I Kneel in the Grass…

 joy does not come from without—

that is, from people, even very dear people, it comes from within

one does not loose sight of the sparkle 

in another’s eyes,

one can discern 

what is felt 

when I walk through a blooming meadow

I can feel a joy bubbling up

a feeling of belonging right there 

in the midst of the beauty of that field

I kneel in the grass 

stretch out in it and look up into the blue of the sky

reaching beyond my vision higher and higher

or standing by a brook gurgling 

along with its crystal clear water— there, too, 

feel the joy swelling in me

little fish are swimming by

looking sideways up at me as if to say, 

why is she here?

all because of joy—

for joy made me step into a shady cool forest

where just a few rays of sunlight through the trees 

make the stillness delightful

a deep well is springing up 

without ever loosing its power to flow outward

joy is the nectar of love 

be it a blade of grass 

or a singing bird in the bright blue sky…

“walk as if 

you are kissing the grass

with your feet”

To Someone Far, Far-away…

Sweet friend, allow me to say, 

Share, share, share your muse and

Your precious thoughts, because

We do not live for ourselves alone:

Everything you say with that

Characteristic integrity and humility

Through words thus naturally flows,

Touches my heart like the

Spring-tide of the season and

Its gentle rain that has merged

With the warmth of the sunlight . . .

I know, as it's coming from you

It’s all so true from the perspective 

Of you, more than you would

Like to assume or show.

Our hearts see that which is 

Invisible to the naked eye, and

WHY? Because hearts speak

And need no reasons

To echo the truth 

Of what so splendidly unites!

BUT WHAT IF…

Dear Friend,

You are no part of a contemporary scene,

but warm and gentle, loving, poised

with thoughts bright, reserved, dignified

in mannerism and in style:

ah, the pure stream has found

its path in the timeless qualities 

of joy, wisdom, vitality, love 

and strength of mind!

Ask, what has “time” to do with beauty?

Is not Beauty a transparency found

alone in the splendor of Soul

and goes forth expressed in words,

and deeds, as a nobility

undefined,  … and unbound?

... I’m musing over paradoxes:

Of the notions of youth! How aged

some appear as if standing

before a scaffold, because 

the thought is sadly scorched:

it fears “old” and thus feels old.

Now, tell me, “What is this -- about?”

I’m pondering the bold design of God!

Could His blueprint be useless,

unfit to glow, unable within to grow?

Thought is creative!

What if a mind convinced

of dark clouds hovering over

would make a belief come true?

... Did not Job say:

“The thing which I greatly feared

is come upon me?“

Buoyancy, freshness, fullness of life,

those divine graces which lift

the banner of agelessness high

conquer self-destructive emotions,

and thus …a life made brighter and lighter,

a love instilled for every youthful grace

where we find a greater delight within

than counting every dark fear’s mace!

And earthly dreams broken: Justify

the love of Jesus for the Christ,

and the price he paid for our victories open …

A Response to a Poet…

 My friend, I feel that the art of poetry could be seen as if traveling together on parallel roads through a beautiful forest- those on one road see the might of the trees and calculate its value, and those on the other consider the forests safety and purity. Each person tries to call the forest by a name, i.e. its right name. 

So with poetry.

However, conventionality is the burden in writing poetry.  Walt Whitman started with himself: “What I assume you shall assume—.“ Such is the fresh breeze of generosity! To be generous with oneself…and others, with the language of a poem, in whatever way it turns or moves, as long as it is suggestive! And to be comfortable with talent and language, to enjoy it and let it run its course!

Poetry for me is what literature should be! The mystery of being moved by words! For the poet language invites him or her to find the right word on the right line and the best way to leave space or gaps in the poem , and thus allow something that stirs in the poet to thunder in! 

The power of poetry may be revealed through the nobility found in love and truth! Especially when feelings are clearly expressed. Though truth and love may be difficult to define, because they are so personal.

I agree with the poet who says, every poem is as “a lived existence.”  One could add, a reflected life!

Warmly,

Eva-Maria

Timeless

Spring arrives after winter

as the ice edge dissolves

at the rushing waterfalls—

and where to?

One follows another

and so with joy do bear

the stream of life.

Snow on the plow

snow in the hair,

when to love did it matter?

What has love

to do with time,

can Mind be battered?

The flow of tears

the flow of rivers

the flow of seasons

all purify

the mud

accumulated

by time, and its sludge

earth-bound … but

are not of life and love!

Sweet and soft

she speaks

but he

sighs, and a tear of winter

breaks.

A kiss of love offered

but cloaked—

can it return? Yes!

Take the kiss and

drink 

the timeless nectar

of divinity—

its love

beauty

immortality

the ambrosia of soul

the perfume of love

to love and live!

It’s how Love designs

one and one—

and, one by one, to bind!

EMH

Rev. 2022

The Poet Reminisces

THE POET REMINISCES

“When one loves, 

the other repeats that love back, 

so one usually drinks of the love.”

As we enjoy walking in the brilliance 

of a morning light, we are 

accepting our lot in a spirit 

of an inner sight—O my Own! Then—

we fling that little self away,

new joys guard a bright increase

of a love divine so whole.

Let us follow that Bliss!

But what if touched by flames

as we walk over burning coals?

One just needs to know that blame, 

a fear, i.e., is in the rear of a moving soul!

Then fear be merely a memory,

and we are wise to let dissolve 

its ice edge all the way

around the heart, and see how

like snowflakes, it melts away… 

There is a width and depth in Love’s mercy,

like the width and depth of the sea

  . . .and love appears as it emerges right now.

Nun bitte weiss, in der Dunkelheit bist du nicht allein ~~sehe die Lichter im Weltall.

Finde heraus wie sie deine Sterne sind. 

Von den Nächten lernen wir das Licht zu lieben,

Es erinnert uns an Gute Zeiten!

Und bringt uns friedlich 

dem Unsichtbaren näher.

Goethe

Please know 

you are not alone 

in the darkness …discover

the light of the Universe 

and see your own star!

From the night

we learn to love the light,

it reminds us of better times!

And brings us peacefully nearer 

to what the naked eye

cannot see—

Translation from German into English by EMH