Dedicated to Dajena Mason
But then we need eagle eyes and mammoth hearts
to discover beauty in this carnage
by supposedly peaceful religions
and benign governments, their counterparts!
Or be like the Angel in Vatican
on her holy throne, the humblest among
all the men of powers in today’s world
and sing of love, unrequited nonetheless!
Thus I wreathed and pined with my quill at hand
drought parched, waiting for the words to unfurl
while dozens of my alter egos died
in bloodstained Lahore and Brussels this year
and Paris in the last, the rest already dead
in old Nineveh, Palmyra and Palestine,
until the queen of Mount Helicon rose and sang
her Aeolian song that sprinkled me with the wine of Hippocrene
and lo, how a fiery phoenix from the ashes is born
to sing of eternal peace and love on his unfurled wings!
.
You are so fortunate to have found an uplifting voice in a friend . Bless her! This one is a masterpiece of sorts . I had to read and re read and absorb . Your admiration for your friend has fuelled the flames for a passionate piece here ! The more I read , the more I am left in awe.
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you know I believe that to be a poem, a piece of text must have at least 3 layers of meaning embedded… and I am fortunate to have such a special individual as my friend.
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Reblogged this on Books and More.
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thank you!
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Dear friend…I have learned, from my many years on earth, that there are no peaceful religions and there are no benign governments. There are only lies, manipulation, greed, and the desire for power over others, from institutions and our so called “rulers.” Once you know that you can avoid their lies and selfishness and see them for what they are. Basically you can just ignore them and let them play among themselves until the get too unruly and the revolution starts. Revolutions, of course, simply put new people in power who end up becoming what the old people were, at least it seems to be that way. LOL That’s the game we are playing. Violence, hatred, war, death, inequality, and all the rest. I believe we need to stand against that but it will never go away. Religion is covered in blood, rape, inquisitions, torture and deceit. Governments as well. That’s what they are. That’s what they do. Men kill everything, the earth, the water, the air, each other, all the animals. We have to face that before we can change it. We are death to everything around us, everything we touch.
People don’t start wars, religions and governments do. It’s just the people who DIE for the greedy churches and government official who stay safe and always want more.
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yes, I agree completely, ‘peaceful’ religions and ‘benign’ government were my poor attempts at irony!
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Ah, thank you for that:)
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you are welcome!
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Beautifully written and poignant. Love the image of the Phoenix rising from the ashes. It is an image used over and over but in my mind, always powerful , time and time again.
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thank you! yes I agree it is being used a lot but I hope it has not become a cliché yet!
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No, I don’t think it’s cliche at all. It stands the test of time 🙂
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that is very kind of you!
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wow Amit, that is one fantastic tribute to a talented poetess who deserves every word written.
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thank you! I am humbled!
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You’re welcome 🙂
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my pleasure!
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The application of classic motifs to events happening now is artful. And, more importantly, meaningful. Thank you!
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you are most cordially welcome, am honored that you found my work meaningful!
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Reblogged this on MOONSKITTLES and commented:
Once again, I am left speechless by my dear friend Amit, for the depth of his work, and the beauty he infuses in everything. I love those last two lines my friend and I am humbled by your dedication. May your days ahead be blessed! You are such a great poet and great human being!
If you have not visited his blog, please do so and you will be hooked.
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I am simultaneously highlighted, honored and humbled… it sure is one of the brightest day in my life as a poet! thank you!
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Your light is bright enough on your own, dear Amit, but thank you for generously sharing it with us.
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but any light reflected on a shining mirror will have an added intensity to its brightness, no?
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The more, the mirrorier 😉
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of course your Highness, if you say so!
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😀 😀 yes, yes the knight!
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sorry, fell asleep… I hope you are now in the world of dreams!
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Cheers for the sleep!!! 🙂 🙂
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yes… three cheers, now it is your turn!
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My turn for sleep??! It is 10:35 am, in San Diego 🙂
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oops… sorry, I was momentarily under the impression that the earth was flat and it is night everywhere… :p too much Pythagoras of late
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Ahahaha, my favorite theorem 🙂 mmmm.. I feel there is a poem somewhere there..
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hopefully, when the night is more solitary … but such wishes from you have magical powers and they can do wonders, I am telling you from my firsthand experience!
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Hehehe.. I am in the middle of a late breakfast, otherwise I would have raced you 😀
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😀 am I fortunate that you chose to take your breakfast late today or unfortunate?
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bahahahahaha 🙂 you are always fortunate! don’t ever doubt it!
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you have my gratitude for that!
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All done 🙂 🙂
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may you have a good day ahead!
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😀 😀 thank you, and I hope you like the poem 🙂
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reveling in it!
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So happy to hear that 🙂
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🙂
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Oh yes. Phoenix. Risen from the ashes, stronger than before. Loved this and love the dedication ☺️
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was feeling barren then her words fertilized my mind again…
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Yes, these words could do those things to you ☺️ Powerful. You could help or hurt people with them. But you already knew that 😀
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I hope to make my words helpful, although I must admit that at times my ego takes over and tries to hurt as well!
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I think ego comes out and hurts when he feels threatened, or sees competition. You know, hurt first before being hurt. Defense mechanism. 😉
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yes but how can I be hurt when I’ve got nothing to lose? or in the words of my favorite band, “How can I be lost
If I’ve got nowhere to go? … And how can I blame you
When it’s me I can’t forgive?”
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Sometimes you hurt even when you have nothing to lose. And, I had to Google those lyrics. I like some of their songs, but not all ☺️
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:p my sincerest apologies for your trouble … I like their softer songs more like “Nothing Else Matters” and “Fade to Black” but I find their lyrics coming very close to that of Pink Floyd in poetic sublimity, which is a very hard feat to achieve.
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Please, don’t apologise. That’s what Google is for ☺️ I am not much into heavy metal but there’s something about Nothing Else Matters. Another song would be The Unforgiven.
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and yet somehow I feel you would find the lyrics of Wherever I May Roam very compatible with your spirit (of not giving up but going back to the drawing board)… have you heard/read it?
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I heard it a long time ago and forgot about it. Again, Googled it. These lines are my favourite:
“…and my ties are severed clean
The less I have the more I gain
Off the beaten path I reign”
I love song lyrics, too. It amazes me – with the melody and the rhythm they are gorgeous, but they’re even magical without. ☺️
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i am partially deaf to music, so i dig for lyrics first and yes they are magical without the melody and rhythm
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The Fiery Phoenix is reborn. Now we wait.
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🙂 thank you!
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Amit, this is a great piece. Be proud, my friend! And I hope your voice carries across the seven seas!
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😀 that’s very kind of you but I am on the verge of turning thank you into a cliché of sorts… I hope so too, there has already been too much bloodshed a long time ago!
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Couldn’t agree more!
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damn son, that was epic! 😀
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😀 thanks a lot Papa! :p
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AAAHAHAHA, you’re too funny! XDDDDDDD
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fortunately I had the ma’am accident earlier or I would have had it now… you have my sincere gratitude for your generous compliment!
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lmao
i mean, the characters are literally epic anyway, lol.
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😀
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WOW Amit, I think it is my turn to be in absence of words, for they have taken refuge within the eloquent pen of yours. What an honor to receive this piece my dear friend. Your prowess in the art of written verse is a lullaby sending me to my sweet sleep.
I absolutely loved it! Smiling!
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thank you! I think I will add another couplet to it about after being sprinkled with the wine how a phoenix rose from the ashes… otherwise it sounds somewhat incomplete!
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Then I will wait and re-post it tomorrow, if it agrees with you. My eyes are ready to dream 😀
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please go ahead… with dreaming of course… I have updated it and will eagerly wait for your repost till tomorrow!
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