know my name,
and now I don't. 

For what does a river call itself
when it starts emptying into the sea?

Opening itself wider, until it is one 
with the ocean? 

I am like that with the world,
and in my union with all
you were there,
because you read this page. 

        Poetry often provides us with the words that voice our innermost feelings. From The Ballad of Ladies of the Past by Francois Villon: "Where is Echo, beheld of no man,/Only heart on river and mere, -/She whose beauty was more than human?/But where are the snows of yester-year?"
         Poetry implores us to question ourselves and in doing so, to understand ourselves. To know ourselves deeper than we might have, but entirely, like we should. Today I came across the poem Poetry, by Pablo Neruda, for the first time. It is beautiful and it illuminates the gift that poetry is to the soul.
       

Poetry by Pablo Neruda 

And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived

in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where

it came from, from winter or a river.

I don't know how or when,

no they were not voices, they were not

words, nor silence,

but from a street I was summoned,

from the branches of night,

abruptly from the others,

among violent fires

or returning alone,

there I was without a face

and it touched me.

I did not know what to say, my mouth

had no way

with names,

my eyes were blind,

and something started in my soul,

fever or forgotten wings,

and I made my own way,

deciphering

that fire,

and I wrote the first faint line,

faint, without substance, pure

nonsense,

pure wisdom

of someone who knows nothing,

and suddenly I saw

the heavens

unfastened

and open,

planets,

palpitating plantations,

shadow perforated,

riddled

with arrows, fire and flowers,

the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,

drunk with the great starry

void,

likeness, image of

mystery,

felt myself a pure part

of the abyss,

I wheeled with the stars,

my heart broke loose on the wind. 

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Poetry

Laughter

Laughter

What is laughter? What is laughter? 
This tender and magic song 
It is the glorious sound of a soul waking up. 

It is the sun poking its sweet head out from
behind a cloud
you've been carrying too long 
veiling your eyes and heart

It is light breaking ground for a great structure
that is you real body - called Truth. 

It is happiness applauding itself and 
then taking flight 
to embrace everyone and everything
in this world. 

Laughter is God,
who eternally says,
"My dear ones come this way,
toward Me and Love!" 

Joy, Newsboys 

A Thousand Shapes, Colors, and Forms

The divine manna of Love is disguised in a thousand shapes, colors, and forms. 

        I really love this quote...the fulfilment and nourishment that comes from Love can be disguised in a thousand shapes, colors, forms, sizes, professions, education levels, genders, sexualities, countries, languages, religions, etc. Wed your heart to anything that calls only to your own. 

        Another wonderful poem by Pablo Neruda is "Tie Your Heart At Night To Mine, Love": 

Tie Your Heart At Night To Mine, Love 

Tie your heart at night to mine, love,

and both will defeat the darkness

like twin drums beating in the forest

against the heavy wall of wet leaves.

Night crossing: black coal of dream

that cuts the thread of earthly orbs

with the punctuality of a headlong train

that pulls cold stone and shadow endlessly.

Love, because of it, tie me to a purer movement,

to the grip on life that beats in your breast,

with the wings of a submerged swan,

So that our dream might reply

to the sky's questioning stars

with one key, one door closed to shadow.

           I've Always Loved You, Third Day 

Heart Has Held

My heart has held that which can never be touched. 


       Today I became a Christian, and though it took prayerful meditation and some reading of all the religions of the world (just to be sure), I would attribute the catalyst of my conversion to music. The Christian music I hear is so uplifting and so encouraging, it makes me want to go to the mountaintop. Below is a song I find near to my heart now, "Come Let's Go Up The Mountain/Fly Me Like The Wind" by MorningStar Ministries.
       I read on Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry something that changed my heart as well. It was more of the logical convincing that I needed. After reading it, I realized I often appealed my worth based on my own "goodness": "You must trust in what Jesus did on the cross to forgive you of your sins and not trust anything else, not even your own sincerity. That's right, sincerity isn't good enough. Why? Because sincerity is an appeal to God based on the goodness of your own heart. If you're appealing to God based on the goodness of your own heart, then you're being prideful. Sorry, salvation is either based on Christ alone, or it is not."

Link To "Come Let's Go Up The Mountain/Fly Me Like The Wind"

A Royal Event: Existence

We all help to host a royal event: Existence. 

            Today I took a liking to the song, "Testimony of Grace", it's a song about the stories of those who have come to know God. Since it's Sunday, take a listen.

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Everyone Should Be Honored Like This

Everyone Should Be Honored Like This

When people come to my house for the first time,
I will kneel before them and ask for their hand,
and place the back of it against my forehead. 

Everyone should be honored like this.
What else can make you grow? 

I am one of God's pillars in this world,
I must extend His Love, carry out His Wish. 

And what of those for whom it would be best 
if they did not see me humbly before them - 
on my knees, until they are ready? 

Well, at night in my prayers, 
I place my head upon their feet. 

        Yesterday I head a truly inspiring story, and am proud to call this man my friend. You can read it here: Kidney Donation. After an amazing act of grace, kindness, selflessness, and brotherly love, Michael was still willing to give up the glory to God. How many of us would donate a kidney to man we just met? How many of us would eagerly defer the gratitude away from ourselves? It literally leaves me speechless.

One Thing Remains (2010), Jesus Culture 

Helping The Dawn Appear

Helping The Dawn Appear

I was standing in the field,
helping the dawn appear,
when I turned around in amazement, 
and knew this: 
Our souls can help us find new horizons,
our souls cause love to evolve.

      In one of Rilke's personal journals, simply cited as "Early Journals", he wrote a wonderful line about greeting the new day, or in Hafiz's words, "helping the dawn appear":

     "And today, once again, a new morning: bright, with close, rounded clouds that frame expanses of the immeasurably deep sky. There are so many days here, none like any other. And beneath all their differences is this great similarity: the gratitude in which they are received." 

Sunrise over Mt. Rainer (2014)

The Stairway of Existence

The Stairway of Existence

We are not in pursuit of formalities

or fake religious laws,

for through the stairway of existence

we have come to God’s door.

We are people who need love,

because love is the soul’s life,

love is creation’s greatest joy.

            Perhaps Hafiz is saying you can find God through Love. I’ve always believed that a life conducted with morals and led with the pursuit of love is a “good” one. I think all religions have this as their chief aim, belief in love the verb, not the noun. Go out and spread love, go out and be love. This gives life to the soul.

            Moreover, the greatest joy you will ever experience will be tied to this emotion, this action. If you are very lucky, when the fields of your life turn gray, you will have left a lasting legacy to the world. Conversely, for most of us, the legacy we leave will be through the people we loved and the people who loved us.

San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk (1908-1912)

Claude Monet

All Shape Would Collapse

All Shape Would Collapse 

How many times a paw touched the earth today
I know. I watched and counted them 
and almost lost my mind in ectasy. 

The body of everything I became 
and now am when God and I 
kissed so deeply one night. 

Anything's hunt for food I know, I share.
Your breathing draws me in and out.
All beings' joys and fears I comprehend. 

Something we call God I move with.
Without me all shape would collapse. 
It is true I hold you up. 

Existence's cane is my love. 
If I were summoned to a court 
and accused of being deluded, 

I could supply all the evidence needed
to show all I say is not false. 
and so could you, inside your soul. 

                       Hafiz was a spiritual soul who could really envision his own likeness in every creature. This is a powerful trait few are capable of. Last night, my sister shared the following quote with me, and it made me think that perhaps we don't even comprehend our own likeness as well as we should: "You have only seen yourself two times, taking a picture and looking at the image and staring in the mirror and looking at your reflection. You don't get to see the way your eyes light up when you talk about something you love. You can never see how beautiful you look when you spontaneously smile. You never witness the in-between moments that make me love you. Yes, it's really kind of sad, that you've never actually seen yourself."

Each Soul Completes Me

Each Soul Completes Me 

My Beloved said, "My name is not complete 
without yours." 

And I thought: How could a human's worth
ever be such? 

And God, knowing all our thoughts, and all
our thoughts are just innocent steps on the 

path, then addressed my heart, 
revealing a sublime truth to the world,

when He sang, "I am made whole by your life.
Each soul, each soul completes Me." 

            What could be more powerful than hearing these words? You are need. You matter. Your significance completes God. Everyone should check out "SoulPancake"!

I Promise

I Promise

Has not the Architect, Love, built your heart
in a glorious manner,

with so much care that it is meant to break
if love ever ceases to know all that happens
is perfect? 

And where does anything love has ever known
go, when your eye and hand can no longer
be warmed by its body?

So vast a room your soul, every universe can
fit into it.

Anything you once called beautiful, anything
that ever

gave you comfort waits to unite with your
arms again. I promise.


          Wow. I think this poem is both instructional and comforting. Hafiz has offered some great “knowledge”, replete with his spiritual insight. John Steinbeck wrote a letter to his son, Thom, about love, in which he also includes advice. It’s worth it to read the entire letter on an awesome site, Letters of Note. Conversely, below, I’ve selected the four things I think the letter teaches best:

First—if you are in love—that’s a good thing—that’s about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don’t let anyone make it small or light to you.

People can be jealous of love, they can trivialize certain relationships. Do not let this affect you, love is the only gold.

Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it. The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.

Enjoy every moment you are with your beloved. Revel in your love while remembering not to take it for granted.

It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another—but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.

Heartbreak can happen, but this does not diminish the pureness of love.

And don’t worry about losing. If it is right, it happens—The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.

As cliché as it sounds, if you are meant to be together, you’ll be together. If it’s really right, then time is insignificant. This sentiment reminds me of the ending of the Henry Van Dyke poem, Time Is: “...for those who Love, Time is not.” If you love someone, you will always have them. I promise. 

Love sculpture, Robert Indiana

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

I Saw You Dancing

I Saw You Dancing

I saw you dancing last night on the roof

of your house all alone.

I felt your heart longing for the

Friend.

I saw you whirling

beneath the soft bright rose

that hung from an invisible stem

in the sky,

So I began to change into my best clothes

in hopes of joining you.

Even though

I live a thousand miles away.

And if

you had spun like an immaculate sphere

just two more times,

Then bowed again so sweetly to

the east,

You would have found God and me

standing so near

and lifting you

into our arms.

I saw you dancing last night near the roof

of this world.

I want this yearning and intimacy that Hafiz speaks of. This entire poem is so beautiful. What a wonderful idea that two people can be so close, despite the distance of one thousand miles. There has never been an easy way to describe love, in part because it can astound you. Hafiz feels for the object of his affection so strongly despite the distance. That is incredibly astounding. 

The last line of this poem gets me every time: I saw you dancing near the roof of this world. That could mean so many things. Moreover, would you join him/her?