– To pray for the peace of all peoples,
will add a grain of hope to this flickering new year;
– a contented soul is paradise;
– heaven, if we have the eyes for it, is us, in our unfolding inclusiveness;
– the Big Bang is God’s dancing body; the shimmering fallout is yours;
– is not miracle still the best word to describe how we got here? and our stories? each one, surrounded by suspense and mystery;
– a flash of insight can sky-rocket your life, but don’t go making a religion;
– you want meaning? behold the earth, love her array of inhabitants;
– the heart is a spotted peach — there’s no getting through without some bruising;
– a glib apology creates another wound — a word of mercy is healing;
– friendship is full-bodied wine, a fine acquaintance is the bubbly kind;
– pavement, like a hard heart, longs to be pierced by grass;
– we are lonely pilgrims, prodigals returning, ready now to receive the love that’s waiting;
– since we receive our selves through the eyes of others, let us go tenderly;
– the crushed grapes of letting go, can be Beaujolais for the soul;
– good art enlarges our lives, and challenges autocrats;
– a side dish of skepticism is good for you, but a main course is constipating;
– truth languishes in the theatres of politics, flourishes in the cries of children;
– God is haiku, Jesus is free verse;
– snowflakes are the angels of leaves;
– do not shush chrysanthemums;
– don’t drag with you what’s dead — everything you need you’ll find along the way;
– don’t vomit outright — let the poison pass through and teach you, what to hate, what to tolerate;
– despite the crazed magnificence of our vanities, our true longing is to be each other’s joy;
– everyday, set your cherished certainties on the sill of an open window — discard what doesn’t fly, what does will return;
– theology says I come from the heavens, poetry says I come from a farm, four miles north of Springside;
– rest your head on your easel, it will open a door.
– intelligence is a window, fame is tinsel, kindness is a temple;
– gender is both river and riverbed, and as enigmatic;
– the twin sister of praise is grief;
– don’t scold yourself, worry is a form of prayer;
– flawless diamonds do not sparkle;
– approach an orchid on your knees,
lift your eyes to the dawn,
listen with the ear of your heart, and
love will find you in the grief-fractured layers of your life;
– when we meet, I’m fine with a hug, if you are.
Wishing you a bright and beautiful New Year!
Thank you. & Feliz Año Nuevo!
Happy New Adela! Sending you heartfelt best wishes for the coming year.
Much to ponder. Thank you, Stephen. And Happy New Year!
Thank you, Marcia!
Yes, Much to ponder, Thank-you Stephen, for once again illuminating my morning!
Thanks Kirk!
I look forward to theses! They make great calligraphy ideas..thank you. (With attribution of course:)
Thanks Kellie! I’d love to see those.
There are so many sparks of wisdom here. I am not sure which one I love the most. I know I like the full-bodied wine type of friendships most, and a loud “yes, please” to this line: “heaven, if we have the eyes for it, is us, in our unfolding inclusiveness…”
Thank you so much, Diane!
Feel like you gave a hug already 🙂
Thanks for the ever-blessings and joys and sorrows noted here.
Life is richer with you in it.
Peace to you and everywhere.
Thank you, Wenda! I so appreciate that.
Now I gotta Google ‘haiku’…
But this, I will try to attain to – “ – everyday, set your cherished certainties on the sill of an open window — discard what doesn’t fly, what does will return;”
Thanks Steve
Thanks for this, Mike! Glad you found a line that resonated.
For me, a well-written haiku (which is a short, three-line poem, with limited syllables), is a bit of mystery that points to the essence of a moment.
Beautiful . Happy NEw Year Stephen . Your words and sentiments make the world a better place
Warmly
Ananda
Thank you my kind friend!
— is not miracle still the best word to describe how we got here?
— rest your head on your easel, it will open a door.
Stephen, these breathtakingly lovely lines have inspired me heading into an exciting new year of crafting and poetry. In gratitude and peace, Laurie
To be the cause of an ounce of inspiration for your artistic journey, a journey I deeply admire, is joy for me. Thank you Laurie.
“since we receive our selves through the eyes of others, let us go tenderly”
Loved this one, among the others. Thanks.
Thanks for that, Sam!