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Open Poetry #36
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The Usefulness Of Nothing Explained
| Open Poetry #36 |
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The Usefulness Of Nothing Explained |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Two move, in no direction, No words are spoken- 'till some uttered noise They feel need be, The night is silent; The one that follows, leads. Their path winds down invisible warrens Towards a place that long existed Predating what is ancient, Where first was formed the holy nothing. One is white, one is shade One dark eye-one lite The moon eye speaks Which makes retreat, Quiet from the site.. Mouth-sound rises up From she that's bright, But also moves the lips Of he, the one that's dark as night. "The space between Is all that matters; Blessed are the openings, That part the leaves-- Without them we'd be blind And none could see, The solid form that signifies a tree." "Holy is the empty space Above all earth bound waters. Hand in hand it gently aids (The mystic God of Gravity) With even pressure down, As help to keep the ocean In its proper place" Yin retires from her verbs, from Yang A pleasant smile emits, both grin... The bright side, holds a stick between Digits of his hands, rubbing Back and forth, the circle twists Expanding strings, The stones on ends Make gentle beats upon the drum, Releasing prayers that are stored within... (He speaks, in voice That rises also up from she) "Like magic, wheelwrights, form a shape That's traced by edges made of cast, A sphere, with spokes that reach the ground; But space, around is most revered. All usefulness depends on things Intangible-invisible, a slight of hand Of weight, resistance-thrust, and pressure down. Pots are thrown from earthen clay To form a vessel-tall, and hollow. High or low advantage gained, Depends, on if the urn Is potter-made, with high sides-deep Or low-sides shallow... so says they The urns an empty house Its rim, a gridless, window frame That lets the light, and air play in; Tradesmen, form their holes in things Some ports to lose, and some to gain The potters pot holds water tight , The wordsmiths pane lets sight without (Empty space is what is gained) By work the two make useful things That only nothing separates, Between the sky and ground.. With that both leave (as one) depart From place, where beauty is explained By empty space...two, though one heart beats In perfect rhythm, perfect nothing all around... (Inspired by the "Tao Te Ching, Chapter 11, A. Waley, translation) |
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| © Copyright 2005 ford hume - All Rights Reserved | |||
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LeeJ Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296 |
without one, there would be no other... incredibly written Ford, with great inspiration and powerful structure, just to tempt the reader's eyes to go faster and faster to learn more as they go, now, I'm going back for another dive see ya  |
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Startime55 Member Elite
since 2003-04-05
Posts 2148Alberta, Canada |
One can't help but read through to the end when captured by your words...Very well done...*big hugs* |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
ice It is the song of the wind. Enjoyed |
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stevebrklynnyc Member
since 2004-01-04
Posts 292GA, Camden |
Wow, this is where I would like my writing to be some day, awsome! |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Ford This is great! Especially liked "The space between Is all that matters; Blessed are the openings, That part the leaves-- Without them we'd be blind And none could see, The solid form that signifies a tree." IWIWT by the way. Have you seen my muse? |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Martie chose my favorite lines too.  That space between, the balast, the mandorla, the ecotone...most desirable and hardest to maintain. Much enjoyed. And I wish I'd read yours before I'd written mine.   |
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froggy Senior Member
since 2003-06-23
Posts 1893Michigan |
Beautiful read before heading off to dreamland. Hope to see you saturday. :-) <^^> Today the pond....Tomorrow the world |
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Elan Member
since 2002-05-03
Posts 382State of Wide Eye |
Ford, this is exquisite. But it feels as it is but a part of more, so I would implore, explore, for you've peeked through the door, to forevermore. |
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ice Member Elite
since 2003-05-17
Posts 3404Pennsylvania |
Thank you, dear poet friends, for reading and the wonderful comments... The Tao seems to be my niche, my help to grasp..I have just begun to touch its meaning, though I have been a student of it for years, unknowingly... Peace and tranquility to all...may the nothing bless you. --------------ice ><> " We work with the substantial, but the emptiness is what we use." " The Master acts on what she feels and not what she sees. She shuns the latter, and prefers to seek the former." " If you can empty your mind of all thoughts your heart will embrace the tranquility of peace. Watch the workings of all of creation, but contemplate their return to the source. Lao Tzu (570-490 BC). |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
This is impressive, Ice. I will read it again and again and again. It's odd, I was playing with trying to learn how to use pastels tonight (self-taught, not really an artisit at all...but a wanna be one) and I began to copy a batik stillife I have hanging on the wall. For the first time, I began to look at the space around the object rather than the object -- my point of focus was not the focal point...lol...and it turned out pretty good. I thought about this when I read part of your poem. Now how that truly relates to your poem, I can't say; just thought it interesting.  .....jo |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
Absolutely empressive writing Ford. This one I shall tuck into my library so that I might come back to it and savor it over and over. Truly sir, one of your best and it seems that I have much to learn, in more ways than one. Brava. yesterday is gone |
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