Lotus rise
Out of mud to stand
Tall and pure
Understand then why 'tis
So sacred to the East
Author notes
The LOTUS is a living metaphor...
Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names, including sacred lotus, Indian lotus, sacred water lily, and water lily. An aquatic perennial, native to India and Indonesia, most commonly cultivated in water gardens. It is the National Flower of India. One of the earliest known flowering plants, it can be traced back to the Cretaceous period (135 million years ago).
Sacred to Hindu, Buddhist and Egyptian religions, it is symbolic of spiritual illumination and regeneration...
to remain "unstained by worldly things".
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thank you to AndrewHide for providing the proper term for this form of tanka: oriku
(Click "Show All" for his informative comment)
See also the complementary poem, "(lotus)" by JoyBeingNow
allpoetry.com/Poem/998089
Written January 12th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- Nature Heals Contest by kareneisenlord.
1200 points, ended April 27, 2008, 42 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 38 of 38
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http://www.chinatownconnection.com/tanka-poems.htm
The lotus most certainly is a living metaphor; of evolving out of the mideval sludge of chaos. You did a wonderful job here of honoring the lotus; a symbol of spiritual enlightenment. I really enjoyed the history lesson about the lotus as well. A tanka; I am not familiar with that. I looked it up, (above). I notice that you did it in the form of an acrostic also. Thank you for your entry. Lovely!
I learned something else. "Oriku" is a form of acrostic Japanese poetry. Apparently you combined two forms here; and the outcome is exquisite! -
Such beauty within your words. I so enjoyed reading your amazing and beautiful tanka. Thanks for sharing and good luck in the contest
Theresa
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A lovely poem with a very strong message.
A pleasure to read.
john -
Thank you
and yes I am aware it is an acrostic - but since it is a Japanese tanka in that form it is called an oriku. Did you read the notes?
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WOW this is so beautiful...you've done a great job my Goddess..thank you for sharing it with me!!
Kari
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I did read the notes, I just found it interesting that two different cultures with markedly different styles and values would nonetheless have a form of poetry which shared so much common ground. I didn't mean to sound like a know-it-all.
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It's nice, very thoughtful. The lotus is a beautiful flower; there's something about waterborne plants which seems to add extra mystique to them. The form is also called an acrostic, btw.
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WOW! This is one of the best short forms I have come across and got to learn today. Thank you so much for sharing this. This is such an enlightening visit to your page. An oriku sounds so much like haiku Indeed, the lotus is a symbol of purity and we worship it in India because it is believed that MahaLakshmi(the Goddess of Wealth and Abundance) arose out of the ocean in full form on a Lotus. Hence, this flower is sacred to Her. This is beautiful and I agree with Saurabh about what the sages have said since ages and how beautiful this picture is to meditate upon. I did not know that the Lotus is sacred to the Egyptian civilisation until I read your author comments. Truly an enlightening visit Thank you for this wonderful feeling.
Love,
Char
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i like this, especially since it flows as if it is not acrostic at all. i had to read it twice to fully appreciate it, but it is beautiful
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the magie is a lotus
this is wonderful , loved this Oriku , new to me as
much is new to me , the lotus in all it's beauty here said.
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LOL! Ok, I see what you mean
At first I wondered if you were referring to the Kung Fu series, "Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand" 
Thank you for your comment, terry, glad you liked it
~G
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Excellent
Very nice, I love this. Also, call me nuts if you want, but this can also be interchanged from the flower to the grasshopper-like bug (I guess I have been watching too much TV). That is if the lines were changed around and spelled LOCUST with the "C" line being something along the lines of chewing and the "T" line something along the lines of terrorizing. I'm interested in this form, I will learn more later; but you did an awesome job here. So very sorry I was too tired to complete this last comment... I was so tired, lol, and couldn't think straight.
Edited on Apr 30, 2:49 because 'add more explanation'. -
Wow, I love this. It says a lot. I think this deserves an applause. Great work here.
Take Care,
Jasmine
~ALways keep writing~ -
yes the lotus has always been the symbol for purity, that can keep its pure state inspite of the filth around. Kichad mein kamal (The lotus in the mud) is a kind of idiom in hindi. well written.
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good job
This is very nice. I write haiku and senyru, but I've never tried a tanka. I suppose someday I will have to do that.
Jim Dunlap -
The picture is beautiful. One can just look at it and meditate. You have understood the metaphor well. The sages have been saying this all the time: your spirit is a beautiful lotus in the pond of sin. Be that lotus, and live an enlightened life.
Thanks for sharing the wonderful idea.
Best wishes,
Saurabh. -
Beautiful
Hi Genelle:
Wonderful combination! I am glad to see you pick up this torch and you have done it so beautifully. Not as easy a form as it might appear looking from the outside. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece with us. Bill -
Oh, you know my heart is an open book
Your lotus poem is exquisite
The unique form in which you present your images
Is mystical in content form
Je’tadore in wings of Amour
Oh, what I have learned from you
It is not how much we know
It is the feeling we share
Loving in purity deeply within our souls
One of the first poems I penned was
“Dream of the Dolphin” in which
This phrase is used.
The Child looked upon the dolphin
The Dolphin looked upon the child,
and at that glorious moment in time
magic was born! A water flower to
share, with all who care, and feel
the love from the skies above.
I’m in lotus land
Let us all sing and dance
You help us to understand
The land of dreams
The golden rivers of enchantment
In our entire wonderland.
I have an idea oh my
Here I go
Lotus Divine Wine Number 9!
And of coors, it can be made as a non-alcoholic wine.
Edited on Jan 19, 12:00 because ''. -
Thank you, Jen! Yes, I was amazed to discover that my 'experiment' is an actual Japanese form of acrostic called 'oriku'! Apparently rarely seen in the west because of the difficulty of reproducing an equivalent in English.
~G
Edited on Jan 19, 9:22 because 'typo'. -
Ah...an acrostic tanka...how clever. I also love mixing forms and it was satisfying to read someone else's blend of poetic forms.
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An acrostic and tanka in one, eh? Well you pulled it off very well! Short but straight to the point and nicely written. Good job and good luck!
~CT -
Interesting acrostic. One of the shortest I've read, but still nicely done. Thanks for entering and good luck.
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Excellent!
I offer you my own flower ornament sutra, i.e. poem of the divine flower, inspired
by yours, as are so many before.
This one starts out without a name...
rooted deep
in mud
lotus stretches
toward sky
traversing water
seeking light
perfect
even as seed
even as mud is
perfect
yet fulfilled
when petals open
to announce:
LOTUS
Edited on Jan 14, 2:00 p.m. because ''. -
And yet another gorgeous poem...
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Wow
Very deep poem you have written here
I like the way you combined acrostic and tanka poetry to create this marvelous piece
Keep penning my friend
Thanks for sharing,
Metalconker -
Yes, I was talking of the nymphaea, sorry I didn't specify. Good luck in the contest, I entered it as well. I couldn't help myself, it is so inviting! Love, Ashlee
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Exquisite!!
What a beautiful flower!! I have pictures of the lotus, but this one of yours is quite outstanding, breathtakingly beautiful. And the poem...well, I always learn something from you and this is the first poem in this form that I have ever read. I know tanka, but wow...this is something special - so much depth and wisdom in so few words. Wonderful, Gennelle. I wish you all the best in the contest. Thank you for sharing this exquisite beauty!!
~ Nicolette
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Thank you, Ashlee! Yes, you're right about the Egyptian creation myths. The lotus of Egypt you describe as day-blooming was actually Nymphaea Caerulea, the Blue Lotus, which sank beneath the surface at night. The white Egyptian lotus was night-blooming. However, the nymphaea (Egyptian lotus) differ from the nelumbo (Indian lotus), which can be identified by the centre which resembles the spout of a watering can.
~G
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Very nice! I love the lotus. The hieroglyphic for the lotus is "sesen." This is a symbol of the sun, of creation and rebirth. Because at night the flower closes and sinks underwater, at dawn it rises and opens again. According to one creation myth it was a giant lotus which first rose out of the watery chaos at the beginning of time. From this giant lotus the sun itself rose on the first day. A symbol of Upper Egypt.
Love, Ashlee
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nicely done gen
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Thank you, Sam! I appreciate the inspiration your contest gave me.
~G
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A lovely acrostic. Nicely done. THank you for entering the contest.
SAm
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Beautiful
This is a spectacular metaphor, as well as being perfectly true in the normal sense. Excellent work, Gennelle, and good luck in the contest.
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Thank you, Don! Your comment is very much appreciated.
~G
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Very nice.... clean, crisp... and beautiful.
Don -
Oh, thank you Mari!
What a lovely thing to say! 
~G
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Ok, I thought to enter this contest, but reading your acrostic made me satisfied already
This is so beautiful! The poem sounds so pure as a the sight of a lotus. Not only haiku is mastered by you
Absolutely lovely!
Kisses and love,
Mari
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An oriku (a tanka or renga in acrostic) Dispite having its own style, this is rarely seen in the west.
This one a beautiful an truely shows the authors regard for the lotus. Wonderfully done Maatkara.
Good luck in the contest
Andrew
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