Submissions by Ahavati
POEMS AND SHORT STORIES
Poet Introduction
Proprio Vos Sanguine Pasco
The Sacred Pause
Do not blindly react
choose to wisely respond
when your heart is ready
—and not a second before
People are not their actions
but yet they somehow are
an outer rim of vibration
emitting wounds and scars
Awareness births compassion
by curbing acerbic tongues
betraying their own Spirit
by way of their hurtful words
Do not blindly react
choose to wisely respond
when your heart is ready
—and not a second before
People are not their actions
and yet they somehow live
trapped in an aching...
choose to wisely respond
when your heart is ready
—and not a second before
People are not their actions
but yet they somehow are
an outer rim of vibration
emitting wounds and scars
Awareness births compassion
by curbing acerbic tongues
betraying their own Spirit
by way of their hurtful words
Do not blindly react
choose to wisely respond
when your heart is ready
—and not a second before
People are not their actions
and yet they somehow live
trapped in an aching...
#love
278 reads
16 Comments
Ode to Persephone
Its last] green is gold*
burnt red, pumpkin orange
crumpling brown
season-aged leaves
hanging by a vein
from gnarly twigs
Persephone wanders through
autumnal remnants
knowing this moment
will become a strange ghost
haunting the glades
upon her return to Hades
Her mother, Demeter
goddess of abundance
mourning her...
burnt red, pumpkin orange
crumpling brown
season-aged leaves
hanging by a vein
from gnarly twigs
Persephone wanders through
autumnal remnants
knowing this moment
will become a strange ghost
haunting the glades
upon her return to Hades
Her mother, Demeter
goddess of abundance
mourning her...
#fall
301 reads
12 Comments
Heaven
isn't a destination
but moments lived
with the legacy
of one's children
The blood-blessing
of a new generation
who, through their own child
fuel the continuation
of a sacred lineage
called life:
A reincarnation
of Truth—
from who we were
to now
~
but moments lived
with the legacy
of one's children
The blood-blessing
of a new generation
who, through their own child
fuel the continuation
of a sacred lineage
called life:
A reincarnation
of Truth—
from who we were
to now
~
#children
#LifeCycle
222 reads
7 Comments
Paradise Lost
The mind is its own place,
and in itself can make a heaven of hell,
a hell of heaven.” – John Milton, Paradise Lost
No prison is darker
as that of one’s mind
when jailer's thoughts
become torturous binds.
No captivity exceeds
our own mental belief
convincing ourselves
of thoughts that we think.
When indeed they will pass
if we choose to release
expectation and doubt
for patience and faith.
Greater is the knowledge
regardless of condition
that gratitude and love ...
and in itself can make a heaven of hell,
a hell of heaven.” – John Milton, Paradise Lost
No prison is darker
as that of one’s mind
when jailer's thoughts
become torturous binds.
No captivity exceeds
our own mental belief
convincing ourselves
of thoughts that we think.
When indeed they will pass
if we choose to release
expectation and doubt
for patience and faith.
Greater is the knowledge
regardless of condition
that gratitude and love ...
#philosophical
277 reads
18 Comments
The Politics of Fish
Young fish sniff for bait
that could cost their peace
when swallowing it
But discerning adults
who remain uncaught
are smart
Refusing to be played
by false lures of insult
to their intelligence
Wise vertebrate
disempower fisherwo/men
who toss shit for bait
by swimming around the stench
Those are the fish
who maintain their peace
choosing waters of love instead
~
that could cost their peace
when swallowing it
But discerning adults
who remain uncaught
are smart
Refusing to be played
by false lures of insult
to their intelligence
Wise vertebrate
disempower fisherwo/men
who toss shit for bait
by swimming around the stench
Those are the fish
who maintain their peace
choosing waters of love instead
~
#metaphor
#philosophical
307 reads
9 Comments
Sacrifice
Maybe a sacrifice would help
virtual blood spilled
across the internet
used as a keyboard
for a victor's comment
Yet, I doubt it . . .
truth is, if it's not me
it will always be someone else
Somebody crossing their path
with that one dissenting voice
That's what really hurts
them, a change in pitch
from what they want
despite everyone's ability
to speak their own light ...
virtual blood spilled
across the internet
used as a keyboard
for a victor's comment
Yet, I doubt it . . .
truth is, if it's not me
it will always be someone else
Somebody crossing their path
with that one dissenting voice
That's what really hurts
them, a change in pitch
from what they want
despite everyone's ability
to speak their own light ...
#honesty
#philosophical
258 reads
Endgame
The more we attempt to impose
our own will over others
the more that shall be returned
unto our own coffers
There are times
we get what we want
but mostly
it's what we need to learn
before it dissolves
Accepting that
is a sign of growth
resistance is futile
until the lesson is learned
Afterall, iron sharpens iron
and it is what we signed up for
whether believed or not
~
our own will over others
the more that shall be returned
unto our own coffers
There are times
we get what we want
but mostly
it's what we need to learn
before it dissolves
Accepting that
is a sign of growth
resistance is futile
until the lesson is learned
Afterall, iron sharpens iron
and it is what we signed up for
whether believed or not
~
#LifeCycle
#minimalist
255 reads
4 Comments
Pepsi & Peanuts
It was my mother’s favorite:
A bottle of Pepsi
and a little bag of Planter’s peanuts
She would dump the bag
into the bottle
after taking a few sips
to lower its contents
I don’t know why I remember
things like this
But always wonder
if it’s because she’s with me
at that particular moment
A few days after cleaning
the yard from a storm
I saw something glassy
protruding from the mud
As I dug, I realized
it was a vintage Pepsi bottle
the one with swirls ...
A bottle of Pepsi
and a little bag of Planter’s peanuts
She would dump the bag
into the bottle
after taking a few sips
to lower its contents
I don’t know why I remember
things like this
But always wonder
if it’s because she’s with me
at that particular moment
A few days after cleaning
the yard from a storm
I saw something glassy
protruding from the mud
As I dug, I realized
it was a vintage Pepsi bottle
the one with swirls ...
#memories
#historical
#nostalgia
289 reads
18 Comments
"The Dragon King's Daughter"
Tonight, I read a Tang Dynasty Story
to the vibration of a hurricane's thunder:
The Dragon King's Daughter
written at the beginning
of the ninth century.
It's an age-old tale
of romance
between a young man
and the dragon king's daughter
by Li Chaowei.
It ripples through centuries
from Dongting Lake
soothing a long day;
Allowing an ancient plot twist
and modern woman
to softly embrace.
~
to the vibration of a hurricane's thunder:
The Dragon King's Daughter
written at the beginning
of the ninth century.
It's an age-old tale
of romance
between a young man
and the dragon king's daughter
by Li Chaowei.
It ripples through centuries
from Dongting Lake
soothing a long day;
Allowing an ancient plot twist
and modern woman
to softly embrace.
~
#historical
183 reads
8 Comments
DUNE
Once men turned their thinking over to machines
in the hope that this would set them free.
But that only permitted other men
with machines to enslave them.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune
When they released the remake of Dune
it took me the longest time to watch;
in protest, I eschewed the very thought
that a remake could be more astute
than an original, 1984 classic.
But critics and fans soon negated
my obstinate doubt.
I realized I was being closed
-minded and...
in the hope that this would set them free.
But that only permitted other men
with machines to enslave them.”
― Frank Herbert, Dune
When they released the remake of Dune
it took me the longest time to watch;
in protest, I eschewed the very thought
that a remake could be more astute
than an original, 1984 classic.
But critics and fans soon negated
my obstinate doubt.
I realized I was being closed
-minded and...
#philosophical
233 reads
13 Comments
Warrior II
My father once told me
as Mr. Roger's mother
told him:
“Look for the helpers"
in any atrocity.
“It keeps the world sane”
he continued,
"to know good people
risk their lives
for other humans."
My life and social feeds
were once filled
with a relentless search
for the holy grail of justice
amid political riots and shame.
"I am hurt, but I am not slaine;
I'le lay mee downe and bleed a-while,
And then I'le rise and fight againe."
was a battle cry...
as Mr. Roger's mother
told him:
“Look for the helpers"
in any atrocity.
“It keeps the world sane”
he continued,
"to know good people
risk their lives
for other humans."
My life and social feeds
were once filled
with a relentless search
for the holy grail of justice
amid political riots and shame.
"I am hurt, but I am not slaine;
I'le lay mee downe and bleed a-while,
And then I'le rise and fight againe."
was a battle cry...
#childhood
#SelfReflection
352 reads
9 Comments
Rusty Fulcrum
No one laughs
watching a homeless lady
agonize to cross the street
at a snail’s pace
except for a lone dude
in the park
He shifts his weight from the bench,
stands on both legs
and decides to use humor
to cover whatever triggered
the uncomfortable knot
curling its fist in his chest.
He makes a joke
about homelessness
and laughs.
Riddles the poor
lazy leeches sucking taxes
from the working class
and laughs.
My compassion uncoils itself
as an aching frond— ...
watching a homeless lady
agonize to cross the street
at a snail’s pace
except for a lone dude
in the park
He shifts his weight from the bench,
stands on both legs
and decides to use humor
to cover whatever triggered
the uncomfortable knot
curling its fist in his chest.
He makes a joke
about homelessness
and laughs.
Riddles the poor
lazy leeches sucking taxes
from the working class
and laughs.
My compassion uncoils itself
as an aching frond— ...
#bullying
#homelessness
#poverty
489 reads
9 Comments
DU Poetry : Submissions by Ahavati