POEMS FOR INSPIRATION : REPUBLIC of the MIND

28 May 2023

REPUBLIC of the MIND

By Rado Gatchalian

Poem and Photography

Sydney Writers Festival 2023

28 May 2023

Republic of the Mind

Poem and photography by Rado Gatchalian

(#SydneyWritersFestival2023)

Antidote. A word with a dot.

But if I drink this immortal hemlock,

My heart stops, but tapping my lungs

full of heavenly illicit smoke.

But be tender on me

As I take the final bow.

If poem can speak like mumbling words,

Hear me for my cause

For here are little particles

Of an anti-thesis of all that I know — full stop.

Hour of Elegance

ABOUT A POETESS
(Dedicatory Poem by Yesu Ben)

Between love child's great mind and those
of our earth is a middle course,
A mid point hence the bridge be cast
from our side halfway mooring mast.

Within her mind’s a mystery
of intersecting unplumbed force
She reads the mind of sun and moon
and those which conduct seasons' course,

the manners of the stars and worlds,
their births, and deaths, and their returns.
That bipeds we be or some such,
let intellect light up and burn.

obscure to seen, atom to star
a lavish flash, don’t your eyes blink.
what veiled romance keeps her pen filled
with mighty heaven's wondrous ink?

12 October 2018

GREAT POET

"The greatest poet is one who knows one when she sees one. Like a doctor, she dissects one with an incisive mind and can immediately can tell if it is malignant or cancerous. She probes the mind of the poet and looks into the gray matter whether it is infused with wisdom or not. She looks into the heart of the poet, and you know when she is affected by what she reads when she comments with her emojis. ...Rare breed this poet of our contemporary times. Congratulations Leah Dancel!" ~Crispulo Bacud Tappa

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

One night I had a dream.  

I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord..

  Across the sky flashed scenes from my life.. 

For each scene,

I noticed two sets of  footprints in the sand, 

one belonging to me,

and the other to the Lord..

When the last scene of my life flashed before me, 

I looked back at the footprints in the sand. 

I noticed that many times along the path of my life 

there was only one set of footprints. 

I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest 

and saddest times in my life.

This really bothered me  and I questioned the Lord about it: "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, 

you'd walk with me all the way. 

But I have noticed that

during the most  troublesome times in my life  

there is only one set of footprints. 

I don't understand why  when I need you most

you would leave me."

The Lord replied: 

"My precious child, I love you

and would never leave you.

 During your times of trial and suffering, 

when you see only one set of footprints,

it was then  that I carried you."

by Mary Stevenson

DESIDERATA

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms
with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater
and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let not this blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the council of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful, strive to be happy.

~Max Ehrmann~

Serenity Prayer

by Reinhold Niebuhr

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to accept things I can change, and
Wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardships as a pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is;
not as I would have it;
Trusting that He would make all things right;
if I surrender to His will,
That I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and extremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.

FRIENDS

To start off as a stranger

And turn into a friend,

Is rather like a story

That has a happy end!

But this is just beginning -

A friendship bright and new,

Which is happy in the present,

And holds future promise, too!

~Elizabeth Gozney~

BEATING HEART

THE PUREST PLACE

The Bible says

28 May 2023

REPUBLIC of the MIND

FIERCE WARRIOR

DARE and DREAM

A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

INSPIRATION

PEACEFUL MOMENT

Poetry for Inspiration

Hour of Elegance

LOVING WISHES

MY DREAM BOAT

Leaves of Wisdom

Three Score 2010

Only The Best

The Eagle

Blog Archive

GREAT POET

FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND

DESIDERATA

Serenity Prayer

Gallery