Early morning, Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Some time before sunrise, while my mind
Slumbers on the edge of dreamscape
I sense the spirit of Socrates hovering just above my bed
So I lay there, dozing in a state of hopeful readiness
In case my friend, the sage, has come
To whisper words of wisdom into my ear, and
I grow appreciatively attentive upon hearing
The welcome sound of his voice floating serenely through the air:
Annie, I come, today, as I've come in the past to
Guide you to consider doing as Thoreau did before you:
Seek and Ye shall find a peaceful pond upon
Which to ponder insight into love and life and
In this way shall you come to understand
Mother Nature's purpose each time
She waves her magic wand over your head, thus
Blessing you with another person to love ...
Each time unresolved conflict separates you from
Those you love, remember that Mother Nature
Knows better than any mortal when to undizzy your mind
So at those times when you feel stymied, while
Reflecting back over life's most puzzling dilemmas
I suggest that you seek insight into
Contemplating bigger pictures more deeply, meaning
More thoroughly, than had been possible when
Your need to flee from inner conflict had
Usurped control over the thought processing center of your brain
You see, timing is everything, so hindsight may
Open your eyes to the gift of resolution to which
You'd previously been blind
As the sage pauses to breathe, I counter with:
But Socrates, people say
I'm already too deep for my own good
Upon hearing this, the sage chuckles and
Reassures me by replying:
Yes, I've experienced that very thing, myself
So here's the thing:
If you pay heed to what I've come to say
You'll pay little mind to naysayers, who have no clue as to
Why you feel compelled to swim in rivers deeper than
Most can fathom
Rather than allowing naysayers to challenge your ire
Channel your focus toward understanding
The complexity of your character traits by
Diving into self discovery in hopes of dismantling
Defensive walls, one layer at a time
You see, buried within the layers of our defensive walls
Are secrets we keep hidden from ourselves concerning
Childhood's experiential fears—
Once unnamed fears have been exumed and clearly exposed
They are no longer empowered to haunt your adult mind with
Undeserved guilt trips that cause you to
Mistake your deepest needs as being selfish, when
In truth, that's not the case, at all
I find it most unfortunate that societal judgments
Cause us to believe that what we feel at our core
Equates with doing wrong to others
Once we gain insight into
Separating that which feels wrong from
That which is wrong, we'll feel inspired to
Brainstorm until a growing sense of self awareness
Figures out how to satisfy unmet needs, all round
And here's why that train of thought proves vital to
The good health of our spirits—most especially as we age:
Tis a grievous mistake to feed the needs of others while
Starving your own ...
Then, looking like Father Time, wearing halo and wings
The spirit of Socrates strokes his long white beard
And while gazing into the future by way of insight, which
I've not yet acquired the depth to call my own
My dear friend goes on to say:
In the end result, inner peace depends not upon
Self sacrifice, as we've been misled to believe …
Inner peace depends upon brainstorming
Toward creating a sense of balance that
Considers universal needs, which prove timeless—and
Sometimes, working to achieve a balanced state of mind is
All that is needed to solve a complex dilemma by way of
Conjuring up a simple plan that's been
Staring us in the face, all along—on the other hand
The simplicity of such a plan will escape
Conscious awareness for as long as darkened
Mind sets, colored by societal misperceptions
Block our vision from conceiving of solutions that
Actually exist … Annie, it's important to remember that
Your first thought is not necessarily your best thought ...
And that's especially true when your first thought has been
Heavily influenced by subconscious fear
Hey! I interject: I say that all the time …
Oh ... Wait … Suddenly, I have a feeling that
Each time an amazing thought floats
Naturally out of my mouth that suggests
My mind is channeling minds, which had
Quested toward problem solving plans
Before I was born …
At this, my friend claps his hands and
Smiling as brightly as a sunbeam, lighting up my bedroom
Socrates declares:
By Jove, I think you've got it!
Then, locking eyes seriously with mine
My trusted friend goes on to say:
I didn't recognize my need for diplomacy in time to
Save myself from being poisoned by those who'd
Come to fear me, so now
I work tirelessly to inspire minds of succeeding generations
To seek solitude while contemplating
Simple problem solving plans, most especially
At those times when love and life present us with
Classic conflicts that seem too complex for
The smartest among us to resolve
At this point in his dissertation, the sage pauses, and
Since frustration, concerning deaf ears
Forces my hand, I interrupt my friend's train of thought with
This declaration of my own:
I'm so tired of feeling unheard!!
With insight into the depth of my pain
An expression of soulful understanding
Covers my friend's face, and sighing empathetically
Socrates nods, pats my shoulder and makes it plain that
He comiserates with my plight:
Annie, I've observed you closely since your baby sister died …
And over the years, I've come to know the complexity of
Your character development better than
You could possibly know yourself, so
Please listen attentively when I say:
Though it's true that your frustration has had
Sound reason to build, you'll muster the courage not to give up on
Achieving whatever heartfelt quest you choose to undertake, so
Please have patience, young friend …
Young friend?
Socrates, are you so busy, imparting wisdom
Here and there around the globe to have missed the fact that
I've already stepped into the fourth stage of my life?
Chuckling wisely at my persistent innocence, the sage
Employs a good natured tone while gently
Putting me in my proper place with this reply:
My dear child, just as with attitude, age is
A matter of perspective—N'est ce pas?
Upon comparing the state of my 'youth' with
The advanced age of the sage, I call forth humility and
Having absorbed a deeper sense of insight into
The brevity of my existence on the time line, I ask:
Since change for the betterment of all concerned
Takes place one infinitesimal step at a time
How do you tame your frustration with patience?
Well, I've been flying around for so many centuries as to
Suggest that my perspective has had much more time to
Expand and deepen than that of your peers …
As the simplicity of the sage's reply sets my mind to thinking
I say: Hey—did you swoop down from on high to whisper into
The ear of the Bard, when Shakespeare
Was tossing and turning in bed while
Tuning up scripts inside his head?
And how about Dickens? Henry James? The Bronte sisters?
Victor Hugo? Charles Schultz? Erma Bombeck?
Dr. Joyce Brothers?
Eyes twinkling mischievously, the sage says:
What do you think? Uh—BTW, let's not forgot
Mark Twain, Ingmar Bergman and Woody Allen
Woody Allen???
Of course—though some minds are more difficult to pry open
I try, try again :)
While pondering over so much to absorb
I find myself diving into contemplation even more
Deeply than before, so I think to ask:
Have you been talking to my therapist? I mean, both of you
Seem to agree that it's classic for subconscious fears to paralyze
The best of brains—and here's something that
Stymies me, every day—
What good is patience when speaking to deaf ears?
Smiling sagely, Socrates replies:
If timing is everything then we can't tell
When a closed mind set may be ready to crack open—
You know, like cracking a 'wall-nut'
Hearing that I roll my eyes and groan, because
I can't joke about a subject as serious as opening deaf ears
As groaning offers my friend insight into the depth of my pain
Socrates switches gears:
Annie, my dear, we've discussed all of this before …
But Socrates, there's so much to remember by my age …
Well, though that proves true, please don't forget that as much as
You've already absorbed, Mother Nature equipped your mind with
Empty brain cells enough to fill with
Nonsense or wisdom throughout your entire life—think about it:
If you'd been born fully invested with the power of knowledge
Instead of the potential to seek it out on your own, your
Sense of challenge, adventure and wonderment would not
Have reason to feel inspired to delight in
The joys of self discovery as unexpected experiences
With life and love continue to unfold—and
As the aging process moves each of us from
One stage toward the next, tis joy that keeps our spirit's young
Annie, do you have any clue as to how often I whisper into the ears of
Sports stars and rock stars? Those folks don't stay put in one place
Long enough for words of wisdom to sink in deep enough to stick for
More than the length of a song!
Ah, Annie, please keep this fact in the forefront of your mind:
Deep inside your heart, you know for a fact that
All ears are not closed to that which we feel compelled to say …
We? What do you mean by we?
Don't you feel my presence when
Your heart feels the need to speak aloud—today?
Oh! You mean, like that saying:
When I see one set of footprints
In the sand, you're carrying me …
With a nod and a wink, my friend of few words says:
Very good! You got it!
Wow! That makes such good sense!
Thank you for making me aware of your presence at
Life's most difficult times when I'm surrounded by
Love but feel all alone!
Well, you know what 'they' say …
Two heads, brainstorming on the same wave length
Are better than one …
Have faith, Annie … in your fellow man … and
In your simple plans, and most of all
In the power of your mind—most especially
While focusing upon sweeping fear out of your head during
Life's most trying times …
Then, with furrowed brow, my trusted friend continues with:
When you feel the need to conserve your energy
Choose to seek out open ears, and know this for a fact:
As long as no one threatens you with a death sentence
You're on the right path ... And by 'right' path, I'm not suggesting
A path that's self righteous but rightly focused upon
Diplomatic discussion
Also, please remember that readiness is everything, so ...
Rather than hammering on cold iron, continue to
Pour everything your heart feels fired up to say
Into your blog, thus sending insight, concerning life and love
Into cyberspace, every day, because this is a great, big, bright
Beautiful world, peopled with millions who hunger for
That which your think tank feels compelled to convey
But Socrates, so few answer me, and I ask so many questions …
With that, the sage, looking wistful, bows his head and says:
Annie, one reason for patience is due to this fact: It can
Take a lifetime for a think tank to amass insight into
Certain aspects of wisdom, which
Youthful ears long to absorb, suggesting that …
Oftimes we are heard posthomously
I was an orator and a deep thinking statesman but not a writer
Thank goodness, when I spoke my mind, Plato took notes …
Then, raising his head to lock eyes with mine, my friend goes on:
Maintain your solitude till your childhood fear is named
And know full well that when your current quest has been won …
A sense of peaceful repose will fill your adult mind, and
Knowing you as well I do, I say this with utter conviction:
Before too long, you'll figure out
That which your deep seated torment is truly about …
Until then, please take my suggestion
Concerning Thoreau to heart … and lastly—
Never lose faith in your brain's practiced ability to resolve
Complex dilemmas by conjuring up plans, which
Prove so simple that upon absorbing whatever
You feel compelled to say, some day, disciples
Near and far, will scratch their young heads
While asking themselves:
Now, why didn't I think of that???
Socrates, are you intimating that in addition to
Channeling you, I've been channeling
Thoreau and Shakespeare and countless others whenever
My need to contemplate life and love
Draws my mind toward feeding bread crumbs
To ducks at a pond?
Well—at times when you're soul searching anew for
A simple plan, which offers up a workable solution
To a complex issue, can you think of any place that proves
More serene than a pond-like setting? BTW, did you guess
That I had a hand in writing On Golden Pond?
Too bad ghost writers can't win Oscars …
Though I wonder at a sage showing a bit of boastful pride
Diplomacy suggests swallowing that thought in favor of stating:
Gosh, in all the times we've walked and talked
I'd never surmised that you had such a thing for ponds!
Getting all dreamy eyed, my friend replies: Well, I do …
Then, as my friend turns away from me toward
My bedroom's huge picture widow
My eyes follow his lead, and while we gaze upward
Over my mountain into the unending depths of
The desert's azure blue sky, the next thing we know …
A plane soars overhead filled with
Hundreds of people, flying from there to here
And feeling as if we can fortell goodtidings concerning
A future, yet to unfold
I can't help but agree when my friend says:
Annie, make certain that your high flying spirit
Never loses faith in the fact that anything is possible …
Then as the spirit of my friend, the sage
Begins to fade, this sets my mind to racing, because
my heart feels compelled to make it across the finish line before
I'm left to fend for myself, alone in my bed, facing
This fear, which remains unnamed, deep inside
A scary pocket of my mind …
Imploring my friend not leave me, at least not yet
I toss and turn while my dreamscape voice exclaims:
Wait! Please! Will I remember all this when I awaken?
Then, while willing myself to hold still and
Listen closely in hopes of receiving an affirmative answer
All I hear is the flutter of wings before silence fills the air and
With the awareness of Will coming home, today …
My eyes fly open to greet the dawning of a brand new day …
Some time before sunrise, while my mind
Slumbers on the edge of dreamscape
I sense the spirit of Socrates hovering just above my bed
So I lay there, dozing in a state of hopeful readiness
In case my friend, the sage, has come
To whisper words of wisdom into my ear, and
I grow appreciatively attentive upon hearing
The welcome sound of his voice floating serenely through the air:
Annie, I come, today, as I've come in the past to
Guide you to consider doing as Thoreau did before you:
Seek and Ye shall find a peaceful pond upon
Which to ponder insight into love and life and
In this way shall you come to understand
Mother Nature's purpose each time
She waves her magic wand over your head, thus
Blessing you with another person to love ...
Each time unresolved conflict separates you from
Those you love, remember that Mother Nature
Knows better than any mortal when to undizzy your mind
So at those times when you feel stymied, while
Reflecting back over life's most puzzling dilemmas
I suggest that you seek insight into
Contemplating bigger pictures more deeply, meaning
More thoroughly, than had been possible when
Your need to flee from inner conflict had
Usurped control over the thought processing center of your brain
You see, timing is everything, so hindsight may
Open your eyes to the gift of resolution to which
You'd previously been blind
As the sage pauses to breathe, I counter with:
But Socrates, people say
I'm already too deep for my own good
Upon hearing this, the sage chuckles and
Reassures me by replying:
Yes, I've experienced that very thing, myself
So here's the thing:
If you pay heed to what I've come to say
You'll pay little mind to naysayers, who have no clue as to
Why you feel compelled to swim in rivers deeper than
Most can fathom
Rather than allowing naysayers to challenge your ire
Channel your focus toward understanding
The complexity of your character traits by
Diving into self discovery in hopes of dismantling
Defensive walls, one layer at a time
You see, buried within the layers of our defensive walls
Are secrets we keep hidden from ourselves concerning
Childhood's experiential fears—
Once unnamed fears have been exumed and clearly exposed
They are no longer empowered to haunt your adult mind with
Undeserved guilt trips that cause you to
Mistake your deepest needs as being selfish, when
In truth, that's not the case, at all
I find it most unfortunate that societal judgments
Cause us to believe that what we feel at our core
Equates with doing wrong to others
Once we gain insight into
Separating that which feels wrong from
That which is wrong, we'll feel inspired to
Brainstorm until a growing sense of self awareness
Figures out how to satisfy unmet needs, all round
And here's why that train of thought proves vital to
The good health of our spirits—most especially as we age:
Tis a grievous mistake to feed the needs of others while
Starving your own ...
Then, looking like Father Time, wearing halo and wings
The spirit of Socrates strokes his long white beard
And while gazing into the future by way of insight, which
I've not yet acquired the depth to call my own
My dear friend goes on to say:
In the end result, inner peace depends not upon
Self sacrifice, as we've been misled to believe …
Inner peace depends upon brainstorming
Toward creating a sense of balance that
Considers universal needs, which prove timeless—and
Sometimes, working to achieve a balanced state of mind is
All that is needed to solve a complex dilemma by way of
Conjuring up a simple plan that's been
Staring us in the face, all along—on the other hand
The simplicity of such a plan will escape
Conscious awareness for as long as darkened
Mind sets, colored by societal misperceptions
Block our vision from conceiving of solutions that
Actually exist … Annie, it's important to remember that
Your first thought is not necessarily your best thought ...
And that's especially true when your first thought has been
Heavily influenced by subconscious fear
Hey! I interject: I say that all the time …
Oh ... Wait … Suddenly, I have a feeling that
Each time an amazing thought floats
Naturally out of my mouth that suggests
My mind is channeling minds, which had
Quested toward problem solving plans
Before I was born …
At this, my friend claps his hands and
Smiling as brightly as a sunbeam, lighting up my bedroom
Socrates declares:
By Jove, I think you've got it!
Then, locking eyes seriously with mine
My trusted friend goes on to say:
I didn't recognize my need for diplomacy in time to
Save myself from being poisoned by those who'd
Come to fear me, so now
I work tirelessly to inspire minds of succeeding generations
To seek solitude while contemplating
Simple problem solving plans, most especially
At those times when love and life present us with
Classic conflicts that seem too complex for
The smartest among us to resolve
At this point in his dissertation, the sage pauses, and
Since frustration, concerning deaf ears
Forces my hand, I interrupt my friend's train of thought with
This declaration of my own:
I'm so tired of feeling unheard!!
With insight into the depth of my pain
An expression of soulful understanding
Covers my friend's face, and sighing empathetically
Socrates nods, pats my shoulder and makes it plain that
He comiserates with my plight:
Annie, I've observed you closely since your baby sister died …
And over the years, I've come to know the complexity of
Your character development better than
You could possibly know yourself, so
Please listen attentively when I say:
Though it's true that your frustration has had
Sound reason to build, you'll muster the courage not to give up on
Achieving whatever heartfelt quest you choose to undertake, so
Please have patience, young friend …
Young friend?
Socrates, are you so busy, imparting wisdom
Here and there around the globe to have missed the fact that
I've already stepped into the fourth stage of my life?
Chuckling wisely at my persistent innocence, the sage
Employs a good natured tone while gently
Putting me in my proper place with this reply:
My dear child, just as with attitude, age is
A matter of perspective—N'est ce pas?
Upon comparing the state of my 'youth' with
The advanced age of the sage, I call forth humility and
Having absorbed a deeper sense of insight into
The brevity of my existence on the time line, I ask:
Since change for the betterment of all concerned
Takes place one infinitesimal step at a time
How do you tame your frustration with patience?
Well, I've been flying around for so many centuries as to
Suggest that my perspective has had much more time to
Expand and deepen than that of your peers …
As the simplicity of the sage's reply sets my mind to thinking
I say: Hey—did you swoop down from on high to whisper into
The ear of the Bard, when Shakespeare
Was tossing and turning in bed while
Tuning up scripts inside his head?
And how about Dickens? Henry James? The Bronte sisters?
Victor Hugo? Charles Schultz? Erma Bombeck?
Dr. Joyce Brothers?
Eyes twinkling mischievously, the sage says:
What do you think? Uh—BTW, let's not forgot
Mark Twain, Ingmar Bergman and Woody Allen
Woody Allen???
Of course—though some minds are more difficult to pry open
I try, try again :)
While pondering over so much to absorb
I find myself diving into contemplation even more
Deeply than before, so I think to ask:
Have you been talking to my therapist? I mean, both of you
Seem to agree that it's classic for subconscious fears to paralyze
The best of brains—and here's something that
Stymies me, every day—
What good is patience when speaking to deaf ears?
Smiling sagely, Socrates replies:
If timing is everything then we can't tell
When a closed mind set may be ready to crack open—
You know, like cracking a 'wall-nut'
Hearing that I roll my eyes and groan, because
I can't joke about a subject as serious as opening deaf ears
As groaning offers my friend insight into the depth of my pain
Socrates switches gears:
Annie, my dear, we've discussed all of this before …
But Socrates, there's so much to remember by my age …
Well, though that proves true, please don't forget that as much as
You've already absorbed, Mother Nature equipped your mind with
Empty brain cells enough to fill with
Nonsense or wisdom throughout your entire life—think about it:
If you'd been born fully invested with the power of knowledge
Instead of the potential to seek it out on your own, your
Sense of challenge, adventure and wonderment would not
Have reason to feel inspired to delight in
The joys of self discovery as unexpected experiences
With life and love continue to unfold—and
As the aging process moves each of us from
One stage toward the next, tis joy that keeps our spirit's young
Annie, do you have any clue as to how often I whisper into the ears of
Sports stars and rock stars? Those folks don't stay put in one place
Long enough for words of wisdom to sink in deep enough to stick for
More than the length of a song!
Ah, Annie, please keep this fact in the forefront of your mind:
Deep inside your heart, you know for a fact that
All ears are not closed to that which we feel compelled to say …
We? What do you mean by we?
Don't you feel my presence when
Your heart feels the need to speak aloud—today?
Oh! You mean, like that saying:
When I see one set of footprints
In the sand, you're carrying me …
With a nod and a wink, my friend of few words says:
Very good! You got it!
Wow! That makes such good sense!
Thank you for making me aware of your presence at
Life's most difficult times when I'm surrounded by
Love but feel all alone!
Well, you know what 'they' say …
Two heads, brainstorming on the same wave length
Are better than one …
Have faith, Annie … in your fellow man … and
In your simple plans, and most of all
In the power of your mind—most especially
While focusing upon sweeping fear out of your head during
Life's most trying times …
Then, with furrowed brow, my trusted friend continues with:
When you feel the need to conserve your energy
Choose to seek out open ears, and know this for a fact:
As long as no one threatens you with a death sentence
You're on the right path ... And by 'right' path, I'm not suggesting
A path that's self righteous but rightly focused upon
Diplomatic discussion
Also, please remember that readiness is everything, so ...
Rather than hammering on cold iron, continue to
Pour everything your heart feels fired up to say
Into your blog, thus sending insight, concerning life and love
Into cyberspace, every day, because this is a great, big, bright
Beautiful world, peopled with millions who hunger for
That which your think tank feels compelled to convey
But Socrates, so few answer me, and I ask so many questions …
With that, the sage, looking wistful, bows his head and says:
Annie, one reason for patience is due to this fact: It can
Take a lifetime for a think tank to amass insight into
Certain aspects of wisdom, which
Youthful ears long to absorb, suggesting that …
Oftimes we are heard posthomously
I was an orator and a deep thinking statesman but not a writer
Thank goodness, when I spoke my mind, Plato took notes …
Then, raising his head to lock eyes with mine, my friend goes on:
Maintain your solitude till your childhood fear is named
And know full well that when your current quest has been won …
A sense of peaceful repose will fill your adult mind, and
Knowing you as well I do, I say this with utter conviction:
Before too long, you'll figure out
That which your deep seated torment is truly about …
Until then, please take my suggestion
Concerning Thoreau to heart … and lastly—
Never lose faith in your brain's practiced ability to resolve
Complex dilemmas by conjuring up plans, which
Prove so simple that upon absorbing whatever
You feel compelled to say, some day, disciples
Near and far, will scratch their young heads
While asking themselves:
Now, why didn't I think of that???
Socrates, are you intimating that in addition to
Channeling you, I've been channeling
Thoreau and Shakespeare and countless others whenever
My need to contemplate life and love
Draws my mind toward feeding bread crumbs
To ducks at a pond?
Well—at times when you're soul searching anew for
A simple plan, which offers up a workable solution
To a complex issue, can you think of any place that proves
More serene than a pond-like setting? BTW, did you guess
That I had a hand in writing On Golden Pond?
Too bad ghost writers can't win Oscars …
Though I wonder at a sage showing a bit of boastful pride
Diplomacy suggests swallowing that thought in favor of stating:
Gosh, in all the times we've walked and talked
I'd never surmised that you had such a thing for ponds!
Getting all dreamy eyed, my friend replies: Well, I do …
Then, as my friend turns away from me toward
My bedroom's huge picture widow
My eyes follow his lead, and while we gaze upward
Over my mountain into the unending depths of
The desert's azure blue sky, the next thing we know …
A plane soars overhead filled with
Hundreds of people, flying from there to here
And feeling as if we can fortell goodtidings concerning
A future, yet to unfold
I can't help but agree when my friend says:
Annie, make certain that your high flying spirit
Never loses faith in the fact that anything is possible …
Then as the spirit of my friend, the sage
Begins to fade, this sets my mind to racing, because
my heart feels compelled to make it across the finish line before
I'm left to fend for myself, alone in my bed, facing
This fear, which remains unnamed, deep inside
A scary pocket of my mind …
Imploring my friend not leave me, at least not yet
I toss and turn while my dreamscape voice exclaims:
Wait! Please! Will I remember all this when I awaken?
Then, while willing myself to hold still and
Listen closely in hopes of receiving an affirmative answer
All I hear is the flutter of wings before silence fills the air and
With the awareness of Will coming home, today …
My eyes fly open to greet the dawning of a brand new day …
No comments:
Post a Comment