THE PRAYERS OF THE INFIDELS

By Rado Gatchalian

13 August 2024

THE PRAYER OF THE INFIDELS

By Rado Gatchalian

13 August 2024

Here I am praying, at my own free choice, so that the people will know that I do not follow blindly. Hear me for my cause, not that I will be saved, but for me to be free. Free from fear, free from ignorance. 

I call upon all the masters, past and present, for them to graciously bless me with strength that I need, for me to endure all the challenges in life; wisdom, so that I will know the difference between right and wrong; and beauty, so that I will be able to enjoy this gift of life.

I pray that I may not only see the light but to be able to endure its duty to pass on the torch to deserving seekers of truth and humble servants of humanity. Allow me, my Dearest One, The Source, to shine beautifully both in my heart and my outer body. But as I shine like the morning sunrise, may I always remember to remain gentle and humble like the sunset. Then, to remain vigilant, curious, and passionate as I need to start life again in the next morning.

I beseech all my brothers to witness this moment of gratitude as I celebrate this opportunity to serve mankind.

I shall never turn blind eye to all wrongdoings. To promise to always give aid to those who are in need. To surrender to the will of the Order and to submit to a Grand Purpose, higher than all earthly religions and sects. 

But here I am now, a humble servant, silently waiting to listen to the Voice, so deep, flourishing, and powerful. I am waiting. Help me to know how to listen well.

And I pray that I remain vigilant against tyrannical noise and poisonous whispers of false prophets and masters who claim they hold the Truth. 

I pray that I will be given a power, so powerful, that I can be an instrument of peace and a messenger of love and knowledge. 

I pray that in my weakness, I find strength; in my greatness, I find humility; in my agony, I find joy; in my darkness, I find light; and in my ignorance, I find the truth.

Enlighten me, my Gracious One. And in the hour of my death, may I rest in peace and forever be with you - in total surrender to your will, to your compassion.

Amen.

BOOK

JULY 22, 2024

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,

And nodding by the fire, take down this book,

And slowly read, and dream of the soft look

Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,

And loved your beauty with love false or true,

But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,

And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,

Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled

And paced upon the mountains overhead

And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

William Butler Yeats

Interesting Comment 

"Yeats fell in love with Maud Gonne, considered to be one of the most beautiful women in all Ireland, and a revolutionary. He asked her to marry him but she chose instead to marry a fellow freedom fighter John MacBride who beat her and later was executed in the Easter Rebellion. He wrote this poem to her." ~Daniel Callaghan 

Source: Eng. Lit. Info 

WHERE'S THE SNOW?

July 18, 2024

A sullen day, 

Antarctic wind, 

Chilly and freezing 

Numb my moments.

Drizzling icy drops 

No sleets pelting 

Not a flake floating

Snow drifts somewhere. .

lcd 

18 July 2024

WEATHER: LEAH'S HAIKU

July 20, 2024

Orange 🍊 NSW 

WEATHER 

By Leah C Dancel 

Copyright ©️ July 20, 2024

All rights reserved. 

The sun came shining 

at temporary moment.

Freezing cold unquelled.

Leah's #Haiku1

July 20, 2024

Clouds take flight higher
Away from the ground of mist
Covering the sun.

Leah's #Haiku2

July 20, 2024

Tiny drops pelting
On a paddled rippling song
Reflection moving.

Leah's #Haiku3
July 20, 2024

A downcast shadow
Beneath the sky; endless woes
Drifting through the gloom.

Leah's #Haiku4
July 20, 2024

Tender limbs swinging

Unseen wind twinning with rain 

Green leaves sheltered shades.

Leah's #Haiku5

July 20, 2024

Beautiful, rousing;

Heart-warming and passionate 

Ardent flames of love. 

Leah's #Haiku6

July 20, 2024

HOME IN THE CLOUDS

HOME IN THE CLOUDS

By Don Luman-ag

A cozy home 

In ethereal mists

On a rolling grassland

Amidst lush greeneries

The scent of pine trees

Cool mountain breeze

Believe it or not

This place exists

Not far from here

There it awaits

A heavenly place

Of celestial peace

No hustle and bustle 

Of the city life

Away from stress

My haven of rest

©️ Don Luman-ag

All rights reserved.

July 13, 2024

Samal Island, Philippines

WHEN YOU SAY GOODBYE TO A PARENT

Lifted from MBF

4 July 2024

WHEN YOU SAY GOODBYE TO A PARENT

You are suddenly living in a whole new world.

You are no longer ‘the child’ and regardless of how long you have officially been ‘grown up’ for, you realise you actually never were until this moment. The shock of this adjustment will shake your very core.

When you have finally said goodbye to both your parents, assuming you were lucky enough to have had two. You are an orphan on this earth and that never, ever gets easier to take no matter how old and grey you are yourself and no matter how many children of your own you have.

You see, a part of your body is physically connected to the people that made it and also a part of your soul. When they no longer live, it is as if you are missing something practical that you need – like a finger or an arm. Because really, you are. You are missing your parent and that is something far more necessary than any limb.

And yet the connection is so strong it carries on somehow, no-one knows how exactly. But they are there. In some way, shape or form they are still guiding you if you listen closely enough. You can hear the words they would choose to say to you.

You can feel the warmth of their approval, their smile when a goal is achieved, their all-consuming love filling the air around you when a baby is born they haven’t met.

If you watch your children very closely you will see that they too have a connection with your parents long after they are gone. They will say things that resonate with you because it brings so many memories of the parent you are missing. They will carry on traits, thoughts and sometimes they will even see them in their dreams.

This is not something we can explain.

Love is a very mystical and wondrous entity.

It is far better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all and grief, grief is the price of that love. The deeper the love the stronger the grief.

When you say goodbye to a parent, do not forget to connect with that little girl who still lives inside you somewhere.

Take very good care of her, for she, she will be alone and scared.

When you say goodbye to your parents, you lose an identity, a place in the world. When the people who put you on this earth are no longer here, it changes everything.

Look after yourself the way they looked after you and listen out for them when you need it the most.

They never really leave.~

~Donna Ashworth

HEAVEN ON EARTH

By Don Luman-ag

HEAVEN ON EARTH

By Don Luman-ag 

I'm gonna live in the outbacks

Where I can sit back and relax

Watching the sea of clouds roll

As cool mists freshen my soul 

Coniferous forests -- all around

Negative ions in the air abound

Here, my self, I wanna be found

My spirit's free, no longer bound 

No more drama, just nature trip

Steamy shower, skinny-pool-dip

Lovely environs, sweet solitude

Living a blessed life of gratitude 

As I conjure up heaven on Earth

I am filled, with peace and mirth

I'm getting closer to my dreams

Much closer than you ever think 

©️ Don Luman-ag

All rights reserved.

July 3, 2024

Samal Island, Philippines 🇵🇭

FEAR

By Khalil Gibran

It is said that before entering the sea

a river trembles with fear.

She looks back at the path she has traveled,

from the peaks of the mountains,

the long winding road crossing forests and villages.

And in front of her,

she sees an ocean so vast,

that to enter

there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.

But there is no other way.

The river can not go back.

Nobody can go back.

To go back is impossible in existence.

The river needs to take the risk

of entering the ocean

because only then will fear disappear,

because that’s where the river will know

it’s not about disappearing into the ocean,

but of becoming the ocean.

~Khalil Gibran

THE ART OF LIVING

Lifted from English Literature Info

27 June 2024

We must be willing to get rid of

the life we've planned, so as to have

the life that is waiting for us.

The old skin has to be shed

before the new one can come.

If we fix on the old, we get stuck.

When we hang onto any form,

we are in danger of putrefaction.

Hell is life drying up.

The Hoarder,

the one in us that wants to keep,

to hold on, must be killed.

If we are hanging onto the form now,

we’re not going to have the form next.

You can’t make an omelet 

without breaking eggs.

Destruction before creation. 

~Joseph Campbell, Reflections on the Art of Living

PINK ROSES

15 June 2024

A birthday dedication to our Dear Carol

PINK ROSES 

Pink roses to the Lady of England:

Her royal blood runs not in her veins, 

But in her heart for fortitude and strength. 

Her loving kindness and caring ways 

Is her landmark for humanity.

Her loyalty is uncompromising and non-neglible -

Too huge to overlook.

Pink roses for a Mother, whose 

Unwavering and unbending soul -

To the call of service for those whom 

She loves; without bias, without prejudice. 

A Mother who made her presence known

Anywhere, anytime wherever you are:

"I'm here, if you need me Dear".

Pink roses to a dear Friend, who

For years has been my anchor. 

In friendship, she upholds me -

More than her flesh and blood;

More than a sister and a mother to my children. 

A Friend whom she never met

Until the day we'd finally embraced. 

All your goodness are not forgotten 

They may not have been expressed 

With eloquence, but, in the depth of my heart 

You will stay the person you are,

The Carol we knew through fate 

Whom God has blessed us through the 

 years.

©️ Leah C Dancel 

15 June 2024

All rights reserved 

Orange NSW 

AUSTRALIA 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROL

Many happy returns of the day!

Love, hugs and kisses

Leah, Lily and Noemi

ALONE IN THE COLD

15 June 2023

He stands tall beside his own shadow.

Lost in thought, feeling wrought.

This world is full of vagaries

Where justice is only served to those who gained favour by strong connection.

A morsel denied to this poor little guy

As food for the gods are offered to the heathens

But then he refused to take what's not his

He waited alone in the cold, this winter day.

©Leah C Dancel

Copyright ©️ 15 June 2023

All rights reserved 

SH-AUSTRALIA

YOUR TIME, NOT THEIRS

IN MEMORY OF STEVE LYMAN, UK

A fellow Poet at ILA, one of the most respected Admin Staff.
 

Lifted from the post of Annette Nasser 

14 June 2024

This passage Steve posted on his timeline, I believe shortly before he passed away.

**

"YOUR TIME, NOT THEIRS"

By Steve Lyman

Rain has finally stopped - I don't mean the weather - I'm talking about the showers of life - those dark cloudy days - The ones that drag you down - stopping you from moving on with everyday things - It's about time - You may hear me say - Well, in my opinion, this is how it feels - how it seems to motivate - but also cause us to deflate - There is so much that we go through in life - A time for this - A time for that - Good things - Bad things - Happy or sad things - all connected with time - So what happens if you take time out of the equation - Does it help improve your situation - Will it help you heal quickly - They say it will get better in time - Do they mean their time - or your time - You can never tell how long your time actually is - Putting a time on those dark times - when every minute feels like an hour - everyday seems to last forever - is that their time too - Somehow I think not - So, let's take today for ourselves - Let's use our time - Use the time of today in a constructive manner - make those minutes count - Do something that lifts your spirit - you know, with the power of positive thinking - You will be a lot nearer to their time - but you must own it - Take it for yourself - so, in your own time - you will actually heal - at your own pace - in your own mind space - that's taking time out of the equation.

REFLECTIONS

By Paul Guerin

This is a new poem just drafted, called "Reflections". 

Reflections

 

I’m on a narrow winding way

I search but cannot see the end

So I reflect upon my day

And matters that I need to mend

I struggle down the narrow way

Recalling old forgotten dreams

Wishing for a brand-new day

When reality is all it seems

My mind runs over hills and dales

I think of times long past

Some happy days and some sad tales

Romantic dreams that couldn’t last

My mind drifts on to valleys green

With tall dark mountains looking down

White beauty of a winter scene

That lifts my thoughts so I won’t drown

I wonder where this road will end

Is the destination getting near

Does solace wait around the bend

Will there be hope and quiet here

As the narrow road winds on along 

I vacillate from hope to fear

If past mistakes have made me strong

Perhaps I can walk out of here.

THE WORLD AT LARGE

13 June 2024

THE WORLD AT LARGE

Inching t'wards the real thing. 

Call it winter chill or winter freeze;

Freon thickens on the ground. 

There's fire by day and night

Chunky woods by the fireside

For slow combustion overnight.

Warm home, warm heart

Where love and peace reside 

Winter stills the world at large.

©️ Leah C Dancel 

13 June 2024

All rights reserved 

Orange 🍊 NSW 

AUSTRALIA

IN THE POET'S MIND

11 June 2024

Post by permission from the author, name Gav Smith of Victoria.

 Created in the poets mind,

a mel-o-dy inspired he,

what was about that stirred him most?,

a way to think, deliciously, 

that took away the usual aim,

creating prose or verse recite,

it really chose to bother him,

what put he down, did surely write.

I do not like all music, no

with some it seems to come from hell, 

to cause the brain to vegetate, 

and from a lofty height it fell,

but some, dear God, angelic be,

I presuppose a wondrous sign,

so musical and voices praise,

and with my brain it does align.

In colours too, what can be done?,

a painting that shall lead the way,

so etched upon your mem-o-ry ,

The water, flowers, they say Monet,

you look and gaze, so much aroused,

you learn to say most truthfully, 

this simpleton, a man called gav, 

a wondrous sight is shown to he.

I long to learn to think like this, 

I do not mind, so differently,

and draw from all that one may see,

but try to cope, how shall that be?,

and place my books, of poetry, 

a thrill indeed,  so marvellously,

and future means to dwell indeed, 

Of writings pure, may this succeed.

Copyright ©️ Gav Smith 

Founder of SOUPEE'S

Victoria AUSTRALIA 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I came across a FACEBOOK Page called THE SOUPEES. 

BEFORE THE COFFEE GETS COLD

07 June 2024

by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Don't leave anything for later.

Later, the coffee gets cold.

Later, you lose interest.

Later, the day turns into night.

Later, people grow up.

Later, people grow old.

Later, life goes by.

Later, you regret not doing something...

When you had the chance. 

Life is a fleeting dance, a delicate balance of moments that unfold before us, never to return in quite the same way again.

Regret is a bitter pill to swallow, a weight that bears down upon the soul with the burden of missed chances and unspoken words.

So, let us not leave anything for later. Let us seize the moments as they come, with hearts open and arms outstretched to embrace the possibilities that lie before us. For in the end, it is not the things we did that we regret, but the things we left undone, the words left unspoken, the dreams left unfulfilled.

   — Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a 2015 novel by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Source: English Literature info 

UNTITLED by Estelle Cortes

28 May 2024

I want to live simply. I just want to plant and grow my trees, frolic with the birds and butterflies in the fields, hug my fur babies, and watch my son become a man. I want not to be governed by money or clocks or any artificial restraints that humanity imposes on itself. I just want to be- boundless and infinite.

I shall rest one day soon,

Where the wild things are,

Among my beloved trees,

Hidden in the field of wild dandelions

My weary bones shall lay,

With the sky above me,

And the valleys sing my song,

The mountain ranges 

Shall stand guard over my grave,

The Sun will celebrate the life I lived,

And Luna will mourn for me at night.

Even when no one cares to remember,

Bury my bones where the wild things are.

~Estelle~

072523

©️Estelle Cortes Pimentel

All Rights Reserved

JUST LIKE BEFORE

27 May 2024

THE MORE YOU COUNT THE STARS, THE MORE YOU GIVE UP

Lifted from Rado Gatchalian 

THE MORE YOU COUNT THE STARS, THE MORE YOU GIVE UP

By Rado Gatchalian 

The revolution of the mind:

evolving like a little piece of chalk

which serves no purpose —

and all those dust become remnants

of consumed effort,

days and nights of attempts

to change the world.

But to what end?

How would logic

become a mentor of fortitude —

when it won’t be able to supply 

the last amount of oxygen you need?

But shall you just oblige to faith

and surrender to a cause or purpose

you can’t even fathom?

You read the books — and want to find

answers to all your questions;

but endless nights of erudition

can still not satisfy the hunger of your mind:

the more you know, the more you give up.

Then, you try to quiet your mind,

silence covers your whole being,

you walk in the forest:

count the flowers, leaves, and rocks,

the trees, and those beautiful stars;

then you stop counting —

because the more you count,

the more you give up.

Then, you surrender to peace

which is called by many names:

Joy

Beauty

Contentment

Now

Love.

Here: you stop counting

but you become part of those beautiful stars.

Because you are.

You become what you are 

when you let what is in you shine:

not because you know more

but because you believe.

MUM'S THE WORD

12 May 2024

ON MOTHER'S DAY

To Lily, Noemi 

Mum's the word
With arms that measure love
From east to west and north to south.
They encircle you with warm embrace. 

Mum's the word
Whose mind thinks deep
Where thoughts of you dwell-in

Wond'ring about your safety and well-being.

Mum's the word
With heart as tender as a bud

Yet strong and firm in discipline 

Encompassing peace and joy.

Mum's the word
With lips that encourage 
When you're down and broken 
Her kind words heal your wounds.

Mum is the anchor of your life

When the foundation turned asunder

Enshrine her with love and affection  

For her faith in you is beyond limits. 

©️ Leah C Dancel 

Copyright ©️ 12 May 2024

All rights reserved 

SH-AUSTRALIA 

ON MOTHER'S DAY 

WALTMARIE CHALLENGE

ILA 

WOW

Let's Twist to...A NEW WOW POETRY CHALLENGE!

Choose any one of this week's (WOW) Vocabulary Words:

(PERT, DIGRESS, PERUSAL or BON MOT) and apply it to your poem. Here is the twist. You must find as many words as you can within the WOW you choose and apply all your found words into your poem. You may write up to 12 lines but NO MORE THAN 12. You may choose to rhyme if you so desire though it is not required. If you are not sure what the definitions are for each word, please look it up on this week's post. If you get stuck in trying to find words within the WOW, there are two great sites if you search on Google, like Word Maker or All Scrabble. 

**

BEGINS TODAY (June 28, 2023) and ENDS SUNDAY, (July 2, 2023).

Looking forward in reading your great work!

FASHION SENSE

Her charismatic beauty compelled me to WEND my perspective 

About 

fashion trends that DIGRESSED in recent years, away from conservative style of dressing. 

I am

firm and STOLID by not conforming to the whims of women in society.

I frowned 

upon their glitterati temperament of endless demand in emulating the Hollywood

 glamour,

Who snubbed 

their mediocrity in fashion sense which to me is rather a

SELCOUTH. 

©️ Leah C Dancel 

Copyright ©️ 25 December 2023

All rights reserved 

SH-AUSTRALIA 

#ILA MAGAZINE 

#WALTMARIE 

#WOW: DIGRESS, SELCOUTH, STOLID, WEND 

ILA MAGAZINE - WOW Poetry Challenge:

The "WALTMARIE" - a two-in-one poem invented by Candice Kubinec.

**

It is a ten-lined poetic form

**

ODD LINES have NO SPECIFIC SYLLABIC COUNT, which means, the poet can write in as many syllables as he/she desires

**

EVEN LINES are written in 2 SYLLABLES, only.

**

The even lines create a "mini-poem" if read apart.

**

There are no rules for rhyme or subject - the option is left for the poet to choose whether to rhyme or not

**

The poem is usually titled but this is left for the poet to choose.

**

ODD LINES: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

EVEN LINES: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10

**

EXAMPLE OF MY POEM (I only used one of the wows yet poets must use ALL 4).

*

"ETCHED ON A TREE"

Should I digress on something I least desire

Before

I utter with myopic stance which I may be intolerant of

or more

Expressing proverbial logic in a cloud of words that fog

in time

traversing through a squall of reasons and of rhyme

My brain

unshackling new strength I have inside me now

feels free.

Annette Nasser

**

THIS IS A WOW CHALLENGE, so you MUST TRY TO APPLY all 4 words: (DIGRESS, STOLID, SELCOUTH, WEND), to be considered as a “BEST ENTRY”, which I will choose (several), shortly after this challenge ends. 

**

BEGINS NOW (12-14-23)

ENDS TUESDAY (12-19-23)

**

If anyone needs guidance, please do message me.

GOOD LUCK, POETS!

NOTHING

PENSEE POETRY 

NOTHING
is emptiness.
No one can do anything
Under any circumstances
For nothing is but void.
©️ Leah C Dancel
20 January 2024
SH-AUSTRALIA 

LESSON: 

ILA MAGAZINE PROMPT - This is NOT a WOW Challenge.

**

PENSEE Poetry Challenge!

*

PENSEE Poetry Form is a 5-Lined Syllabic poem - no rhyming or meter required unless you desire to write in rhyme.

LINE 1 is the SUBJECT and written in 2 Syllables.

LINE 2 is the DESCRIPTION and written in 4 Syllables.

LINE 3 is the ACTION and written in 7 Syllables.

LINE 4 is the SETTING and written in 8 Syllables.

LINE 5 is the FINAL THOUGHT and written in 6 Syllables.

REMEMBER ME

By Margaret Mead

“To the living, I am gone,

To the sorrowful, I will never return,

To the angry, I was cheated,

But to the happy, I am at peace,

And to the faithful, I have never left.

I cannot speak, but I can listen.

I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.

So as you stand upon a shore gazing at a beautiful sea,

As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity,

Remember me.

Remember me in your heart:

Your thoughts, and your memories,

Of the times we loved,

The times we cried,

The times we fought,

The times we laughed.

For if you always think of me, 

I will never have gone.”

Source: American Literature 

HOPE

By Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul,

And sings the tune without the words,

And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;

And sore must be the storm

That could abash the little bird

That kept so many warm.

I've heard it in the chillest land,

And on the strangest sea;

Yet, never, in extremity,

It asked a crumb of me.

By Emily Dickinson

FEAR

It is said that before entering the sea

a river trembles with fear.

She looks back at the path she has traveled,

from the peaks of the mountains,

the long winding road crossing forests and villages.

And in front of her,

she sees an ocean so vast,

that to enter

there seems nothing more than to disappear forever.

But there is no other way.

The river can not go back.

Nobody can go back.

To go back is impossible in existence.

The river needs to take the risk

of entering the ocean

because only then will fear disappear,

because that’s where the river will know

it’s not about disappearing into the ocean,

but of becoming the ocean.

~ Khalil Gibran