A moment in worship
I heard the running ripple of a child’s laughter
this morning, a bright silver brook. I felt
The Quiet begin. The jets thunder
overhead and I sit. The silence expanding, a bright
silver fish flashing, eternity reflecting itself. Am I
waiting for God to come and try my waters? His
big toe testing the surface, the ripples crashing
upon my shores. Or, instead, am I
going to slip, carefully, into the silent waters --
a slick silver otter -- descending into the heart of God.
Thomas Burson
05/06/00
Langley Hill Meeting
Author notes
This is another poem that came to me in Quaker Meeting. I rose and shared it and then went home and wrote it down
Written May 6th, 2000
In a list
- Inside of me • next in list
- spiritual • next in list
- If I had done as I was told, look at what I would have missed • next in list
A contest entry
- Prewrite Heaven for my fav's by Cannonsfire.
500 points, ended June 18, 2007, 8 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 37 of 37
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Interesting. I have a tremble, meeting you...
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The Spirit, that inhabits us all, speaks in a small still voice. We are gifted when we are quiet enough to be brought into the moment. Thank you
Love, Tom B.
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Aw, I think God for sure has you in the palm of fhis hand, and it's not far from his heart. Look what lovely whispers he leaves in yours! ~ Karen
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From the silence of the mind to the whisper of the heart the soul finds refreshment...From God's on hand
This is just lovely my friend and comforting to read
Thank you so much for sharing
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You have heard me say often, still the mind and listen for the small still voice within. There is always peace to be found, peace to live in and joy to be experienced. Love, Tom B.
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i used to have some of the most amazing thoughts in sunrise service on a mountain top looking into a spring fed lake below, nature and meditation is a powerful combination...this was great...PK
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I was the greeter, the guy who says hello before people enter meeting and helps to protect the Silence and help people prepare.
I felt the beginning of this and as I joined and centered in the last half of meeting the rest came to me as if God had been waiting for my stillness to finish opening me like a blossom.
Thanks for your thoughts and the vision they are.
Peace & Love, Tom B.
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Time slows down as we ruminate on these precious moments. Lovely peaceful feeling your poem evokes!
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Thanks, your pleasure shared is gift enough. Love, Tom B.
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Excellent contrast in imagery, Tom! Engaging, and yet, quite calming. Wonderful observation.
~Lori
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There is a different quality to silence in Quaker Meeting. I am an old style silent meeting Quaker. The gathering of people all waiting to be led by the small still voice within us is a unique experience. You can feel a room coming together.
Glad you enjoyed these simple images and metaphor. Love, Tom B.
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Very peaceful and testing. (the quiet and the jet's). but I liked the first two lines in particular, and then, into the silent waters-- a slick silver otter.
nicely said.
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Thank you. In the silence of Quaker worship, one is gifted with many images and thoughts. It is where patients is learned and joy comes in a whisper, a small still voice.
Love, Tom B.
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Lovely Prose
Expressed in poetic imagery
Not something I would deem as poetry
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Sorry to disappoint. Perhaps your definition is a little limited. But, no matter, glad you could enjoy it. Tom B.
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Beautiful
This is absolutely supberb. wonderfully written and expressive. Thank you for sharing.
*Go with God* my friend,
Valerie
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Love shows up in the sharing
We are all blessed when we allow ourselves to hear the small still voice within. Thanks for your review, particulary for sharing your joy. Love, Tom B.
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this is just a meditational piece. The Society of Friends, of which I am one, holds as truth that all of us have that of God in us and our job is to lead God centered lives and seek God in all around us.
Your reveiw is a gift. Thank you. Love, Tom B. -
God is of and in all things. You delight me with your words for I know the Truth is in the witness. I love how you spill your spirit onto paper, and cause the reader to sit in awe at times. I anxiously wait on the Lord of Hosts to speak to me, and He does in the simplest ways. A babies laughter always shows me God. A dimple in my grandson's cheek, a little finger pointed in amazement at a new thing learned, my husbands simple caress, my daughter's hug when she knows I have given her my all, the height of my son who truly believes that I am a most wise woman, and the faith of all my children that even believe unto death they will hear my instruction. All of these, and so much more expound on the God in our lives. You are a soothing writer Tom, and I will come to your pages when I need spirit-food.
Blessings to you and yours ALWAYS ♥
Renee
Edited on Nov 14 because '
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I am what is known as a silent meeting Quaker. I sit with members of my Meeting in silence waiting to hear the small still voice of God. Everything you said is true about this poem. We are responsible for the world we create. It is a gift or a curse depending on how you handle the responsibility. Love Tom B.
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LOVELY POEM !!!!!!!
Tom, It always amazes me what thoughts come to mind and what visions come to mind in the quietude of worship and time spent in silent prayer. There is so much of God around us that he has blessed us with. The child's laughter the ripple, yet all to soon they change or disappear. But I believe no matter how much things change they continue on in some form. The child grows into a child of God to live for eternity, the ripple becomes part of the pond and the eco system. You poems make me think. I have another friend whos poems do that. Only with him I always need my dictionary. It was a pleasure to read. Love, Sandy -
Lynda, I feel I was gifted with this one. It isn't one I flash around, but share quietly with friends. Those who have stumbled across it by and large seem to feel either it was a complete waste of their time or they needed to see it and were lead. The answers are always around us. God never leaves us alone. We only hear them when we are ready to listen and understand. Love, Tom B.
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This is so beautiful...The vivid images and the humble language of spirituality is so refreshing and heartwarming...This one reflects a part of you; a piece of your emotion, and that is excellent poetry!
Amazing as always! Bookmarking this one!
Lynda
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You know that Quakers (the silent meeting variety) sit and wait for the small still voice to move them. If they are moved strongly enough, then they rise and share the message. I received this in Meeting. It was a gift. Peace. Love, Tom B.
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Oh Tom this is absolute beauty! I am so glad you led me to this. I am in awe of the imagery and metaphoric way it was written. Just today someone at work said they were scared to die. Without being asked my opinion I said I am not; for Heaven is far better than earth. What an exquisite piece you have penned here. I love your muse...God Bless...Trina
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You used vivid imagery, beautiful metaphors, and your talent to conjure such a write as this, that gave a spiritualistic message. It seems as though it is almost a message brought forth by prophets....and I don't want to say a prophetic message, for that is foretelling what is to come, but in a way, you have foretold that eternity exists. You have made it seem as though our world will never end...but then again, the Earth and all that live on it, might die in the distant future, but time is eternal. You put a lot of passion into your words, and the first line stuck out the most to me. Why? Maybe it is because the child, so innocent, has a laugh that seems to ripple the waters, that seems to spark the interest of god, yet slowly dies off(the ripples becoming bigger and lighter), as god realizes that the child is growing...the child is losing innocence. You are an excellent writer, and I hope to see more from you. It is wonderful how God, and your beliefs can trigger such words from the mind. Keep up the great work!
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Hey there! I think this is a really amazing poem. It really is enlightening and spiritual and I loved it. It could really bring up someone's passion for writing and just it's really spiritual and all. Well done job!
Take Care,
x PatientGrace x
jasmine
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ENLIGHTING< EXQUISITE!!!!!
Lots of peace and enlightment in this piece... As always you have chosen the correct and proper words to express your feelings... Forever, AngelicMistress
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Nice imagery. I found myself immediately relating with the first line. Children often make me think of God and start me to wonder in awe of his love and his creation.
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Thank you for your applause. I am glad you catch the passion and the peace I found in writing this poem. I also feel this was given to me, more than I created it.
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Oh my! Slip into the silent waters, into the heart of God. Walk in the light, feels his heart around you... Sing! Me, too. You touch my heart with this one. You and yours be blessed! (This one gave me goose flesh reading it... )
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well done. Farewell, Lost Crow Child
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very sweet and well written
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A lovely moment you've captured.
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This poem was amazing - it completely filled my heart with happiness, a rare thing these days. Great job!!
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I'm from the old school and think this is more like prose that poetry with the sentences beginning and ending in one line. Like the theme and words, just have a hard time treating this as a poem.
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Very good poem. I like how it was different from a lot of poems in the fact that it ended the sentence in the middle of the line, rather than at the end. Also, great description with excellent metaphors (if that's what they'd be caled). Another great poem! Great job!
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