Don't scowl or frown-
be prepared to be let down
life is a Darwinian jungle
its keyword is: SURVIVAL!

It's better
to keep your story
few are interested
that's the harsh reality!

Some live deeply
others, only shallowly
yet both categories
in their own way can be happy

If you're truly smart
you'd shut up!

Dark Evening clouds
shedding last light on water
an eagle fies by

For most:
life is  more
the daily doing-
little thinking
hardly any philosophising

People live 50%
      in the past
     30%  in the present
     20%   in the future-
     is this an accurate measure?

What I want
impoverishes me
what I don't
makes me rich-- truly!

Love is in the kitchen
no longer in the bedroom-
nature has spoken !

Over none
do I have any edge
I can say honestly
even at my ripe old age

Are you easy
or difficult to live with?
Please tell me-
honestly!

If there's
no such need
I'll be silent-
it's not the time to speak

and if
the right time to
my words
would be few.

Confucius wrote in 600 BCE---

I am not slighted by others not knowing me,

only by my not knowing others.


This is true humility

Pain is suffered alone
to others unknown

On my own
I wouldn't have known
what I desired-
music's glory
and the grandeur of poetry

on which I've fed
since I was a teenager
strengthened by time
to last into infinity :

herein is sacredness
the sublimest expression
of man's heart and soul-
life's endless poignancy

in this my religion
I've found-- verily-
on sanctified ground
I stand--- my life is blessed fully!

Where poetry is and smiles
there's vibrant life
the best of the heart
is expressed despite whatever strife

every moment we'll celebrate
all sorrows and regrets we'll set aside
embraced by beauty, love and truth
in such endless  bliss we'll all abide

I don't need
to be reminded:
I feel it
to my very skin
and bone-
this my frailty
and mortality

every old person
on this
does reflect-
alone-

few years left
in the last winters -
gazing
at the snows falling
each flake
is like a human tear
while the frail leaves
are falling
one by one
on the waiting
desolate ground-

no question
will I ask
where heaven
will be found

I've laughed
I've wept

I've fallen
I've risen

I've sung
I've been dumb

I've gone
forward
and stepped
backward

I've dreamt
and seen
them fade

I've lent
a hand
when I could
and not asked
to be reciprocated

on promises made
by friends
I've witnessed
their sad failing

I've loved
but never hated

into the utmost
depths of myself
I've delved
there's nothing
left
to be lamented
or regretted

how calm
is tonight
there isn't
a single light
in the sky

I hear
the winds
in their moan
and sigh
yet I
not for
a moment
am afraid
that I might die
ere the break
of the morning bright

from the hills
a gentle echo
drifts to my ears:
be glad
feel blessed
when
the hour is nigh

hold nothing
feel empty
let go
of every
earthly thing

welcome
celebrate
the greatest
peace
the most exquisite
beauty
that's drawing by

this moment
worship and embrace

sing, sing
a song of gratitude
of joy, of delight

smile
do not cry
in the darkness
is the  blessed light!

The world will leave us wanting
this is mankind's perennial plight
every want enslaves and oppresses
with its relentless might

none is ever with their lot satisfied
with this,  personal freedom takes flight
each is imprisoned but unaware
it's akin to one's moral suicide

In response to an idea of G.S. Shaw on man creating and finding himself:

Creating oneself is a fundamental Confucian idea (600 BCE)-  this is the ideal of the junzi (the superior man) who has fully cultivated himself through vigorous and disciplined education and becomes a role-model who is fit to serve in society and government.

In achieving this, he has found himself and his calling.

The midway
       between past and future
       the straggling of now
       in the cross-over of time

      the height of life's drama
      to be and to become
       the strife and struggle
       for the best outcome-

      the heavy falling-down
      the rising despite the harm
      strengthened anyhow
      not to let oneself down

       the resurrection
       from the luxuriant ground
       where fertility has replaced the grime
        here, at last,  ultimate freedom is found!

Grant me kindness
not success:
in this alone
I'll be fully blessed

It's not that
I don't want your company
it's rather that being alone
sets me free

we each live
within our world - ultimately
to be totally free
though in dire misery-

such we all are
each a silent story
our deepest part
we can't share with anybody-

it's not that
I'm insensitive - it's rather be
my own wound to bear
to overcome every adversity

May I say this: ?


I don't wish to be larger than myself;

I'll be silent, humble and gentle,

be the self that's acceptable to me, without pride or discontent;

quietly I live and life's beauty I deeply cherish;

I don't need to impress the world on any count

and, when my time has come to bid farewell,

gladly and gratefully I'll accept as I drift into that blessed slumber

I am a follower of Zen.

May I say this: ?


I don't wish to be larger than myself;

I'll be silent, humble and gentle,

be the self that's acceptable to me, without pride or discontent;

quietly I live and life's beauty I deeply cherish;

I don't need to impress the world on any count

and, when my time has come to bid farewell,

gladly and gratefully I'll accept as I drift into that blessed slumber

You don't need
to go to a ship
a lady to court-
that would be stupid!

It's not that I'm insensitive
the path of solitude I choose
as it makes me a whole person
away from the crowd and its invective

aloneness is sanity, not grief
such clarity does it serve
looking reverently into my inner self
life is calm, congruent and such relief

I'm old-fashioned
but not antiquated
from the past I absorbed
its undying wisdom

our age does itself wrong
if what went before we abandon
its each noble thought is a rare diamond
never to be ignored or forgotten

such imbibed and inspired
into a new life we are awakened :
the past is our guide and mentor
such legacy can never be stolen

I'm old-fashioned
but not antiquated
from the past I absorbed
its undying wisdom

our age does itself wrong
if what went before we abandon
its each noble thought is a rare diamond
never to be ignored or forgotten

such imbibed and inspired
into a new life we are awakened :
the past is our guide and mentor
such legacy can never be stolen

I was yesterday
for sure
I'm today
in doubtful evolution -
tomorrow?
I don't know
all else is
pure speculation

Words
more words
yet more
and more-

hush
let silence
take over

hold back
step aside -
in that blank state
essence
and meaning
will emerge
from each distilled word

Life-
the inside
and the outside
if out of balance
it isn't right-

neither fighting
nor tightly-holding:
only the interplaying
of expanding
and contracting
the together holding
in equilibrium -reaching

the Yin of softening
the Yang of shining
the inseparable twinning

Tick tock, tick tock
. we must take stock
  life ends, my friend
  when stops the clock!

I'm in several parts
still a child---the past
is more real than the present
those innocent moments--they last

to remind me
of  unblemished beauty
of truth that's immutable
of friendship that's purity-

how the world has changed
in its infinite nonchalance!
the human touch has vanished
our bond is in severance!

The Eden that was once my joy
by time has been sorely stolen
silent tears I now shed alone
my heart is bereft and broken!

Why would I want
to be remembered?
Had I ever done
anything that was great?

Don't hold on
to yourself too tightly
try letting go-gently

and enter
into the sanctum
of your inner calm

self defeats itself
in wanting to become
larger than itself--it courts harm

and bears painfully
the greatest burden
with its peace stolen

  so few verily
  know how to be empty
  and lead lives in such agony

West:    Charge ahead!

Zen:     Step back

Poetry is more than a friend
it's the voice of religion

I've no religion
but my own prayer
I reverently invent
consistent
with my conscience

Curb not your freedom
    it's that which gives your life
     the fullest expression

   or you'd but be a voice
   in the desert  most desolate
  not a single word of yours would be heard

I'll not leave here
nor be stopped
I'll have my say
all stirred up is my thought

this cruelty and injustice
I'll fight with full force
it's dehumanising
so much suffering it has caused

man's inhumanity
to his fellowmen
the worst of the human lot
I'll not cease to condemn

I'll not leave here--steadfast I'll stand
though an army they may summon:
it's a cause I deem worth dying for
this is the call of every decent man

After the utmost helplessness
the sufferer draws from his deepest resources
hitherto undiscovered and untapped
and mysteriously such plight he has conquered -

the human spirit can't be broken
no part of it can ever be stolen:
it takes the greatest pain for its resurrection
no ally does he need--- he struggles and triumphs alone

Less is manageable
more is trouble

I can't even teach myself
how could I any other?

People with extreme views
should be avoided
otherwise they would
have you voided

Let your day
be a silent prayer

Don't judge me
you don't know me enough
as I'd not render
unto you such-

let's lead our own lives
each in  grace and in good faith
only our own business we'll mind
silently our joys to celebrate

our own sorrows to gently bear
with courage, without bitterness
unknown to the world outside
in our singular loneliness

my final hour will arrive
this same path we'll tread
each their own farewell to bid
nothing else would need to be said

I ain't young
any more
time has spoken
but I don't deplore

you'll see me
at the dance-hall
in rhythm and rhyme
unfazed at all

I'll be at the village-fair
to taste the latest ware
and admire the ladies
in their best flashy wear

if invited I'll go
to the stage to sing
though not a good singer
I'll give my everything

don't you say to me:
I'm too old and a useless thing
my heart is the green meadow still
I'm as buoyant as the brightest spring!

Retreat
isn't defeat
nor cowardice-
it's courage
to step back
in patience
and humility
to reflect
to later return
to exercise
the right act-

never mind
the mockery faced
hold your own
in gentleness :
be unscathed
nothing can shake
the foundation
of your faith:
there's no need
to be fazed
or react

be calm
in equilibrium
be set-
from the highest mountain
look down to earth
alone
but unafraid-
a conqueror
you shall emerge!

My name is missing
from the list
what a joy
what a relief!

Since I know myself
why would I want
to be known by anyone else?