Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Unity




source


“All for one and one for all.” 

― Alexandre DumasThe Three Musketeers

“Pit race against race, religion against religion, 

prejudice against prejudice. Divide and conquer! 
We must not let that happen here.” 
― Eleanor Roosevelt

“If everyone helps to hold up the sky, 

then one person does not become tired.” 
― Askhari Johnson Hodari





Midweek Motif ~ Unity




How wonderful when it is true marriage (union); 

How stunning when it overcomes differences (accord);

How amazing when it is paradox  (oddly true). 



Your Challenge: Let your new poem reveal Unity.





     by Jelaluddin Rumi

I am dust particles in sunlight.
I am the round sun.

To the bits of dust I say, Stay.
To the sun, Keep moving.

I am morning mist, and the breathing of evening.
I am wind in the top of a grove, and surf on the cliff.

Mast, rudder, helmsman, and keel,
I am also the coral reef they founder on.

I am a tree with a trained parrot in its branches.
Silence, thought, and voice.

The musical air coming through a flute,
a spark of a stone, a flickering in metal.

Both candle and the moth crazy around it.
Rose, and the nightingale lost in the fragrance.

I am all orders of being, the circling galaxy,
the evolutionary intelligence, the lift,
and the falling away. What is, and what isn't.

You who know Jelaluddin, You the one in all,
say who I am. 
Say I am You.
"Build me straight, O worthy Master!
Stanch and strong, a goodly vessel,
That shall laugh at all disaster,
And with wave and whirlwind wrestle!"

The merchant's word
Delighted the Master heard;
For his heart was in his work, and the heart
Giveth grace unto every Art.
A quiet smile played round his lips,
As the eddies and dimples of the tide
Play round the bows of ships,
That steadily at anchor ride.
And with a voice that was full of glee,
He answered, "Erelong we will launch
A vessel as goodly, and strong, and stanch,
As ever weathered a wintry sea!"
And first with nicest skill and art,
Perfect and finished in every part,
A little model the Master wrought,
Which should be to the larger plan
What the child is to the man,
Its counterpart in miniature;
. . . . 


Read the rest of this magnificent poem
HERE at the Poetry Foundation.




For those who are new to Poets United: 
  • Post your new Unity poem on your site, and then link it here.
  • Share only original and new work written for this challenge. 
  • If you use a picture include its link.  
  • Please leave a comment here and visit and comment on our poems.

(Next week Susan's Midweek Motif will be Acceptance.)

25 comments:

  1. Thank you for the prompt - hope you are healing well Susan...ours may not be a match made in heaven but she has her appeal ;)

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  2. Hey everyone,

    Hope you're doing well this week, its time for midweek motif :D sharing my poem "United." I have tried a sestina this week, hope you guys like it :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  3. Thinking of Susan this week after surgery! Hoping all is going well.

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    Replies
    1. Me too.. she is in thoughts and prayers. May she join us soon.. Amen.

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  4. I rarely do two entries but I realized what I was helping promote yesterday was a fine (and fun) example of unity.
    Cheers

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  5. A wonderful prompt, as always. Hope you are healing, Susan. My prayers and wishes are always with you.
    Looking forward to read all the lovely poems on unity.

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  6. Good morning, friends. I am thinking of Susan, too, and hope she is healing well, and that each day she grows stronger and more pain-free. I am back at my desk, with lots to catch up on........will be back with some lines on unity.

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    Replies
    1. I hope Susan is doing well and that her surgery was successful.. waiting to hear from her soon! Lovely poem Sherry :D

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  7. Thank you for the prompt, a different take on this one, as i sometimes think unity is not always possible !! How you are better Susan, prayers and wishes for you.

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  8. I hope you are recovering quickly and well Susan. Take care.

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  9. Thank you for this wonderful prompt. Take care, Susan.
    -HA

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  10. Well, my mind went to meditation ~ tried to capture the monkey mind thoughts before the (hopefully) feelings of unity...

    A speedy and peaceful recovery to you, Susan!

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    Replies
    1. The monkey mind - what a cool turn of phrase. Originally Buddhist or at least from Asia I believe. I heard it recently in a class I was taking as well and brought it back to mind.

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  11. Hope you are doing well, Susan. Just linked up a poem for the prompt....shall come back tomorrow to read the other entries....
    Bye for now.

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  12. Some wonderful offerings today, I am enjoying them very much. Definitely thinking of Susan all day today, hope she is doing well. I'll be back in a while to see who else has stopped by!

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  13. Oops...sorry everyone...I have linked the wrong poem(the first one) which has nothing to do with unity. The second one is the correct one. Unity Mitford came to mind immediately I saw the prompt.
    PS
    I look forward to Susan's return and hope her operation is a success.

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  14. Oops, I some how posted Sunday's link also. Can you fix it by removing the first one? Thanks.

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  15. Some interesting philosophical ponderings coming from reading those that posted; what do we unify behind, how do we keep our individuality in unity, what does nature teach us about unity. Interesting stuff. Will catch up in a bit with others that are reading.

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  16. Susan, Mary and Sumana

    Posting my poem late today, so also sending my best regards to Susan who should be on the other side of her surgery. Prayers and hugs:)
    I have to visit many poets this week, as I have been ill since Monday evening with a horrible summer cold.
    Thank you to all who have already visited my Blog. Much appreciated.
    Eileen

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  17. I posted one! Better late than never. Smiles.

    ReplyDelete

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