"charioteer" poems
It is said in Mahabharata that Krishna,
Who was an incarnation of Vishnu,
Was the Charioteer of Arjun,
The most expert archer.
And Arjun was among the Pandavas,
Pandavas're the legendary winners,
Of the epic Mahabharata War,
That killed uncountable men.
We observe several such incarnations,
In the Kalyuga's modern era as well,
Guiding those who seek guidance,
Showing path to those who need.
I was before joining Hello Poetry,
So lost - so confused - so troubled,
My thoughts so jammed my brain,
But now I find myself calm - so cool.
Here on Hello Poetry,
We have our own Charioteer,
Guiding our own poetry Chariot,
He is an expert, his name is York, Eliot.
Mar 29, 2013
Mar 29, 2013 at 1:00 AM UTC
God of the golden bow,
And of the golden lyre,
And of the golden hair,
And of the golden fire,
Charioteer
Of the patient year,
Where---where slept thine ire,
When like a blank idiot I put on thy wreath,
Thy laurel, thy glory,
The light of thy story,
Or was I a worm---too low crawling for death?
O Delphic Apollo!
The Thunderer grasp'd and grasp'd,
The Thunderer frown'd and frown'd;
The eagle's feathery mane
For wrath became stiffen'd---the sound
Of breeding thunder
Went drowsily under,
Muttering to be unbound.
O why didst thou pity, and beg for a worm?
Why touch thy soft lute
Till the thunder was mute,
Why was I not crush'd---such a pitiful germ?
O Delphic Apollo!
The Pleiades were up,
Watching the silent air;
The seeds and roots in Earth
Were swelling for summer fare;
The Ocean, its neighbour,
Was at his old labour,
When, who---who did dare
To tie for a moment, thy plant round his brow,
And grin and look proudly,
And blaspheme so loudly,
And live for that honour, to stoop to thee now?
O Delphic Apollo!
3k
Love was the lone window lit,
in that long wintry night,
beacon light of his winding path,
the lips that softly whispered and
evoked dreams, that'd become real,
for his wonderment, later, much later.
When he slipped and fell in to
the deep pit of long, endless silence,
love was his ladder to climb
to the rainbow bridge of hope
she used to frequent in evenings
though won't recognize him
not once, even for the old times' sake.
Love compelled him to compose,
soulful songs that'd stop the flow of tears,
his eyes never went dry until then
even while sleeping, his head was
on pillows of fire.
Love was the stone wall, that shielded
him from the raging fire of misery,
the rain that came down in torrents
when his long torn, desolate heart
was parched dry in cruel drought
too was love itself.
He was washed ashore alone,
when he heard the whispers,
love was speaking to his psyche
from near in a comforting tone,
then love held his hand,led him
across the marshes and swamp
sharp thorns and stones wounded him
gathering nightmares chased
and haunted him.
And then, love came along, in a disguise,
but his eyes waiting for long recognized,
love, comforted, chanted potent mantras
that helped him endure pain, gave him hope.
Love was his brave charioteer, the messenger
who told that all that was thought lost
is still in his possession as light within.
May 4, 2016
May 4, 2016 at 10:20 AM UTC
I'm an enigma, a quitter and survivor, a pioneer weary of the change that literally defines the career
In desperate need of a savior or at the very least a lucky rabbits foot souvenir
One to keep me free and clear from the type of bad karma that's over the top severe
I've been thinking I don't belong here, I don't know if it's me talking that talk or the fear
I let it take the wheel and steer, my driving advise from the rear seat falls on a deaf ear
I guess I ain't suppose to interfere with the charioteer, the why isn't clear
Now I've gotta kick it into another gear to commandeer my own life like a buccaneer
This deer in headlights nonsense won't get me anywhere near my "new beginnings" frontier
I lost track of my trail guide mountaineer, forgotten about like I'm the fourth musketeer
The sheer volume of every collected tear almost drowns me at least once a year
Or acts like pavement when I smear across it after falling from the atmosphere
My guardian angel is a horrible puppeteer, seems to disappear when needed most like he's the one with crippling fear
...go figure
©2021
Jan 4, 2021
Jan 4, 2021 at 2:05 AM UTC
Get thee behind me. Even as, heavy-curled,
Stooping against the wind, a charioteer
Is snatched from out his chariot by the hair,
So shall Time be; and as the void car, hurled
Abroad by reinless steeds, even so the world:
Yea, even as chariot-dust upon the air,
It shall be sought and not found anywhere.
Get thee behind me, Satan. Oft unfurled,
Thy perilous wings can beat and break like lath
Much mightiness of men to win thee praise.
Leave these weak feet to tread in narrow ways.
Thou still, upon the broad vine-sheltered path,
Mayst wait the turning of the phials of wrath
For certain years, for certain months and days.
2k
you can drive me anywhere you like
i won't leave you tonight
May 20, 2014
May 20, 2014 at 2:26 AM UTC
The all attractive mighty-
Blue-skinned idol deity,
Grasping all suffer and misery
Call himself The Hari.
Even a leaf can symbol a devotee
Being natkhatlal is what Maiyaa worry;
His existence is an endless rath,
Knowledge is what defines Jagannath.
The Lotus-Eyed he is-
Lord of Love whom we wish,
Charioteer to Arjuna
Raas and Kanhaiyya,
Together we say-
Hari! hari!
Mar 21, 2021
Mar 21, 2021 at 6:10 PM UTC
‘What will you buy when Christmas comes
To show me your love, dear heart?
Will you fill my bower with fruit and flowers
To enjoy while we’re apart?
Will you buy the things that you promised me,
Like a bangle for my wrist,
Or a diamond, topaz, sapphire ring,
Or a giant amethyst?’
He stood, head down and he held her hand
As she lay so pale in the bed,
He didn’t tell her his job was lost
Or what his employer said.
There were charges he would have to face
That would fill her heart with gloom,
That by Christmas Day he would be away
And not be returning soon.
‘I’d rather give you the crescent Moon
As a coronet, dear Tess,
And pluck the stars from the Milky Way
As sequins for your dress,
Then call on the Charioteer, my dear
For your transport to the heights,
Where the gods will fall on their knees to bless
This glimpse of paradise.’
She smiled, then faded away to sleep
And dream of a ghostly tower,
Where her prince stood long at the battlements
At the height of a fateful hour,
An army lay in the fields about
In a siege for her, no less,
‘We’ve come for the Queen of Golders Green,
And we won’t leave without Tess!’
While he sat bowed in a lonely cell
And wept at his sense of loss,
He’d only needed another month
And the price would be worth the cost,
He’d not be there when she needed him
As she glided out through the door,
The Judge fixed him with a puzzled eye,
‘Just who was the coffin for?’
On Christmas Eve she awoke before
Her heart pit-pattered and stopped,
Her fading eyes had looked to the door
Along with her hopes, they dropped.
But in her hair was a crescent Moon
And stars were all over her dress,
While a Charioteer came into the room,
‘I’ve a chariot here, for Tess!’
David Lewis Paget
Dec 3, 2013
Dec 3, 2013 at 11:07 AM UTC
* * * * * * *
I drove a chariot for Egypt’s dead gods,
obeyed decrees of an angry Pharaoh.
Vision widens where hope seems to narrow
as coral crusts the rims and axle-rods.
Submerged upon the sands my army’s host;
Erythrean currents their secrets keep.
The waters gave way, drowned me in the deep
while God led you forth toward your promised coast.
There was no choice for me, the charioteer.
A tyrant sent me forth to hunt you down;
pursuing you, I thought your end was near.
In the descent, I lost my star and crown.
My lord was false, while yours continues strong…
I rise from depths to further you along.
Mar 5, 2017
Mar 5, 2017 at 9:50 PM UTC
Love was the lone window lit in that long wintry night
the vivid book that kept talking even in sleep, evoked dreams
when he slipped in to the deep pit of dark blind abyss
love was the rope ladder to the rainbow bridge of hope
she frequented, but won't recognize his presence for a while.
love compelled him to compose songs that would stop
the flow of tears, his eyes were never dry even when slept,
it was the stone wall that shielded him from the fire of misery
the rain that came down in torrents when his broken heart
was parched dry in a cruel spell of drought that seemed endless.
Alone on the shore, washed by waves he heard those whispers
love speaking to his psyche, in a comforting tone, reminding mom,
gently love took him by his hand,led him through the rocky path
sharp thorns and rocks wounded him, gathering nightmares
chased and haunted him; love came along in many disguises
and comforted him,chanted potent mantras of endurance, gave hope
love was both the charioteer and messenger, true redeemer
Jan 30, 2015
Jan 30, 2015 at 10:47 AM UTC
The steed is rested
The charioteer is experienced
The track is known
Randomness rejoices
Preparing to attack
The charioteer’s skills are about to be assessed
By the hand’s strength
By the mind’s clarity
But above all
By the smile
That tames the unexpected
This chariot race
Has just become exciting!
Dec 2, 2012
Dec 2, 2012 at 5:00 PM UTC
Victoria's feet soaked deep down
Shuffled, wrecked under the alcoholic trail of thoughts
As the crevice of pane pulled
A chariot, enthralled was she
The resplendent charioteer hailed
The chandelier, glowing and gorgeous
Embraced and embarrassed as were they
Victoria leashed the chariot
The magnificent chariot boarding chandelier
Departed from the crevice of the pane
Pulling a trail of thoughts and beaming
Victoria growled and dreamt in peace..
Jul 10, 2018
Jul 10, 2018 at 1:31 PM UTC
Dream Self
You
have robbed me
of sleep
awake I count
the quickening seconds…
leaping like white buffaloes
touching the clouds
through the partially
drawn chiffon curtains
Your azure face
floats time lapsed
across the
night sky
exquisite arias
from Your kokopelli flute
caress my ears
Krishna divine charioteer
Your sweet chariot
swings low
the breath grows faint
and my pulse is
absent
I am no more.....
dream self
Nov 28, 2014
Nov 28, 2014 at 11:18 PM UTC
Death found me
in a bar
and told me that the body is the charioteer
and the mind the reigns.
I didn’t know what a chariot
or reign meant though.
Feb 22, 2016
Feb 22, 2016 at 1:36 PM UTC
Buddha tells me only love dispels hate
and I know he is right.
But I cannot help the torrential downpour
of fiery, biting words that fall out of my mouth
on occasion
only to be suspended in the frigid air
and sent back to settle at the bottom of my stomach as frozen stones of guilt.
And regret hangs heavy.
And I wonder if I will ever be golden enough
to be able to hold the reigns of my own chariot.
Jan 22, 2012
Jan 22, 2012 at 4:33 AM UTC
Meritamen was looking out and she saw ships beginning to land.
She understood that this meant war, and she had to command.
Her heart ached for her Hittite and Egyptian palaces, but she knew her duty.
Meritamen walked up to the front of the wall and began to survey.
A Trojan warrior asked her, So what should we do now, my queen?
She answered grimly, Drive them into the sea and let the waters hear their screams!
He then gently prodded, What is your name if you don’t mind me to ask?
She looked up and said, Essence, and this is your battle task.
Gather the troops so that we can drive the Greeks into the sea.
Let us make sure that no one gets away from us to flee.
Soon the Trojans were gathered outside the gates and Essence was in front.
She was in a chariot, and giving a warfare speech on top of the mount.
Soldiers, these intruders have invaded my adopted homeland and your place.
Do not be afraid of this race, and be emboldened to look at their face.
She raised her spear, and all of the troops began a loud cheer.
The Greeks disembarked soon felt a little terror and fear.
They expected surprise, but they knew that it was all lies.
By the view of all of the Trojans there before their eyes.
Essence urged her charioteer into the teeth of the Greeks.
She was ruthless in cutting down both the strong and the weak.
Achilles soon arrived on the scene, he was like a nightmare in a dream.
At the sound of him, Essence let out a primal, beastly scream.
She attacked him while they were both in chariots, did not get out of there.
Achilles killed one of her horses, and she killed his charioteer.
They both tumbled together, and it was a duel to the finish unfurled.
Between an Egyptian royalty and the strongest warrior in the world.
Essence took her spear and crashed it onto Achilles shield.
The spear broke into pieces, but the fixture bent and refused to yield.
Achilles aimed for her head, his purpose was to make her dead.
But she ducked and his sword hit the top of the chariot instead.
Essence then stabbed him in the calf muscle, between thigh and ankle.
Achilles brought his shield down on Essence’s armor, to crush the mantle.
Essence's backhanded spear ****** busted one of Achilles' back molars.
But Achilles drew out his sword, and nicked Essence right shoulder.
They were evenly matched, and Achilles never meant someone with such skill.
He stepped back in amazement, it would be a worthy ****
Just at that moment, a charioteer came in and took Achilles away.
Essence was panting and muttering to herself as a charioteer came for her, Another day.
Jan 17, 2019
Jan 17, 2019 at 1:12 PM UTC
I know the things I need to change
but I don't have the power yet
I want to be a charioteer
but I feel like a marionette
now every day I take small steps
and train my brain with little things
so one day I will have the strength
to break the strings
and take the reins
Aug 15, 2021
Aug 15, 2021 at 3:24 PM UTC
Though he can't walk, he still wanders through the corridors of his memory. Peering through his framed lenses, he waits for the image focus.
A monument,
So resplendent!
The gleam of
That light ,white
brick, casting the
grainy shine
of a castle.
These bricks were laid, by family brought together
immersed in the collective, tangible suffering of the world.
Family brought together
by truth. The human condition.
In a way it was beautiful,
mimicking the opening of a nightly
flower to the star’s light.
In a way it was sad
like the task of Sisyphus,
marching ever up the hill so hard.
However it came about, it forced a channel
of inspiring wisdom. As if intelligence dragged
it’s finger through the sand to create empty space
for the effervescence, paths for thoughts and reactions.
Life evolved, layering the infrastructure of free will,
driving it forth like an enraged charioteer, bouncing back and forth
between dissonant realization cacophonic syncopation
Trying absurdly to find the resonant tones.
The rest of the memory
Lucid now,
As if the dirt dropped so violently into my cup of water
Finally settled.
The memory stands propped, on the hobbled thing I call my mind.
We became vehement paradox
Warring day and night
as if we were a polar pair of docs.
We recklessly constructed infection
and remedy that we might
Try so sublimely to cleanse the setting horizon
of mosaic shadow mask grins,
clouds masking the task.
ending with such a blast, as wide as
the gaping maw of the endless
known only as desire.
These dusty eyelids watched the horizon lose it's light
and in perfect harmony become blind
to it's shadow. Remembering softly was my duty.
Dreaming was always a taste of what they call the little death.
Now that I have remembered, death whispers to me.
Beckoning as if an old friend, seeping through like
the floral aroma good coffee.
Feb 19, 2016
Feb 19, 2016 at 1:16 PM UTC
And were it not for the sun
would there be dream?
Would cloud cry upon the day?
I would find, you and I, slavishly cuddled ‘round dragon breath
and every sight would be for sore eyes, lest they be blind.
Every man would be a beggar.
Children cackle in the dark.
Women, free of childbirth, are instead consumed by the world.
Without the sun there is no age.
We are what we haven’t chosen to be.
This is what I see when you’re not with me.
Emptiness separating reality from understanding.
And I call to you.
And I call to you.
And I scream for you!
And I boil alive in the broth, my own anger...
Whatever I can cook up to feed the hunger that you inspire.
But
a peace shatters the storm.
A shaft of light jousts the gloom like heavenly charioteer.
What else could it be?
It is you, so long as you shine for me.
May 22, 2017
May 22, 2017 at 4:31 AM UTC
we wait.
Gnōthi Seautón (Γνωθι Σαυτόν)
know thyself, is a fundamental
"must do"
for any planning
to die right…
#meditation
“Zi zhī”
Word of me, my word… known shown
“Atmanam viddhi”
Katha Upanishad:
“Atmanam rathinam viddhi,
shariram ratham eva tu”
(Know thyself as the charioteer,
and thy body as the chariot)
Nov 27, 2024
Nov 27, 2024 at 6:47 PM UTC
it's been left to Us, what stayed
under Our eyes--as this world in
count foregone.
where's the charioteer swept away
by Our coitus, He weeps for the
colorless and scentless petals that
we consummate our love upon.
we will never again die alone...Our
Union will remain upon letting go,
no more a wilting form cut by the slash
of the mouth bereft of breath.
we breathe the breathless breath into one
an other my love...keep me, as I keep you.
Jul 31, 2019
Jul 31, 2019 at 12:54 PM UTC
NIGHT SKY'S LAMENT
By Alan Stallsmith
Remember the time Charioteer seemed to be our own?
We knew its galaxy path by memorization as a secret only the two of us shared.
Remember when we soared high with Birds Of Paradise?
Oh how the spectrum would leave us breathless as the Winged Horse trotted quietly across the sky.
But these days I only taste the smoke of Dragon.
The Water Serpent pulls me under lonely ocean.
And I would grab constellations for you as they light up the night but your eyes as distant as Andromeda and Berenice's Hair is now covered in shame.
For I can no longer try to tear you from Cassiopeia's shallow spell because Vanity has become your Northern Crown.
So I reminisce instead, with broken compass in hand, a shard of hope that Perseus will bring you back to me, exactly as you were when the universe began.
Jan 15, 2018
Jan 15, 2018 at 8:41 AM UTC
Let faith be your charioteer,
And you tread across without fear;
Live each day with gratefulness you bear,
And you'll ultimately flourish year after year!
Nigar Rao
Oct 8, 2020
Oct 8, 2020 at 12:29 PM UTC