THE GENTLE BIRD

(Day 28 of a 31-day writing challenge #justwrite2024)

Today I was on a podcast with the wonderful Susan Burrell, as we spoke about my poetry and the book of poems Breadcrumbs, Vol. 2. At one point she read a poem called "Beneath It All" which mentions a turning point with the arrival of a "gentle bird." We actually both got choked up as she read it so eloquently. Later I said she was the gentle bird ... which of course ... led to the ultimate writing of, yes, a poem.

________

The Gentle Bird

You may have overlooked, what with all that is going on
You forgot the deepest night is greeted by the morning dawn
No matter what has happened to you in the past
There is but one eternal truth, born to last
There up in the sky, crossing by without a word
You are the wind; you are the gentle bird

Soaring far far above insanity’s scream
You may dip and dive in surreal landscape dream
Seeing beyond the distant horizon bend
Recognizing there is no beginning and no end
All sounds quiet now, nothing to be heard
Not for the ever-present, angelic, gentle bird

Yes, claim your innocence, claim your prize
What has been kept under wraps no longer a surprise
It’s yours to share with everyone everywhere
Dispelling the darkness, and any sense of despair
One thing for certain, one beauty reassured
Your flight towards the heavens as the glorious gentle bird

The Anniversary Gift ~ A Poem from God to Jennifer and Jim

As an 11-year-anniversary wedding gift for my wife Jennifer, I considered what the Almighty would impart to us if the Divine had a say here. Though corroboration is not possible here, it's fun to imagine for the sake of celebration and uplift. 

You gave the gift of your relationship to me

So that you could find a path to be free

At the Thursday Club in sacred setting by the sea 

In attendance, a gathering of friends and family

As you both took respite in commitment divine

Making your union yours … but also mine

In giving your allegiance to the highest of high

It guaranteed – in truth – you could always get by

And know you would always be taken care of

In the eternal embrace of a guiding, gentle love 

If ever downtrodden, your spirits I would lift

In the tender reminder … with this anniversary gift

Though troubles could double, and losses could mount 

There exists sturdy foundation that would, yes, surely count 

The shadows of doubt will arise from time to time 

But they never will know what is yours … and what is mine

Darkness cannot know what it means to be free

Especially when relationships have been offered to me

The dark will try to threaten, scare, blame and shame 

Yet in the end … it carries no name 

It knows not the magic and miracle that keeps love alive

It knows not the illumination that will never divide 

Though uncommitted captains will lead ships adrift 

Your vows given to the glory will lead to this gift 

And what is this gift, this bounty, this present, this prize?

What blossoms from this seed planted, what shall arise?

Perhaps the laughter in between the times high and low 

The opportunities of plenty to stretch, learn and grow 

The walks and the talks on the paths you have taken 

The forgiveness of the faithless who tend to forsaken 

All the yoga classes with their forward folds and bends

The surprising victories of those Kings and Dolphins 

All the beauty that blooms in your story … come what may 

My gratitude for your offering given on one fine day

In the end: a return of a promise, a pure reflection you cannot miss  

Divine blessings for a lifetime … and this anniversary gift

James Anthony Ellis is a writer, poet and producer who can be found at www.LegacyProductions.org. 

POETRY DEFICIENCY IS ON THE RISE AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

Breaking Fake News!!!   

(Published and valid on April 1 only!)

The Food and Drug Administration and some other 3-letter federal agencies, which are supposed to know something, report that the main ailment facing a large percentage of the nation's population is not a lack of Vitamin D, C, E, F or even G, but rather a common, overlooked issue of: "Poetry Deficiency." 

Studies suggest that the lack of rhyme, not riboflavin, are routine issues that guide the populace towards manifesting sluggishness, depression, upset and even an healthy addiction to streaming services. 

To combat these sickly trends, author and poet James Anthony Ellis has produced a book of 108 poems that guide readers towards a higher state of being. Titled "Breadcrumbs, Vol. 2: Poems & Prose Found Along the Sacred Path," the book comes along possibly just in time for a nation in need. 

Said Ellis, "Hey, I can't help it. I get inspired, I sit down to write and it comes out all rhymey. It even has some pretty cool messages. Who knew it would be EXACTLY what the doctor ordered."   

Though positive effects of the book prescription include joy, happiness, empathy, connection and lack of hunger, it must be noted that the negative side effects include .... absolutely nothing.  

Supplies not limited. Get it while Amazon still lasts.   

______

And of course - April Fools - though you already knew that!

But it is true there is a book that can help anyone wanting a boost and an inspiration and to tackle that "Poetry Deficiency" disease.   FOUND HERE:  https://a.co/d/0554ZK3

NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW

Jennifer and I lost our Hennessy Akita girl in 2021. Yet the love continues. I realized that I could never truly know the loss and pain my wife was experiencing. And so this poem came to mind, for us all.  

Who will know, who can go there, to that place?
Beyond common comprehension, above all time and space 
Embraced by simple grace and the purest of pure perception
We may have smiles stolen from our face, feeling only deception 
Who will really know of the love and the loss that was revealed here? 
When it appears that all heartfelt appearances disappear 
Who will be able to pause this world, so that we may know where to go?
Who can it be … when no one will ever know?

No one will know, except for the two who took part in this love
Experiencing precisely what this relationship is made of
Spending time together, walking in the park, snuggling in the dark
Protected by not a bite, but a ferocious and cautionary bark 
A precious pet, a friendly pooch, a loving and guiding partner in life 
After the goodbyes, it becomes only empty days and lonely nights 
What is there left in the end, what can any of us show?
No answer found here; no one will ever know

Perhaps that is the way it is for everyone, walking in their own shoes 
They are the ones who take the brunt of the good and bad news
That news that hits that mark in their own part of the human race 
The news that impacts us in that most personal secret place
The love we have for another soul – no matter the species or kind 
The love that no one ever, ever, ever can truly define 
It is elusive, mysterious, intangible, neither above nor below
It is something no one else can ever know 

Far from common comprehension, traversing all space and time 
Who will know, who can go to a world beyond “yours” and “mine?”
Who will really know of the love and the loss that was experienced here? 
When it appears that all heartfelt appearances disappear 
Perhaps in a realm sublime, where there is no need for separation 
We can transcend depression, pain, hopelessness, desperation 
And find the one heart, joined with another dear pet partner in tow   
And make peace with the love that only we can know 

He Was One Of Our Own

A man who belonged to Mentor Discover Inspire, Steve Krescanko expressed love for all the men. Years later, his giving spirit lives on. 

For Steve Krescanko (January 14, 1964 - October 2, 2011)

To encompass a life – for a son, a brother, a father and a friend

It would take a song eternal, and words without end 

But we gather here – in the presence of the shadows and the light

Honoring a man’s soul and celebrating a man’s life

What can be said? What can be known?

Perhaps it’s just simply … he was one of our own

A brother … and a son

That little mischievous, silly one

With the angst of boyhood, with its ups and its downs 

One million smiles … and one million frowns

But steady was his care, from a seed that had grown

For Steve’s family – he was one of their own

A friend to many – a buddy, a pal, a mate

A mentor for agents in his real estate

A solid and steady support, forever giving of his time 

“San Diego Blood Bank,” “Feeding America,” fundraising in kind

This was a man to be reckoned with, a man to be known

For Steve’s friends – he was one of their own

As a teammate, as a man in our circle of success

He was game for every mountain, ready for every test

He stepped up quite often – leader, impact player and point man

Doing whatever he could – to make a mark, to take a stand

His comeback into honor and power was to be made at all cost

His fight was our fight … his loss was our loss

Sometimes raw, biting and bitter, sometimes rock on bone

On a restless and turbulent sea, often tossed and thrown

From him a deep, and lasting, guttural groan

A spirit having loved, a spirit having flown

Building a heart out of ashes, and a soul out of stone

For those of our Men’s Division – Krescanko was one of our own

And finally … for his children, the most dear to his heart

There is no measure of this devotion – no end and no start

Putting them up high on his shoulders, and carrying them way up above

Nothing, nothing, nothing can ever take away this love

His “comeback” was for the kids, he fought to earn his right

To be in the company of these two – having fought the good fight 

May they always feel his presence wherever they may roam

For little Lauren and Andrew – he was one of their own

Thank you daddy, thank you brother, and thank you dear friend

This song eternal is for you, a love without end

We wish you well on your journey, on your way back home

Knowing forever in our hearts – you shall never be alone

Knowing forever in this world – the light that forever will be shone

Steve Krescanko – you are one with us – you are one of our own

ONLY 10 MINUTES WITH YOU

I started a 31-day writing challenge, writing every day for each day of March 2023. I used the hashtag #justwrite31. Since I only had 10 minutes before the end of the day before writing this prose, maybe I can call it #justwrite10minutes. 

If I only had 10 minutes to spend with you 
What would I say; what would I do?
Would I spit out a ton of rapid thoughts and emotion
Or would I move towards you in effortless slow-motion  
And look deeply in your eyes, rekindling a love  
Would I reveal what our relationship was made of 
Or maybe clear up any misunderstandings or spite 
Those barriers that block the miracle that is life

What would I say or do Mom? 
We pretty much always got along 
I'd want to know more about you, your inner world
The you that was you when you were a little girl

What would I say or do Dad?
Engaging and enlivening were the times we had
I may find out what you know now of 911 and JFK
But most of all, I'd want to know if you are OK

What would I say or do Miss Hennessy dear? 
You were the cherry on top, that is clear
I would simply want to grab a chew toy and play 
And do with you what I miss now every day

For all the times I've said goodbye 
I want to awaken to the connections that will never die 
So now, I endeavor to fill my heart with loved ones in gratitude
As if I only had 10 minutes to spend with you ...

 

Bob Roth’s Special Byyyeeeeeeee

Bob Roth and the unique way he says “bye” - it really is something to hear. 

Now, how could a simple “bye” as in “goodbye” be so special? Doesn’t everyone utter this phrase every now and then? Yes, but this one is different, and the way he carries himself around this self-expression is something to behold. For good reason.

First off, some background. Bob Roth is a near-50-year teacher of Transcendental Meditation or TM. Ever since the society shutdown of 2020, he has been broadcasting a 20-minute Zoom meditation practice – for those of us who need a bit more support in our day-to-day meditation.

For over a year, for some reason (even unknown to him), Bob has been closing his sessions with an elongated and dramatic phrasing of “Byyyeeeeeeee.”

Today I heard an extra “bye” with a space in-between. Recently he created a space between the closing of the session and his utterance of the final word. 

And why is that? 

Turns out he was getting some negative feedback around this fun way of expressing his farewell. 

And it’s in his approach to the negative feedback that has inspired this post. I am so impressed. 

Normally when I get some negative feedback – especially around some of my expression – I first get defensive and then offensive, wanting to find a way of delivering a mighty and destructive comeback.  Maybe I need more meditation in my life!

For Bob, who has been calming his mind and maneuvering into those transcendental states for decades, his response was a bit less combative. And so much more mature, centered, and wise. 

Did he attack those detractors? Did he stifle his expression? Did he go quiet? No, none of those reactions would reflect the sort of mind transcending a common warpath. No – the chronology of Bob’s experience unfolded this way:

1. He received feedback.
2. He didn’t take it personal.
3. He didn’t get flustered around it or emotional.
4. He DID NOT CHANGE WHO HE IS or how he has been inspired to move about the world, in spite of a few folks who weren’t fans of a certain behavior.
5. He created a workaround so that others out there could also have their needs met.  
6. He continued to have his fun. 

His workaround was to simply let everyone know he would take a pause between the end of his audio sessions and when he completed with his signature “bye.” 

For those who wanted to disconnect before he said his goodbyes, they could do so. That way they wouldn't hear what they didn’t want to hear, and he could continue his free expression, spoken freely. 

Brilliant. 

What an inspiration. What a state of equanimity. What a perfect endorsement for this sort of freeing meditation. And what a guy. 

Leaving only one last thing to say before I take my leave…

Byyyeeeeeeee!