Tag Archives: spiritual death

Enlightening Seeds

21 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in Buddhism, Deep Stuff!, Poetry

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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.

A germinated seedling (Eranthis hyemalis) emer...

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

© Enlightening Seeds 21.03.2013

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

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

 

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Now Change Your Life

19 Tuesday Mar 2013

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

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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.

Rainer Maria Rilke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

© Now Change Your Life 19.03.2013

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Rainer Maria Rilke (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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The Irresponsible Lotus

03 Sunday Mar 2013

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

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Trivandrum, India

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

© The Irresponsible Lotus 03.03.2013

by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Trivandrum, India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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Day of the Dead

05 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by in Deep Stuff!, Poetry, Worldly Winds

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Church

Church (Photo credit: Balaji.B)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cry to the universe –

You decide!

Should I live,

or should I die?

 

It gives me an answer,

I can’t ignore;

so I pick up my pen,

and write some more.

 

With this decision,

comes peace and oneness,

acceptance of life,

which hurts none the less.

 

The die is cast,

but with that said,

I patiently wait,

for the day of the dead.

 

© Day of the Dead 2012

By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

 

Rebirth

21 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by in Buddhism, Deep Stuff!, Poetry

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Dharma wheel

Dharma wheel (Photo credit: Triratna Photos)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shattered in pieces,

and thrown on the floor,

cast off the shards,

I’m needing no more.

 

Pick up the remnants,

still shining with glory,

cherish and nurture,

to conclude the story.

 

Stick them together,

and fill in the gaps,

with glue of the Dharma,

to fill in the cracks.

 

Little by little,

polish and buff,

shine with compassion,

but that’s not enough…

 

Sanding the carcass,

shave off the excess,

contentment and calm,

shows nature’s egress.

 

Refine the mind,

and open the heart,

continue reflecting,

we’ve made a good start.

 

© Rebirth 2012

By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Vajrasattva

10 Tuesday Jul 2012

Posted by in Acrostic, Buddhism, Deep Stuff!, Love, Poetry

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Vajrasattva Buddha with Bell (Ghanta) and Thun...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vision of purity

Adamantine Noble Lord

Jewel in the lotus

Revered for your calm

Assuredly present beyond

Space or time

A cleanser of Death – Oh

Tantric delight

Turning my heart to

Visualise you, always so present

A sacred shared vow

 

© Vajrasattva 2012

By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm

Vajrasattva Buddha with Bell (Ghanta) and Thunderbolt (Vajra), Tibet, 18th century (Photo credit: opacity)

 

Related articles

I do not belong here

27 Sunday May 2012

Posted by in Deep Stuff!, Poetry

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Escher de carbón y caramelo

Escher de carbón y caramelo (Photo credit: Greg Planchuelo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I do not like this place.

I don’t belong here,

the stench of death pervades,

yet outside the sun beats down,

hotter than the promised hell.

I do not like this place.

Relics of a bygone day,

guilt and blame pave the way,

to salvation,

but only if you are too weak.

Enough, to believe as

fear holds tight,

demanding allegiance,

to blame and sin;

dragged screaming from within,

without compassion,

or mercy,

for the weak –

End.

I do not like this place,

I do not belong here,

for the stench of death,

offends my soul.

 

© I do not belong here 2012

By Alexandra Carr-Malcolm