Surrender

Photo by J. Trent

Surrender
by John D. Trent

Grey,
So very,very grey
Colorless puddles
And floating decay
Sizzling,
With every falling touch

Slow
So very, very slow
Bent yellow blades
Their end foretold
Surrendering,
As distant thunder rolls

Coffee Shop



Photo by J. Trent


















Coffee Shop
by John Trent

Earthly aromas inhaled, then released
Vapors dance upon its obsidian surface
Settling into my meditative state
I sip contentment and stare into space

Bundled for cold, a young mother and child
Hurry past to catch the departing bus
As it pulls away, she lifts her babe
Turning, she enters, the warmth of this shop

Another slow taste of complex heat
I lose myself outside the frosted panes
Grey and cold, such a very busy world
And I return my gaze to my porcelain cup

Long and dark, his camel hair coat
Eyes downcast with a wrinkled brow
He pauses, then looks, at those inside
But returns to thought and continues to walk

From this corner, I remain anonymous
Watching, thinking, as people pass by
Thoughts waltz on humanity’s purpose
Then I close my eyes and take another sip

Friendship

Friendship
by John D. Trent

"And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and the sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." ~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet, 'On Friendship'.

Today's quote speaks of the importance of friendship.  In essence, a true friendship isn't built on lavish gifts or things.  It is framed by our simple actions.  I hug, a simple "I love you" or a text that says "I'm thinking of you", are beautiful gifts.  Requiring little effort, they mean so much.  So.......I would like to thank each of you for being my friend, especially over this past year, Thank you....  OK, so back to the story!!!!!

Last night, I finished reading 'The Prophet'.  Written in 1923 by Kahlil Gibran, I was entranced by his use of imagery and metaphors. A truly gifted writer with an inspirational and philosophical message.  Though, overall, a short read, the book has 40 chapters which discuss the many issues of life and the human condition. The book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good and evil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death.

As background, Kahlil Gibran, was a Lebanese American artist, poet, and writer. Born in modern-day Lebanon, as a young man he immigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. He is chiefly known for his 1923 book The Prophet, a series of philosophical essays written in English prose. An early example of Inspirational fiction which was largely influenced by his strong Christian faith. Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu.

I hope each of you get a chance to read the jewel.  Live the day, stay safe, and do something simple for a friend!

Forgiveness

Forgiveness
by John D. Trent

Life is an exercise in forgiveness. It is the most essential act for overcoming life's challenges.  However, forgiveness can be difficult. As humans we tend to dwell on the injustice we have experienced; thus, allowing our emotions to control our actions and words.......... in lieu of our minds.

Thich Nhat Hanh, (Zen Buddhist Monk) wrote, "To reconcile conflict, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides."  Though very difficult, we must make time to understand and to mindfully contemplate 'Why' we feel violated or 'wronged'.  Many times, the offender is dealing with their own internal struggles which impact their perception; thus, they say or act in a such a way that is unacceptable to us , but behave in a manner which is consistent with their own reality.

By not forgiving, we become a prisoners of our own ill will and feelings. As written in Ephesians 4:31-32, "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor,and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."  Consider the last time you forgave someone.... how did it feel?  Did you feel relieved?  Did you feel as if a weight had been lifted? 

In summary, Catherine Ponder wrote, "When you hold resentment towards another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link".   In the end, we must consider whether or not to be held hostage by our negative feelings or allow ourselves to be free.  I hope you chose to be free, for life is too short.

I'm going to start off this morning by forgiving myself............   I feel better already! 

Surrender

Photo by John Trent

Surrender
by John D. Trent

Grey,
So very,very grey
Colorless puddles
And floating decay
Sizzling,
With every falling touch

Slow
So very, very slow
Bent yellow blades
Their end foretold
Surrendering,
As distant thunder rolls

Wet Cars

Wet Cars
by John Trent

So grey and dreary a light rain falls
A darkened sheen blankets the nearby road
Reflecting beams from each moving car
The wet tires hiss and fade as they pass

Drifting,
Wandering,
I stare through the glass
Sitting and watching in this parade of wet cars

What are their thoughts, what music do they play?
Are they angry or happy, do they need a change?
Are they trying to exist or make ends meet?
Are they sad and lonely or just thinking of the beach?

Drifting,
Wandering,
I stare through the pane
Sitting and watching in this caravan of wet cars

From this dry vantage I can see them all
The misty spray rises and returns to the road
Drab, yet bright, their colors blurred
The machines and passengers, their shadows unheard

Drifting,
Wandering,
I stare through the grey
Sitting and watching my thoughts go astray

Shiver

Photo by J. Trent

Shiver
by John Trent


Grand and glorious morning's trumpets sound
Ushering His grace with a brilliant golden glow
I face great Helios with limbs outstrecthed
And capture the warmth of this frozen winter’s day

Flocks of leafs dance the wind’s laughter
Playing chase on a field of browning green
Bare branches glisten, they shiver and wave
As icy fingers pierce Heaven’s blue shades

A cold wind rushes and burns my cheeks
Forming wintry drops in the corners of each eye
Blurred, my view, as ghostly vapors rise
As each icy inhale gives cause to feel alive

Pulsating and glowing,the embers crackle,
Radiating,it blankets, my being with warmth
In my refuge I gaze past frost etched panes
And drink the current before I take out my pen