When darkness falls upon your spirit’s light,
And weariness befalls your sorrowed mind,
Like clouds that cover sunshine’s pleasant sight,
The sacred Truth within, you need to find …
Don’t spend your life amongst the living dead,
Who ruminate and just lament their fate,
Their wanton souls just with aversion fed,
The bitter fruits of life they contemplate …
They seem to languish for their spirit’s dawn,
Transition from the dark night of their soul,
Transforming ugly duckling into swan,
Appears to be an nonexistent goal …
A million deaths they’ve died as all hope fades,
Aesthetic masks conceal their broken heart,
Behind each smile are hidden worry’s shades,
Appearance has become a cherished art …
If only they would know of Nature’s Laws,
That every night gives birth to a new day,
And winter’s tranquil sleep will be the cause
For growth within sweet spring’s delightful play …
Be patient, please, and wait for clouds to pass,
Surrender to your sacred space within,
Your spirit, as transparent as clear glass,
Can not be darkened by imagined sin …
The rime of night will surely melt away,
From thy own heart, upon sweet morning’s birth,
And sunshine will again delight your day,
In celebration to your life on Earth …
Author notes
for gregory :
I wish you a wonderful time on ap, many encounters, many joys and heartwarming experiences ...
this is one of my favorite poems, since I have really worked on the poetic devices - not an easy task for me, I must admit, since I have the tendency to rather "tell instead of show" and to become too abstract in my suggestions ... I also intended to offer comfort to the reader who might find him/herself in a situation of grief and worry ...
****************************************************
watch the video :
http://s247.photobucket.com/albums/gg123/poetmaa/?action=view¤t=thedarknightofthesoul.flv
my constantly updated video-poetry :
http://allpoetry.com/poem/show/3791503
****************************************************
painting "mother mary" by maa
***
In a list
A contest entry
- Wisdom for Dealing With Depression Please by aslanlight.
700 points, ended April 21, 2007, 24 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 50 of 50
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Hey maa!
The other video entry was perfection. This is just merely brilliant. I love Durga. He must be a wonderful companion. Your video poetry is the best that I have ever seen. You emote well into your poems.
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hey maa,
what are you doing in my contest ???
don't even dream about getting a trophy !!!
maa -
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oh, you mean that you're not even giving me applause ? stingy lil witch ...
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Hi Maa
What a treat, this was not only to have read such a complex and imaginary piece but to have you read it to me. This was a hundred times better to hear the subtle inflections and nuances that can only be placed by the writer. For true poetry will always arise from our spirit and for you to capture that was the icing on a sumptuous cake. Such a hard subject of turmoil treated with reverence and respect shows that you have come to know peace but as all things it came with a price.
Be safe and well
Paul
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dear paul,
how kind and thoughtful of you to stop by, my friend ... I hope you didn't mind my accent when I recited the poem ... I hope you are well and happy,
marion
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Good Advice (as usual)
My life sure got better when I got back on All Poetry.
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I can understand ... the community of loving souls that we attract to ourselves is like our spiritual family, supporting, encouraging and inspiring us ...
I am happy you are back !
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Writing to meet requirements as defined by the contest rules is extremely difficult. Yet you have managed to conjure a piece that has magnificent rythm, eloquent, unforced rhyme and a clear message contained inside the words. A true master piece that took the highest reward of the contest justly. Thank you for creating and sharing. Take care,
U
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Supremely Powerful
Personally, this speaks to me on all the profound levels. I know this is the truth I strive to keep close when shadows bode and the light seems far off.
Your expressions of faith in oneself and the natural cycles in which we all dwell are light upon the page.
I really can't say enough about the affect these words have...I can only hope many others will see them the same way. An honor to read you, Blue
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the spirit's light
A monologue to the soul , this flowed in an altruistic fashion, ; as if it wanted to show right from wrong, or black from white,; it was metaphoric, almost as if
the soul itself was giving a lesson in life.,,
Your quill has an essence of that,,,I am curious..
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Superb
I love the soft feel to your words....the gentle rhyme and solice feelings expressed....fills you with wisdoms tic....images and metaphore that tumble ashore...silence in the heart only echo's its' beat..a lot of work went into this...grand piece....I can only marvel at the talent I wish I had to be so grand.......worthy achievements attached to this are well deserved.....
Beauty abounds this
Malabu
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thank you, dear malabu, for your truly generous and kind comment and applause ... I am not sure that the contest-host appreciates my poem very much, so I will remove it from this contest ...
the best of luck to you,
maa
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wow its amazing, worth the trohpy!!!
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dear georgia,
I thank you so much for having awarded me a gold trophy for this poem which is very dear to me ... my husband uses to say that "la depression est le lâcher prise de la pression" (depression is the letting go of pressure) ...
I have experienced his words to be right ... and there is a very precious gift waiting at the end of the tunnel, when one has the patience to gently and carefully advance through it, one step at a time, protecting the little flame of faith ...
many blessings to you,
marion -
I love this... chock full of insight and wisdom! The dark of night can be followed by a ray of sunshine if we so choose! Great entry!
Thanks for sharing
Frogz~
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my gratitude goes out to you as well, dear frogz, for the precious gift of a gold trophy for one of my favorite poems ... favorite because my intention while writing it was to console and encourage the hearts of those who are discouraged and suffering ... and if it even touched one single heart, its mission has been accomplished ...
there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but also inside the tunnel, just a fragile, little flame which guides our path one small step at a time, teaching us to be fully present to the here and now ... and in this way, behind the despair, a feeling of peacefulness can be found ...
many blessings to you,
marion
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A great title to begin with! I have 'The Dark Night of the Soul' by St John of the Cross and used to be concerned that God might put me through this time of withdrawing his presence in order that I'll learn to discern him through the dark. Now I assume that I've already been through my dark night when I was in hell through drug use etc and that if I can't hide from God then neither can he hide from me!
I'm bookmarking this because it's a ray of light and so full of wisdom that I'll need to studying it some more to get the benefit from it. Thanks for entering it because I feel like I've been in a holy page!
Love, light & peace
Georgia
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I loved this line "Don't spend your life amongst the living dead", This poem is very thought provoking. Wow such a wonderful and brilliant write. Excellent flow and content
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thank you so much, dear theresa, for your enchanting visit and your generous applause and kind words ...
maa
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Promise...sing
When light returns to comfort spirit sight,
And weariness falls your lightened mind,
Like sun dissolving cloudy oversight,
The sacred Truth within, you soon shall find …
Don’t spend your life amongst the living dead,
Who ruminate lament their ‘unjust’ fate,
Their wanton souls just with aversion fed,
As bitter fruits of life they contemplate …
No longer languish, mark majestic morn
Transition from dark night to soul healed whole
Transforms each ugly duckling into swan,
Enlightenment admitted as clear goal …
A million lives await as hope uncloses
All shutters, masks concealing broken heart,
Behind new smile true confidence one knows is
Appearing from its crysalid apart …
Now lungs breath deep, absorbing Nature’s scent,
from hibernation freed, night births new day,
while winter’s sleep joys sweep away, scope sent
through growth within spring’s yet more joyful play …
Your patience is rewarded as clouds pass,
light beams upon to your sacred space within,
Your spirit, as transparent as clear glass,
Sloughs off rough weight of shred sin skin …
The frost you saw shall surely thaw away,
Accomanying birds sing-song, bids rebirth
bask maskless in reflections from today
may celebrate an optimistic Earth …
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oh, here we are ...
hadn't thought of that option that you had placed it into the comments ... happy you have found it again ... -
I am so touched by your response to this poem, jonathan ... your care and generosity of heart will certainly attain the depth of my subconsciousness and talk to the little lung-worm, so it may take residence on another planet ...
may your loving thoughts be returned to you a thousandfold ...
hannah
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Terrific entry!!!
1. rules followed: 10
2. poetic power, is your write memorable: 8 Excellent message to have penned, uplifting, well worded and musically written in iambic pentameter.
3. Creativity, how creative is your write: 7 Spirituality is a tough genre to do well but you took it into task and created a lovely write with figurative earmarks that are decidedly your own.
4. Fluidity, did it read well or did I stumble through the reading: 8 This piece read beautifully with the added skills of writing in meters.
5. how well did you do using tropes: 9 Your tropes are woven nicely into your poem and are fitting to the context in which they are placed very well.
Terrific entry!!! * hug*s and best wishes… ~Genie~
Total: 42
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thank you
thank you so much, dear genie, for your transparent scoring system and your elaborate and constructive commenting ...
I am very happy to see a silver trophy being awarded to this poem, and thank you very much for such a generous gift.
it is a great pleasure to participate in a contest hosted by an experienced poet and lucid host like you ...
all the best,
maa
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terrific entry!!!
1. rules followed: 10
2. poetic power, is your write memorable: 8 Excellent message to have penned, uplifting, well worded and musically written in iambic pentameter.
3. Creativity, how creative is your write: 7 Spirituality is a tough genre to do well but you took it into task and created a lovely write with figurative earmarks that are decidedly your own.
4. Fluidity, did it read well or did I stumble through the reading: 8 This piece read beautifully with the added skills of writing in meters.
5. how well did you do using tropes: 9 Your tropes are woven nicely into your poem and are fitting to the context in which they are placed very well.
Total: 42
Terrific entry!!! * hug*s and best wishes… ~Genie~
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Beautiful!
What a wonderful ode to life and renewal, without being too mushy-gushy-happy-sappy. Great, natural rhymes, excellent flow, and wonderful wording. Exxcellent write!
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thank you
thank you for your kind comment and applause on my poem, silver...song. I love the expression "mushy-gushy-happy-sappy" ... so cute ...
maa
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Nicely shared!
I "loved" the message (to me the most important part of poetry), your words seemed to flow smoothly and you did a great job with meeting this challenge! Congratulations for stepping up to the plate! I did question one of the words used: "Appears to be an "inexistent" goal … Would that not be NONexistent?
I'm not really sure myself but somehow stumbled over the way it is currently written! Hope that you win! joy
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thank you
thank you so much, dear joy, for your wonderful comment and the abundant sharing of applause ! you are right, and I thank you for your observation : it should be "nonexistent" ... "inexistant" would be the french expression.
I always mix up english and french ... I appreciate your kind intention very much.
maa
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dear joshua (what an inspiring name),
thank you so much for your words of appreciation about my poem. I am happy that we share some thoughts, and would be delighted to read the poem you are refering to which reflects this similarity in thinking and feeling. please don't hesitate to send me the link.
all the best to you,
maa -
awesome
I think we share the same thoughts.Believe me I have written something similar to this.I need to improve a lot to become as good as you.
Loved the last 2 stanzas a lot:
Be patient, please, and wait for clouds to pass,
Surrender to your sacred space within,
Your spirit, as transparent as clear glass,
Can not be darkened by imagined sin …
The rime of night will surely melt away,
From thy own heart, upon sweet morning’s birth,
And sunshine will again delight your day,
In celebration to your life on Earth …
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if my poems can bring some joy to your heart, my heart is filled with contentment and peace.
I often have the feeling that what I do and who I am is worthless and useless ...
this is an old tendency in me.
although I know who I am deep inside myself, the shadows of ignorance often pass as dark clouds to hide the sun ...
I look at them, knowing they are unreal, yet I can't help lamenting and pretending that they have importance.
see how silly this maa is ?
so, then comes a kind soul, like you, and tells maa that what she does and who she is makes another one a little joyful for a while ... then maa smiles and knows that this shall be her mission : to try to bring a tiny little ray of joy into another person's life for a moment.
what more can my heart ask for ?
thank you so much for having told me what you told me exactly at that particular moment. it was synchronicity, and came at the perfect time to me. I am sure that an angel has sent you to console me this morning.
thank you for having listened to his call.
forever grateful,
maa -
A winner in my heart
Dear Devine Marion, You must be, for anyone who exudes beauty as you do, with pen AND brush, is surely devine.
You and your illumined joy make me feel this...
The rime of night will surely melt away,
From thy own heart, upon sweet morning’s birth,
And sunshine will again delight your day,
In celebration to your life on Earth …
Thank you, Buddy -
that's fantastic ...
how international you are ...
so happy to know about your neverending hat-collection !
maa -
Maa-
In Russian (which I in a way am - having a sizzling mixture of Greek, Polish, Russian and Altai blood in me) they do also say that you "write an icon"... I guess it is because there is something more to it than just mixing up the colours - icons conceal message. It will be a thriling experience for me if you'll share another great (which I'm sure it is) work of yours.
And just as a side note: I have many more hats to take off in your honour!
÷áßńĺ!.
Your faithful reader.
Jan -
I am so delighted to see that your soul has resonated with the icon of virgin mary.
I have studied traditional byzantine iconography for a couple of years and love to paint in this technique. since I also have a strong bond to greece, I love icons even more. I am right now working on a poem about the steps of painting such an icon (actually we say "writing an icon"
) ... I have worked on the image to demonstrate the painting of child jesus step by step. I am so eager to see your feedback on that one. I got the image, now I need the words to go with it ...
thank you so much, my dear musketeer friend, for your wonderful presence.
do you speak greek ? then I shall say "yassou, agori mou, evcharisto poli !"
or, in case that it's rather russian, I shall say "dosvedanje" (my mother in law is russian, but I don't understand a word).
maa -
Maa - the poem is beyond excellency. The flow of it, the essence of it is full of spirituality. Your poetical talent is undoubtful.
And the picture - the picture had striken me. I'm not much into religion - but my family are Orthodox Christians... And the picture looks so much like an icon depicting a saint. As much as unreligious I am those always for some reason bring tears to my eyes. I don't know - there is just so much love, sorrow, wisdow, beauty in them... Thanks for sharing it.
Again I take off my hat (this time is one of those musketeers used to wear)and applaud.
Regards from Jan -
I just love your comments, I can't help but feeling happy and excited each time I read your words ... thank you so much ... I love you,
your little sister
maa
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Oh Marion my darling friend, remember a certain question you asked me recently? You ssssssooooooooo do!!!!1 Your words have mesmerized me this evening like a crystal pendant with my eyes locked upon it as the hypnotist leads me to a soft cushion of cloud to cradle me and give me glimpses of heaven. No one, NO ONE speaks to the spirit like you do. Never ever suspect that you are anything less than a WORLD CLASS poet! You inspire me in every level of my being! So much love for you my sister saint!!!
rbts
love you!!
dk -
thank you so much for your kind words and for your precious applause. I am very touched.
I hope that your headache will be better soon ...
maa -
As i have mentioned to another poet in this contest The fact that I read this piece without realizing you were working to a word list just goes to show what a wonderful job you made of it An excellent write and yet another headache for this judge to contend with Good luck in the contest
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much love to you, my graceful and wise sister cindy dove, for being who you are and for offering such kind words to your little sister ...
maa -
thank you so much, dearest bunny, for stopping by and encouraging this ole maa ... or little maa, as you like
...
much love to you,
your little ole maa
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thank you, dear mark, for your words of appreciation and reassurance ... ouffff ... I almost thought that I would be unable to do it ... but somehow, my angels didn't abandon me ...
they send you a big hug, by the way
maa and her angels
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I love you, my sweet sister annabelle lily, thank you so much for being who you are ...
maa -
This is a wonderful poem, spiritual and legitimacy in my view. I know the words that come to play in this write and they didn’t even stand out, bravo You have done a marvelous job at weaving them into the poetry without notice. I wish you all the best dear sista
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Forgot to applaud, lol, hugs, Bunny
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Beautiful piece maa, loved the form and flow and the rhythm and rhyme are just awesome. great work and good luck to you!
Bunny
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You did get it in with all the requirements and I have to say that this is a fantastic write!You used the words really well and the metaphors were beautiful.Thanks for the wonderful entry and best of luck
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Dearest maa, you utilized the word bank, weaving in all the poetic devices, so well. This is such a lovely proverbial poem filled with strength, wisdom, and beauty. Wonderful job! All my best to you, dear sister. Luv, ♥ Annabelle
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