Like the prudent mariner
Never trust your fate
To just one map,
A singular aid to navigation,
Pockets filled with promise,
A basketful of eggs.
Too many peril permutations in life
To create predictability
With any scientific authority.
Instead
Listen to the music between the notes,
Echoes of silence between your thoughts,
The vastness of an empty mind.
Respond to the conundrum
That life so often is
With beginner’s optimism.
Seek clarity within turbid realities,
Trust in confusion
As a transitory necessity.
Gather that which feeds your soul
And leaves your essence spinning
In the still point of your mind.
Yield to the mystery
Surrender to your wisdom
Never give this up,
Beg the questions
Question the answers,
Acquiesce to your waking truth
Let go of attachments
In this results oriented world
Abandon self-imposed limitations
Believe in the goodness
That nests in your core,
The seed of your creation.
Nothing is unforgivable;
Every sinner has a future
Every saint has a past.
All that matters is in the now
You are either now here
Or nowhere,
Be here
Copyright © Henri Ferguson 2004
Author notes
This piece has been in the works for some time. While poring over a navigational sounding chart I read a caution to sailors not to rely solely on one single map or floating markers for their navigation. I certainly saw the logic in this but more importantly (perhaps) I saw the metaphors for life.
Plenty of self- observation and that of others through the lens of equanimity gave birth to these words. Call it pocket wisdom if you will, but I seem to have this penchant for encapsulating little snippets of insight as I stumble along this path of mine. And if these words resonate with others, all the better to know we’re connecting on some level. I believe that if we are ever to achieve any sense of peace and harmony we dream of, (even in this vexed and complex world), we need to reach out with compassionate understanding and leadership. We are all capable of doing this.
Written April 4th, 2004
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Great stuff. Can't hear this message often enough. Living in the now is a challenge. The past is real so it has a place in our memory. The future is all imagination. Loved the play on words in the last stanza -
You are either now here
Or nowhere
Excellent!
Namaste,
Mark -
This would have been a good preface to Ram Dass' "Be Here Now" (1971) Have you read his "Still Here" yet? I'm sure you'd come up with a really good piece of insight for us.
I gotta old poem I'm still trying to track down: "Ken Dulaney"
It's kind of a "eastern transcendentalism meets country western" format. I know you'd enjoy it, despite some of the incongruencies you'd probably find. It's over 30 years old, and I know I still have it. Just can't find it yet. -
This made me think of a number of things i try to remember in my own life. One...all of the most important things really happen in the details. Two...live in the present...cannot change what is past and tomorrow is filled with too much uncertainty and when time is wasted dwelling on either, we miss the here and now...and what a loss that is. Three...just "BE"...that is the hardest of all for me sometimes...to just "BE"...but, just maybe, the most important of all. This is a great write...and caused me to reflect again on what really matters. Thank you!
UB
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outstanding
if this is "pocket wisdom", then i hope you empty your pockets for us again. so many things in this poem sound the bells for me...having spent much of the last few (hundred, thousand, million) years coming to recognize the wisdom within, and believing in my own intrinsic "God-ness". these stanzas particularly resonate:
'Gather that which feeds your soul
And leaves your essence spinning
In the still point of your mind
Yield to the mystery
Surrender to your wisdom
Never give this up,
Beg the questions
Question the answers,
Acquiesce to your waking truth
Let go of attachments
In this results oriented world
Abandon self-imposed limitations'
(oh boy, these are KEY...)
of no small comfort to me, personally, is this:
'Nothing is unforgivable
Every sinner has a future
Every saint has a past'
that's the hardest thing to believe, isn't it? i'm still learning how.
thank you for the gift of these words, henri. i'm so glad i read this : ) -
Dearest Ferg, thank you for your comments on my secret work... I am , as always, in quiet admiration of your words. You speak of truths we have all gently examined in the palms of our hands.There is no moment quite like the one in which we are entirely able to behold it. Know what I mean ? I am a sailor of sorts myself, and my journey has lead me through the longest of nights and the darkest of waters, yet here I am. With the eyes of a child and the heart of a woman, I continue through 'till morning. I am mapless, and beyond that, I often find myself at the mercy of the very stars that I have chosen to illuminate these wild seas; tempest soul that I am...
But I'm sailing, the wind in my face, eyes forward, eyes inward...and I'm sailing.
Accross the wild and timeless ocean ,I send you thanks for your beautiful words.I will ponder them awhile, smile soflty in the heart, and be where I am.
Bravo.
I remain ever,
The Beginner -
"Be Here" so so so important. Live in the now. How you have managed to realize this all in a beautiful poem to share with us all is wisdom itself.
A singular aid to navigation,
A basketful of eggs,
Pockets filled with promise
these lines are particular to me. I feel they speak so elequently about the spiritual roles of men and women enjoying this life together. also,
Trust in the music between the notes,
Echoes of silence between your thoughts,
The vastness of an empty mind
stood out....as the Be Here moto so to say. the willingness to realize the process of discovery we are encountering at every given moment.
thanks for sharing you inspiring words.
best.
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So well stated Maria. I have read your comments several times now but today I felt a resonance from your words that I hadn't felt before...like I was connecting with the place inside you from where came these words. Just trust in your process Maria, if it feels right embrace it deeply. No need to be able to explain it, just act on it and understanding will follow.
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself in your work.
Namaste,
Henri
Edited on Apr 12, 6:04 p.m. because ''. -
Oh wow, I am speechless. I must say, after reading your authors page I had to check out your writing, and it is so inspiring and really speaks to me. I know that may sound a bit silly, but it is true. There are so many lines in here that REALLY stuck out to me.
Never trust your fate
To just one map,
Let go of attachments
In this results oriented world
Every sinner has a future
Every saint has a past
WOW. The whole work is amazing...You have a gift.
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A wonderful piece, full of truism and great insights to life, should one only delve into them. I believe much of these things myself. I found the poem in in itself so powerful that each stanza could truly stand upon it's own. This truly is one of the best pieces I've read in a very long time. Thank you for sharing your talent with the world.
Namaste'
Gypsy -
Oops forgot to applaud it too...
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Very inspirational words Henri...not only does this highlight the true charm life has to offer if we are willing to search for it...but carries a strong message - be happy with who you are - it brings with it so much serenity...
It all relates to choice at the end of the day...live life in the shadows or dance beneath the sun...this lass is dancing like never before
The ending hit me like the proverbial sledgehammer...letting go of demons...whether the past , skeletons , negative emotion , brings unfettered freedom...
I'd have this hanging on my wall as a personal mantra of sorts...powerful poem sure to provoke much thought...
bravo mon ami
~ sonia ~ X
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you've done it again henri...thank you
i wonder how many people read this poem
and felt that it spoke directly to them
judging by the comments and applause...many
this was exactly what i needed to read, at this moment
and, what you needed to write, at that moment
i have no doubts that things happen as they should
bravo henri, bravo
~liz -
This poem is written with such elegance and style. You managed to send shivers down my spine. I am 'here', (wherever), in some kind of space and time pondering upon your words. You write about ideas, feelings and thoughts which capture my mind - they follow me insistently no matter how often I attempt to do away with them. And so what do you do? Perhaps ignore sometimes (you have to), or try to make them a part of you without having to understand why. Slowly and naturally you learn to trust fate, live in the now, accept the confusion and the memories.
Thanks for a wonderful read,
Maria -
A flock of Crows landed in my yard today just as I was starting to talk to a fellow poet that is dying of Aids. I remember that there was a bit of mythology attached to Crows so I did research. This write reminded me of what I learned today on several levels. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Red
Edited on Apr 09, 7:03 p.m. because ''. -
'Trust in the music between the notes'
'Respond to the conundrum
That life so often is
With beginner’s optimism'
'Trust in confusion
As a transitory necessity '
'All that matters is in the now
You are either now here
Or nowhere
Be here'
Well, amigo, you've done it again, gave me some pointers of your wisdom and view on life before I even 'begged' a question! It is uncanny; after such an absence from AP I find myself here tonight and came to see if you'd written anything new, and this profound and philosophical poem gives me a hug, gently moves the hair out my eyes and lets me see that, OK, good and bad stuff's been happening, and I'm confused about where I want to be, but I am here, and thank God I AM here, and I shall go with the flow, even if at times I seem caught in the eddies and backwaters, or becalmed! You are a star, Henri, a talented and generously gifted star!
many many thanks for this one,
x
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Just as the sailors respect the sea...
I so respect you as a writer...
So many things in this hit me... little snippets that are threaded upon tendrils of seaweed... catching me along with man o war and yet ... holding me within the most beautiful of mermaids...
there is dark there is light here...
it is what we choose...
so well done ferg...
I hope all is well with you! I do miss the site alot and hope to have some more time to say HI to everyone -
excellent poem.
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Hi Maureen, thanks for your always supportive words and for pointing out my typo.
Henri -
"Trust in the music between the notes,"
Henri...you have said so much with these words.
A very wonderful write my friend... Your "snipets" of wisdom always astound me with how accurate they are.
Lovely poetic journey as always...
Hugs...
Mary ann -
love it
this was good by any chance have uyou read "fire and hemlock"? good book but its view points in it are about now here or nowhere kinda thing any way this was good although i think u already knew that with al those smiliy faces up there -
Good Stuff
That was a good one, I liked it! -
I can only try to articulate the profound affect that this poem had in me. Your metaphors are so poigniant and clear. You have an amazing outlook (formed, obviously, through great insight) on the journey that our souls go through on this plane.
Trust in confusion
As a transitory necessity
Fantastic. Utterly fantastic.
Nothing is unforgivable
Every sinner has a future
Every saint has a past
These are only two of the stanzas that really struck something in my soul. If I wanted to highlight all of the words that i was moved by, i would end up pasting the whole poem here.
Thank you so much for devoting your time to formulating such a well written statement on peace and our journey together. And thank you for sharing it with us.
Peace and blessings,
Mike -
Well done brother
Wonderful words of direction
Keep it up
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Excellent!
A lot of wisdom in your poem...good thoughts to ponder! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and providing a guide to help us on our way. (I need all the help I can get!)
Maureen
second line/last stanza: your/you
Edited on Apr 05 because ''. -
Bravo!
Breezy metaphors that sent me into a tailspin of wild thought all the while coaxing me with a sense of calm. Artistry in its finest form...your metaphors though simple are by no means ordinary. Brilliant elloquence Henri!
I don't think I can fit all the wisdom in my pocket
~Angela -
wen i first clicked on this, i thort it was going to be sum sad angsty luv poem 2 agirl/boyfrend, but then the page came up n it was very different. i read the first stanza n i'm like, stupid borin boats. i was about 2 leave BUT(here is where its important) i realised that i had just wasted about a billion of your points so i might as well read it all and comment, becuz if i ever had enough points to feature my poem, i would like it too.so i read it and now at the end of my ramblings here is my comment!!
OMg seriously, i am so glad i read this. i hope you dont mind if i print this out and stick it on my wall. firstly - "A basketful of eggs," this bit made me smile becase i reckon its really cool how people get cliche's and turn them around and they seem so much better so congrats for that, that was pretty smart of you. the poem seems so philosophical, maybe its the big words, maybe its the maturity maybe its just you and ur exceptional talent for writing good poems. the flow of this is great, and its even better when its read aloud, i think all poems are though. hrmm. but fabulous write, serriously, im happy as hell that i read this!!
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educationally poetic : )
wow, i've never seen such an interesting metaphor to life. i like the last stanza. you're either now here or nowhere, you're either growing or withering, be confident but don't cross the line into arrogance. life is a balance that needs to be tended in order to maintain it. i LOVE all the QUOTE "big" words. my classmates are always on my case for using word that they define as "big" i'll have to look some of urs up in the dictionary but it's good for me thank you so much for sharing this piece, i learned quite a bit from ur writing.
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Beautiful poem, and wise. There are so many ways to live life, to create self, and to think of oneself and one's world. This certainly did resonate with me... one of the things I most enjoy is speaking with and connecting to people whose views and impression of the world vary from mine, trying to see as much as I can of what people think of life. In that sense, I suppose I had a rather personal reading of your poem. But I think it's in line with your intentions, given your author's comment... doesn't it seem we would all be much better off if we all took the time to understand one another, to have everyone share their maps?
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this is a beautiful work....ferg...i really liked it....so many times in life come and go when we decide to not to heed to that one person...but then somehow it feels always that its not easy to let go...and then we r left alone, we realise our mistake. fortunately...its never too late....
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Truly a masterpiece...well done on bearing your soul, mind & voice-a message received with much respect!
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Henri,
Most times, we just float along, well, speaking for self, I suppose. Then comes a strong wind, strong current, and we can be so easily blown off course, lose sight of shore. We do need compassion, we need more understanding. We need to listen to our inner voice. Let that help guide us. Your words are like that beacon, through the densest fog. Keeping us from the rocks. I know I shall read this many times, and as I have before, I shall take that wisdom to heart...and just how, sir, do you manage to stay so centered. I think I have many lessons, yet to learn.
Good to read this,
Maddie -
Wow.
Wow. I hope everyone else got the message I did. This was magnificent! What a thought. Did this take you awhile to write? This has got to be one of the best poems I've read. I'm going to see if most of your poems are like this. What a sensation this sent through me. I give you an 11 out of 10. Perfection.
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