In
the
manner
of
Kahlil
Gibrahn
I dedicate this to the
writers and the readers
of
the bible
the koran
the new testament
the vedas
the book of the dead by Anis
There is much that is
confusing
commending violence
commending hatred
Commend thy actions only to Peace
and
to
The author Lao Tse
(May mystery always form a part of our being)
C O N T E N T S
The Land of My Youth
THe City of Gold
The Forest of Life
THe Silent Sea
The Desert
The Stars
The Land of
My
Youth
Oh joyious ignorance
I was born of Hope
With only longing and happiness
in my heart.
I knew not of hatred of any
predjudice
All were the same to me
All were friends, or family.
All were
Now only in memory and
foggy things the joys
of the simple dwell.
Of swings, and mud puddles
and surprise too.
We play in an empty place
There is cut-stubble grass
which hurts my feet.
There is broken glass which
catches the sun's light
and glitters it back out
again reflecting everwhere
it touches.
There are logs along the banks
of a pond
There are frogs and flowers
and wonders to
behold.
I go to school and learn
many things about our
world. They are woundrous
to imagine.
Our world is but one
among many vast
numbers.
There are many people.
And each wants somthing.
And some do not want
others to have something.
There is not enough of
this something.
There will be war.
Poom, poom, poom !
go the drums of war.
I watch the soldiers march
down the street
and wave my flag and
wave my hand as well.
There is a noise.
And then there is nothing.
It is a dream,
isn't it?
I study mathematics,
the most dangerious
of all sciences.
With mathematics you can
build war machines
or toys for children.
Adults demand many things,
But most of all they
demand
seriousness.
The War is over
at last. And life
returns to its old
ways.
And yet....
THere is music -- it is
a festival.
Children sing and dance
and play in the sun
light. All is happy
again.
As I grew up, I
realized that I was
now an adult.
And that I should
see the world.
And put such
childish thoughts
from my mind.
This I was taught.
As I leave I notice that many
of the children that I have grown
up with have forgotten much.
They are adults but many still
act as children.
They do not share, they
hate and fight and complain.
Others are happy and carefree
and the other adults laugh and
call them foolish.
I will remain a fool and not let
sorrow and hate control
me.
The
City of
Gold
Oh! What wonders
I entered with such
happiness and expectations:
Such treasures abound.
There are so many,
so much,
the city over flows
with existance.
There are many things
to have. To buy, to
be bought.
I work.
I do work.
I have many monies.
I buy.
I shop.
I enjoy.
I am.
The people come to
and fro.
They are all ways
moving To this way
and From that.
Never standing still.
They ever have
things to do and
places they must
be.
And yet they never speak.
I see a park.
It is lovely and has a pond.
I remember the pond
of my youth.
There are ducks, but they
do not know me.
The park goes quiet
and dark and
cold.
I met a man. He was
once a soldier. He fought
an aevil war. He is old. He is
alone. He always is happy to
see me. There are stoires
that he tells. He knows much.
He lives now with his son
and I no longer see him.
Or hear his stories.
I think that he
is perhaps happier now.
There are roads.
Along its paths the people
hurry about their business.
Never stopping.
Guards make sure that
no one stops, or
slows, or speaks.
Lo! Any that slow or stop
are lead away from the road.
The King commands it
to be so.
I went to wash my clothes.
While there I noticed a man
who was singing.
At first I was quite
irritated. Why could he
not be quiet like everyone
else.
But then I began to listen
to his ong -- in a language
that I did not understand.
It was sad, but sometimes happy.
that was how much the city
had taken control of me:
To be angry by a man singing.
The people here are
such empty shells.
Many cry because they are
hungry.
The people do not hear it.
They are alone, empty shells,
moving to and fro so that
they will not hear the
sounds of their own
cries of sorrow.
The city is a city of cold.
A man came to the city
to protect it. He told
of a new way of being. he
told many of their own
sorrows. He listened and said
of what little wisdom he had things
to help.
The Guards took him
away. Many wondered if the
man was a saviour -- he was
not but just a man. And
still the Guards took him away.
The King commands it
to be so.
I leave the city of gold.
For I know tht one day
the Guards would come
for me. I do not wish
their king ill will -- but I
think that he demands too
much. And that he is too
serious for me to know.
The Forest
of
Life
Oh, animal that we are!
I found a place near a
forest and work to
pay its owner.
I built a small house
and have books and music
and movies to entertain.
And yet I too am lonely.
Perhaps meditation will help.
I met soemone with whom
I could be happy.
But, they only laughted at
me.
I am alone, but perhaps
better off.
Animals come out of the
forest to drink
from the pond.
They seem happy too.
I realize too that my
own lonliness betrays any
happinesss that I might have.
I dream of the person that
I liek. I fancy that we
live in happiness and yet I
know that I might lose
myself to them.
And be hurt.
I took it upon myself
to explore the forest.
I became lost.
And lost track of time.
I became wild.
I was sick.
And then well again.
I have lost myself
to the forest.
When became again.
Myself.
And I found myself
on a familiar path.
When I returned to
my hut, all was
I left it.
Had I been gone for days?
Or perhaps years?
Everyone that I met
seemed strange to me.
But, it was I who had changed.
The person who had laughed
at me now found me
attractive.
And yet I was quite
indifferent to them or
anyone else.
I care only for the sounds
of the forest,
and for my own thoughts.
I have found solace in
my aloneness.
I fell asleep and
dreamed a strange dream.
Of many people,
going to and fro
-- it was the city of gold.
And I awoke and knew what would
make them
happy.
I must return and tell
them of my dream.
I entered the city,
and many people gathered
around to look at my
wild appearance.
I told them of the dream
and of the many ways I
had learned.
The Guards came and took
me from the city.
The King commnds it
to be so.
I returned to the
forest and sought the
one who had laughed at
me. We talked for a
long time and stayed
with each other but at last they
were taken from me by
cruel death.
I am alone; again.
The Silent
Sea
Oh! Questions that can
not be
answered.
I sit by the edge and
watch the water come
in and then go out.
And ask: Why?
There is no answer.
But.
The waters may go out.
But.
Thy always come back in.
When I swim in the sea,
I see another world still,
cold, quiet, and deep.
The fish feed me.
I live and swim, and sit
upon the shore.
I sometimes dispair.
I am sometimes happy with
wild abandon and
dance upon the wet
sands of
the shore.
I seem to be content.
I have built a hut
up from the shore.
I watch the sea
and sometimes see people
walking along its quiet shore.
Children play gayly and run
back and forth into the
sea and then back out
again.
I think I understand.
The
Stars
Oh! Dark speckled
night of a
faith we once
thought lost!
As I lay dieing
I see the stars
above my bed.
And at last I understand
why
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