Divine light reflects
through the prisms of self,
elusively distant
like power withheld.
You grope for the switch
yet, it cannot be found,
surrounded by darkness
you crawl on the ground.
Bathed with the knowledge
this light’s shown before,
this place of transcendence
is just that and more!
Watch for those shadows,
a pale shade of gray -
for they’ve come to guide you
and show you the way.
Divine light reflects
through the inner “I” …
when your ego retreats,
true nature abides!
Negative images
soon disappear,
your soul feels revived
and your heart feels repaired.
The past falls behind,
what will be … will be …
as you sate in those feelings
in a sense, you’ve been freed! …
© 2009 Joy A. Burki-Watson
Author notes
Inspired by a story related by Myra Lochner aka Myrataal titled “Naka” http://allpoetry.com/poem/5770591
Those who live in a house where love is 'doled out to the deserving' and is 'conditional' are just the kind of people that are able to show love to others in a way that is like no other. They have released themselves from the bondage of 'acting' and found that stage that allows them to shine.
A contest entry
- Naka Pillman -- The Star in the Middle by myrataal.
7000 points, ended November 15, 17 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
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Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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An awesome write and a joy to read thnak you for sharing
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I was sort of puzzled by the author's comments as well but, impressed by the content and form of the verses. Seems to me that "doling out love to the deserving" is the part of human nature that just misses the mark of the true Christian spirit. Perhaps I'm reading it wrong and if so I apologize. I wish you much luck in the contest.
Sincerely,
Leo Long
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I suppose that since two people were confused by my author's notes that ...
I need to clarify that I know first hand what it is like having grown up in a household where conditional love was all I got, at best! I consider myself a survivor of that as I was able to rise above the bedlam and find the peace that genuine love grants. It was an education, for me, as to 'how not to love'.
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The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera immediately comes to mind.
The lightness being that we each live only one life and what happens in it can only happen once.
The author note is a little alarming since it suggests conditional and meted love is superior to unconditional. I'm not sure one learns from a sense of emotional starvation. I think it might end up producing more of the same type of emotional withholding. An interesting theory, I would guess developed by one who had been denied affection. Would make an interesting story, but one too long to be posted on AP. But it could explore the emotional differences.
Anyway, I have doubts that any human action comes from anything but their ego, but of course empathy is fortunately driven by self-worth and so we can understand how others feel and react accordingly. Thus learn from what we experience and know what is selfish and was is altruistic...even though that altruism is actually selfishness. But I won't get into that here, everyone hates me when I suggest we are entirely selfish by nature.
What am I talking about? Who knows.
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Beautiful an entry ...
Thank you so much for your submission.
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Oh superb my dear friend. Bordering on my many thoughts . Excellent as always joy....To be freed from conditional love has to be a reincarnation of love itself...
...mal
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