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OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2005-12-08 09:48 AM


Sad Stranger
21 August 2005

Sad stranger,
tell me your volcanoes
and your tiny wild flowers,
sing me your secrets
in notes slow and sacred,
whisper your heart-thoughts
without fear of betrayal,
point out your pathways
rocky and sunlit.

Bestow on me that honour and dignity
and I will listen and feel
with my soul
and my mind
and my heart
and I will honour you in turn
by not offering thoughtless advice.
I will simply ask questions
of deep concern
that I hope will warm your heart,
open your mind,
strengthen your soul,
allay your fears
and point you forward

. . . to do the same
for the next sad stranger
for then you will discover
that the price of light
is to give it.
When it’s all about others,
- from the heart and not as a slave -
then it’s all about you.

- Owl

© Copyright 2005 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
Nightshade
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-08-31
Posts 13962
just out of reach
1 posted 2005-12-08 10:01 AM


Very warm and wise write.
Much enjoyed. hugs, Chris

Poetry is an echo, asking a shadow to dance.
~Carl Sandburg

bgj
Member
since 2005-11-09
Posts 128
Ga. USA
2 posted 2005-12-08 01:48 PM


"sing me your secrets
in notes slow and sacred,
whisper your heart-thoughts
without fear of betrayal,
point out your pathways
rocky and sunlit."
I enjoyed reading this. I think it's very well done. Great write,
bgj

LeeJ
Member Patricius
since 2003-06-19
Posts 13296

3 posted 2005-12-08 01:49 PM


. . . to do the same
for the next sad stranger
for then you will discover
that the price of light
is to give it.
When it’s all about others,
- from the heart and not as a slave -
then it’s all about you.


you are a wise owl...this was a gratifying read.  Thank you

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

4 posted 2005-12-08 01:52 PM


Do you perhaps have a book, a collection of your work?

I enjoy reading you immensely, and your gentle way with words is good medicine for me.

Gentle Spirit
Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989

5 posted 2005-12-08 01:54 PM


Wise and gentle, your words.
Thank you.

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
6 posted 2005-12-08 03:02 PM


Thank you Nightshade, bgj, LeeJ, Serenity Blaze and Gentle Spirit.  Your wonderful, warm words are balm to my spirit.

Serenity Blaze, I haven't published anything (I don't actually want to - and nobody seems to understand that, least of all my daughter-in-law - she has threatened to have my poetry published after I am dead - I said I'd haunt her if she did!), but I do have a collection on my PC and printed out.  It is called Bone Marrow.  Because it is too thick to put it into one binding I have it in 2 parts (Bone Marrow - Part 1 which is a 629kb file and Bone Marrow Part 2 which is a 94kb file with a separate Table of Contents for each).  If it isn't a problem for you to receive files of those sizes by email, I would be happy to email them to you.  I won't send them until you say it is OK, just in case it isn't.  I am very honoured that you asked about a book.  

- Owl

littlewing
Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655
New York
7 posted 2005-12-08 03:10 PM


Very nice, Diana . . .

and when we are open to learning that is where we gain strength, from that of others experience and insight.

Beautiful writing.

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
8 posted 2005-12-09 10:48 AM


Thanks littlewing.  What you say is so true.  However, although it is less painful to learn from others' experiences, we are less inclined to do so.  We usually choose the hard way of bumping our heads which is usually more effective, but we would be wiser to take the trouble to learn from others instead.

- Owl

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

9 posted 2005-12-09 03:17 PM


Owl? I am honored.

I confess tho, my pc is complaining about large files as it is, and I have no printer as of yet either.

But I'll tell ya what--I will save what you have posted here to floppy, and oh please feel free to send more to me personally.

and thanks for reminding me too. I used to keep such a book of my favorite Pip writers, and it was lost when we moved.

It's time to rebuild, methinks.


Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
10 posted 2005-12-09 05:52 PM


A poem of heart, owl.  You have a lovely way of looking at life that warms me.  Thank you!  
Magnus
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-10-10
Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA
11 posted 2005-12-09 06:32 PM


The rich man,  humbled by his toils is the
one who reaps the rewards of his own mistakes
IF he sees the treasure of learning from
them....and going forward.

Very Wise Owl you are....yes, very wise!

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
12 posted 2005-12-09 10:30 PM


Diana~
I like the feel of the Spiritual awareness of this piece~

*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*No matter what I search for ...
let me know when it is LOVE that I find*~ <))><

Email -       noles1@totcon.com       

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
13 posted 2005-12-09 11:30 PM


Serenity Blaze, I understand about a full PC.  I had the same problems until the birth of Lilian (my laptop) a couple of months ago.  So I will just email you some from time to time.  If I have already posted it and you have it, just delete it.  If I send too much, or your computty gets too full, just let me know not to send you any more and I will.  I am sad you lost your pip poets book, but am glad I inspired you to rebuild one.  There are few, if any, poetry boards which have so many excellent and kind poets.  What a feast of poetry can be found here!

Martie, thank you for your kind and encouraging words.

Magnus, thank you, but it seems to me that you should be noticing how wise you are, yourself!

Thanks, Marge.  Yes, there are so many important things that only poets (it seems) identify, acknowledge and appreciate.

- Owl

[This message has been edited by OwlSA (12-10-2005 12:04 AM).]

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
14 posted 2005-12-10 06:22 AM


"When it’s all about others,
- from the heart and not as a slave -
then it’s all about you."

Well, goodness gracious me, I think she's got it!  Loved the story and message here.  Well done!



JamesMichael
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA
15 posted 2005-12-10 06:26 PM


Enjoyed...James
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
16 posted 2005-12-11 01:14 AM


Thanks Honeybunch - the rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain, LOL.

Thanks James, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

- Owl

Earl Brinkman
Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan
17 posted 2010-05-30 08:19 AM


You offer good words of advice to live in this crazy world of ours.  Thank you.
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
18 posted 2010-05-30 09:16 AM


Thank you Earl.  Yes, our world seems crazy, but there is so much good and light and wonder in it that we don't always see, even in the people who seem twisted, though I must admit that I have made many mistakes in trusting people who weren't to be trusted - and learning not to trust, is a lesson I just don't seem to wrap my mind around, no matter how hard I try. When things get too bad - and that is often (smiles), I retreat into my world of animals, past and present - and animals I meet who aren't even mine - and my indigenous forest garden and other beautiful gifts of Nature that God provides.  They all do such wonders for the soul.

Owl

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
19 posted 2010-05-30 10:50 AM


This is such a precious poem, dear Diana, with such a profound message!

Love and joy.
Margherita

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
20 posted 2010-05-31 02:39 PM


Thank you, Margherita, for your very kind words.  I am glad you enjoyed it.

Owl

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