Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Faith


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Sunrise in Standing Rock, photo by Alana Quintasket:  
"In our cultural teachings we are taught that the sunrise represents the Creator's promise of a new day and a chance for a new beginning. Everyday we wake up grateful for that new beginning. This is what we pray for every night - that sunrise. We wake up every morning with that sun and give thanks to it for blessing us with a new chance at life.  

Much love, #NoDAPL for the love of the culture.


M i d w e e k  M o t i f  ~  F a i t h 


I picked this motif because officially this is the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.   I shortened it to "Faith" because my underlying thematic question truly is:

"What do you ~ what can we ~ 
have faith in these days?"



And faith is "trust" with the implication that proof is illusive.  Or faith is a "system of belief" such as a religion.  
Your Challenge: Write a new 
new poem that finds faith 
(or not) 
or reveals interfaith harmony 
(or not). 

Let this poem be of this moment!

“I talk to God but the sky is empty.” 

“Believe there is a great power silently working all things for good, 

behave yourself and never mind the rest.” 
― Beatrix Potter


“... All the major religions of the world taught the worship of God 
and love and compassion for mankind in their original form. 
If these original teachings were upheld today 
it would lead to a harmonious society, 
free from conflict and war…” 

His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad 

"You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; 
if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. "
--Mahatma Gandhi

 Breaking the taboos of interfaith dialogue,
TEDxDU The Interfaith Amigos




#185

Faith" Is A Fine Invention
When Gentlemen can see—
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency.


And is the great cause lost beyond recall? 
   Have all the hopes of ages come to naught? 

   Is life no more with noble meaning fraught? 

Is life but death, and love its funeral pall? 

Maybe. And still on bended knees I fall, 

   Filled with a faith no preacher ever taught. 
   O God -- MY God -- by no false prophet wrought -- 
I believe still, in despite of it all! 

Let go the myths and creeds of groping men. 
   This clay knows naught -- the Potter understands. 
I own that Power divine beyond my ken, 
   And still can leave me in His shaping hands. 
But, O my God, that madest me to feel, 
Forgive the anguish of the turning wheel! 
Dover Beach

Related Poem Content Details

The sea is calm tonight. 
The tide is full, the moon lies fair 
Upon the straits; on the French coast the light 
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand, 
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. 
Come to the window, sweet is the night-air! 
Only, from the long line of spray 
Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land, 
Listen! you hear the grating roar 
Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling, 
At their return, up the high strand, 
Begin, and cease, and then again begin, 
With tremulous cadence slow, and bring 
The eternal note of sadness in. 

Sophocles long ago 
Heard it on the Ægean, and it brought 
Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow 
Of human misery; we 
Find also in the sound a thought, 
Hearing it by this distant northern sea. 

The Sea of Faith 
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore 
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled. 
But now I only hear 
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, 
Retreating, to the breath 
Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear 
And naked shingles of the world. 

Ah, love, let us be true 
To one another! for the world, which seems 
To lie before us like a land of dreams, 
So various, so beautiful, so new, 
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light, 
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; 
And we are here as on a darkling plain 
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight, 
Where ignorant armies clash by night.
Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community—

                (Next week Sumana’s Midweek Motif will be ~ Space)


30 comments:

  1. Loss of faith seems to be the new pandemic in our days and it is so easy to catch this illness... Love is the remedy.
    Thanks for the prompt!

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    1. I agree with your remedy. Thank you, Nicholas.

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  2. Thank you for another midweek inspiration - again, sorry if I cant reply.. All your visits are much appreciated.. Thank you

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    1. I'm always happy to see you, Jae Roe. I'm glad you wrote to "faith."

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  3. When I pulled this prompt together, the USA President DT had not yet issued his order to exclude based on faith. A counter movement is underway here which will only succeed if we believe in each other. Other choices are unacceptable, which doesn't mean that they aren't probable. And that's what keeps me awake nights wanting to apologize, wanting to wake from a nightmare. In this state, I value poetry even more. Today I intend to roll in it thoroughly. I have a few errands to run, but mostly I'll be right here, happy.

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  4. A beautiful and timely prompt Susan. Hope to visit everyone given my internet connection cooperates. Ha now I'm all sore; eyes, throat, mind; courtesy: season-change & DT :(

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    1. Yes. I'm totally sore too and have to keep reminding myself that it could be my reaction to the poison DT in the air.

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  5. This is a fantastic topic to dive into, Susan. Thank you for the many inspiring examples, and for the question: what can we have faith in these Days?

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    1. You are welcome, Sherry Blue. You help me to have faith. I'm anticipating your move and holding you in the Light.

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  6. Happy Midweek everyone, I am fashionably late to the prompt ❤️ sharing my poem "Rendezvous" thank you Susan for the lovely opportunity!!❤️



    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  7. A good Wednesday to all

    much love...

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  8. Having just discovered this site, I can see how much inspiration it offers. I'm excited to participate in the community!

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    1. You are very welcome. Keep coming back. I remember my delight when I first found Poets United in 2010. Mondays we feature a Poet in our community, Wednesday is a prompt day, Friday Rosemary offers us interesting poets and Sunday is an open link day. Do come on Sunday! LOTS of great Poems!

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    2. Another welcome from me, indybev. This week has offered some great reading here.

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  9. My daughter asked me what the prompt for today was. When I told her she said, "You'll write something in no time." She was wrong. I found it a challenging prompt. I'm grateful to you because it led to much introspection. Thanks Susan.

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    1. Delighted to hear this, Myrna! The prompt gave me pause too. I wonder what your daughter would write?

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  10. This took me some time to write for even though I knew what I was looking for. I have battled with faith for years and finally found a faith I couldn't lose unless I lost myself.

    I hope everyone is having a good week! I'd like to remind you that I will be around to read, sometimes I don't get to it until the end of the week but I'm caught up now.

    I'd like to announce that I'll be having an image prompt to write about and Link to every Sat. (you have a week to write) on CP under Image Prompt. It starts this Sat. We are busy I know but ever since Magpie Tales took a leave I've missed it and I know a few others have too so drop in if you'd like. This is the only time I'll mention this here.

    Thank you Susan! Hugs!

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    1. Sounds great, Bekkie. Thanks for letting us know.

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    2. I like that! I too have "a faith I couldn't lose unless I lost myself." Thank you.

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  11. Posted Faith in Light this morning, but didn't have time to read everyone else's. Getting to that now! Looking forward to it.

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    1. I knew you'd come back around, Rob. Good to see you.

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  12. During my therapy session, today, my therapist and I, talked about the eerie similarities, between the rise of the Nazis and Donald Trump. in their usages of divisive politics, based upon religion, in attacking a minority group, that stands out, from the mainstream population.

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    1. Yes. it's too eerie and scary. Let's all protect each other.

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  13. Better late than never, but really a very timely prompt, Susan. Thank you.

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    1. And thank you for being here! Such deep thoughts.

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  14. Sorry Susan...I am no longer able to comment on your blog. My comments are rejected as errors.Thank you for yours. Enjoyed the poem and the TED talks this week. Good prompt.

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    1. Thanks for telling me! How bizarre. Yes, that Ted talk is good, isn't it?

      If this happened to anyone else, please let me know.

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  15. Thank you, everyone. I am moved by this week's creations.

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