Being Human
29 Jun 2011 40 Comments
in Poems Tags: Art, being human, Human, inspiration, life, love, memory, Online Writing, Philosophy, Poetry, poets rally week 47, thoughts, writing, Zen, Zen Mirror
These cliffs of wind borne memory,
Do carry me back to you now –
The warmth of your thighs
Keeps winter at bay,
Out there where frigid white-tips,
Scull a course remote
From fire’s warm light,
Where passion’s yearning
Keeps us human still
The Mirror of Truth 
Jun 29, 2011 @ 21:58:45
Wonderfully written. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Jun 30, 2011 @ 18:48:54
glad you enjoyed it so much – I wasn’t convinced originally but am coming round to it…abit like being human! 🙂
Jun 29, 2011 @ 22:23:38
Scull a course remote
From fire’s warm light,
love every single line, well done.
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:22:05
Thanks Jingle, and I appreciate your kind comments
Jun 29, 2011 @ 22:30:34
Most enjoyable poem to read, I like it very much 🙂
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:21:43
Thanks Jeanie
Jun 29, 2011 @ 23:05:42
i always loved the description ” fire’s warm light”
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:21:31
yes, its a cosy line isn’t it?
Jun 29, 2011 @ 23:18:43
that it does…that it so does.
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:21:13
we’re all human, whether we like it or not!
Jun 30, 2011 @ 00:17:28
So nice! Yes, in each thing there is the delight of one’s sweet things for a discerning eyes..
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:20:45
each of us with unique eyes to see the wonders of life with
Jun 30, 2011 @ 01:19:35
” … Where passion’s yearning
Keeps us human still”
Nicely captured ~~
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:20:22
thank you Becca, we are on the same page again!
Jun 30, 2011 @ 02:58:18
Wow -powerful, succinct, perfect
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:20:06
Thanks Jo, I’m chuffed you liked it so much
Jun 30, 2011 @ 04:04:14
What a good writer you are!… It’s a pleasure to read you.
Do you mean, though, that when ‘passion’s yearning’ is not there any more, we are not human any more? Or, on the contrary, that then at last we are free to become more than human, something else than normal human? Your ending Iines could mean both, am I right? (And the beginning makes it clear it’s sensual passion you’re talking about, am I correct?)
Jun 30, 2011 @ 19:19:29
Both! That is the great thing about poetry which you have hit perfectly on…that it can say so many things to so many people. In my mind when I wrote it I was thinking how it is easy to get drawn away from just being human, not that we shouldn’t strive to grow.
Jul 01, 2011 @ 05:40:57
Yes, both feelings have their validity indeed, especially at your young age when this ‘passion’s yearning’ is usually still so strong it tends to eclipse all other equally deep needs a human being may have.
Thank you for clarifying; and again, for expressing this truth so beautifully!
Jul 01, 2011 @ 10:38:04
Hi Braga – Have you ever seen the Never Ending Story? The scene where Atreyu meets the giant tortoise springs to mind…To him nothing matters; his wisdom has separated himself from the living. This, I think, can be the fate of certain practitioners of Zen. Great to chat to you!
Jun 30, 2011 @ 23:21:07
Can definitely feel the human warmth amidst the feelings and scenes of cold described in the poem. Well done. 🙂
Jul 01, 2011 @ 10:34:29
Thanks Ravenblack – it can get cold out there!
Jul 01, 2011 @ 03:25:31
Lovely poem. I especially like the ending.
Thanks for sharing.
Jul 01, 2011 @ 10:35:00
Cheers Andy, that was my favourite bit too!
Jul 01, 2011 @ 16:35:35
(Continuation of our conversation from above)
As long as one has, burning in one’s heart, love’s yearning to share its joy with all beings, the sad fate of those mistaken zen practitioners will be avoided.
What was described through that tortoise in that story is one extreme in one direction. It was useful to warn people against that danger, but one doesn’t have to follow that example; luckily, zen itself, and many of the other traditional ways to go about the need we have also for spiritual growth, can now be replaced by more balanced and inclusive new ways, through which even the body finds the fulfliment of its vaster potential.
And yet, your poem is perfect for celebrating what it celebrates, so we agree.
Sorry to reply to you here, there was no possibility to do so above, after your own answer to me.
Jul 01, 2011 @ 17:17:39
No worries – WordPress doesn’t always let you reply in the same place. Firstly thanks for such a great conversation and for sharing your insights. It seems we are both coming from the same angle – I was always instructed that Zen must be taught in a new way for the modern age. Your comments are proof that spirituality in general is moving and evolving to serve a new generation
Jul 02, 2011 @ 20:57:25
This is is stunning the first line blew me away!
Jul 04, 2011 @ 20:19:25
many thanks mindlovemisery – your opinion means alot
Jul 03, 2011 @ 06:40:07
Beautiful longing. The image is soft, and the flow is strong.
Jul 04, 2011 @ 20:20:04
thank you 🙂
Jul 03, 2011 @ 12:03:24
So true,so so true.Beautifully written.And yes,a bit of warmth is all we need to keep ourselves human most of the time 🙂
Jul 04, 2011 @ 20:20:27
Long may we stay warm against the pull of night. thank you
Jul 03, 2011 @ 16:18:57
Nicely said
Jul 04, 2011 @ 20:20:57
cheers! 🙂
Jul 04, 2011 @ 17:58:49
Beautiful poetry with a touch of romance too 🙂 Loved it.
Jul 04, 2011 @ 20:21:29
thank you Leo – glad you noticed the romance!
Jul 08, 2011 @ 16:16:18
Mark, a very beautiful and deep expression in your verse. Gallant!
Jul 09, 2011 @ 16:45:24
Thank you Cindy for reading and encouraging me to write more!
Jul 10, 2011 @ 16:39:39
Lovely, and spicy, :), Thank you, much appreciated, WS
Jul 11, 2011 @ 21:00:42
Thanks for reading and your comments