Backpack Buddha

03 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Humour, Poetry

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddha, Dharma, meditation, poetry, rupa, teaching, UK poet, Yorkshire poet

I have the Buddha on my back,

he’s quite an affable chap,

with a candle and a cloth,

and a purpose,

I set off…

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Enlightening Seeds

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Deep Stuff!, Poetry

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Alice Oswald, breath, Buddhism, enlightenment, Germination, meditation, rebirth, Seed, spiritual death, spiritual growth, spiritual rebirth, transformation, UK poet, vision, Yorkshire poet

The penultimate piece was inspired by Alice Oswald‘s, ‘A Winged Seed’. The idea was to write a piece based on the idea of a seed, or a spore, travelling, or germinating.

Enlightening Seeds

Sitting, just sitting…

waiting for illumination.

There is nothing

more that I can do,

other than…

sitting, sitting, waiting

for my head to crack open

in a cacophony of life,

shattered and broken,

to all that I am.

No longer

sitting,

but waiting,

waiting for that explosion of growth,

to rip forth and pull me from mundanity,

and thrust me upon the world;

as what?

I know not,

so I will sit,

and wait,

upon this breath,

of fresh air.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

A germinated seedling (Eranthis hyemalis) emerges from the ground (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now Change Your Life

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Death, Deep Stuff!, Poetry

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Archaic Torso of Apollo, breath, Buddhism, death, Don Paterson, poetry, Rilke, spiritual death, UK poet, Vajrasattva, Yorkshire poet

The second piece was based on, ‘Archaic Torso of Apollo’ after Rilke, translated by Don Paterson.

The idea was to include the line, ‘Now change your life’ either at the end or somewhere in the body of the poem.

Here was my attempt.

Now Change Your Life

I smell you in my dreams.

Elusive, exclusive,

to all realms,

but what of it?

Stoic indifference,

tantric magnificence,

eyes tantalise,

and plead,

“Now change your life”

before death slams the door

on opportunities scorned,

and breath is spent,

like a match.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Rainer Maria Rilke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Three Books

18 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Daily life, Poetry

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddhist retreat, Dharma, Kindle, packing, poetry, reading, retreat, Uk poetry, writing, Yorkshire poet

The next few poems were written on a poetry day. The first poem is inspired from R.S.V.P. by Beverley Nadin. The task was to write a list of items that we packed to take on our last retreat, and then include some of them in a poem. This was my attempt 🙂

Three books,

one red, one blue, one black,

Poetry, Dharma and Drama.

A pencil and pen,

backed up with a spare,

(thank God for my Kindle!)

and a brush for my hair.

My potions and pills,

(no nightie with frills)

Just good solid thermals!

Pyjamas and socks

squashed in a bag,

and no need for locks,

as I’m escaping to freedom;

leave humdrum at home.

I’m longing for space,

and a room of one’s own.

©Three Books 10.03.2013

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Bell, Virginia Woolf (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Alice

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Death, Deep Stuff!, Sanity

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Alice, Alice in Wonderland, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Buddhism, delusion, Hatter, poetry, truth, UK poet, White Rabbit, Yorkshire poet

Don’t cry, said Alice,

it’s all a game,

life and death,

it’s all the same.

Don’t be fooled,

it’s all illusion,

don’t believe,

your own delusion.

Look in the mirror,

what do you see?

a collection of habits,

that I call, ‘Me’.

Step through the mirror,

beyond the girl,

and look into,

another world.

Experience,

is one third true,

but only for,

the reflected you.

So don’t believe,

all that you feel,

the crux of life –

nothing is real.

So, White Rabbit,

I would say,

there is no point,

to run away…

and Hatter, dear,

we’re all quite mad,

pour the tea,

and don’t be sad.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Alice’s Abenteuer im Wunderland Übersetzer: Antonie Zimmermann Orginal Titel: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Illustrationen: John Tenniel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Irresponsible Lotus

03 Sunday Mar 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Deep Stuff!, Humour, Nature, Poetry, Worldly Winds

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, Buddhism, development, habits, lotus, mud, poetry, rebirth, spiritual death, spiritual growth, spiritual rebirth, stuck, UK poet, Yorkshire poet

The irresponsible lotus,

refused to flourish or bloom,

stuck his head

right in the mud,

and waited,

for monsoon.

He wallowed and protested,

Ostrich like – he did!

Regressed, decayed, and festered,

in ignorance he hid.

‘til one day came the sunshine,

of which he couldn’t ignore,

it beamed on him,

and warmed him,

and coaxed him from the floor.

He lifted up his stubborn head,

with squinting dusty eyes,

he blinked and stretched,

and relished it,

he felt so quite alive!

The rays of warm compassion,

a catalyst did start,

the more he grew,

the more he knew,

this was meant to be.

He blossomed and he opened,

his waxy tight bud heart,

he raised his head,

toward the sky,

and it set himself apart.

No longer dwelling,

in the mud,

irresponsibly –

the sun shone strong,

and so did he,

for all around to see.

His radiance and his beauty,

apparent majesty,

admired by all who saw him,

brought calm and clarity.

The moral of this story,

may be plain to all,

of the irresponsible lotus,

who answered nature’s call.

Please never judge a lotus,

that may be stuck in mud,

it just needs a little sunshine,

to coax open,

its heart bud.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Trivandrum, India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I Believe

19 Saturday Jan 2013

Posted by Worldly Winds in Buddhism, Daily life, Deep Stuff!, Poetry

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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, awareness, experience, impermanence, poetry, Uk poetry, Yorkshire poetry

Shall I tell you what I believe?

It changes daily with the breeze.

Reflect and pause,

pause and think…

Believe nothing.

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

A tawny owl (Strix aluco). Français : Une chouette hulotte (Strix aluco). Русский: Серая или обыкновенная неясыть (Strix aluco). Türkçe: boyu 37-39 cm, kanat açıklığı 94-104 cm olan Alaca baykuş (Photo credit: Wikipedia)