Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Vexations Be-Gone Somehow


Take a deep breath now
Inhale
Then…
Exhale… now
Inflate those lungs
Peak and plump
And let it out…1…2…3…and let it go… easy breaths…easy…
Taking all your worries and woes along with…
Repeat until completely… relaxed and in it refreshed…

I used to meditate
I used to breathe
I used to stretch
I used to grieve

I used to think
I used to muse
I used to ponder
I used to understand

Let the tension freely flow…and
Bask in the mood… now… let it glow…and
Feel the radiance… move slowly through you… from head to toes and all parts in between… all around you now…light…auras…halo spreads
With each breath of air…
Inhale slowly…  and  push it right out… send it away…steady…with ease…
You’ll feel
Relaxed and
Free

I used to read just to read
I glanced when (Sic) spread its legs
I used to enjoy the slow transition, from word to word, from page to page
I used to relax upon those spines, enamored how they felt to me

I used to converse for babblings sake
I used to listen and I would share
I’d be the type to love unconditional without regret or despair
I used to love how words would align time with mind

Close your eyes…picture the world above and beyond…
Watch the stars…reach out your arms…feel the texture of each point…
Look inward now…see your own…examine the connections…and breathe…1…2…3…watch the stars shining…brightness amongst the dark…  in doing point appear…in so many ways you ache to touch… now free your mind…move…slowly…breathe.  1…2…3…and run your hands…rough or smooth… now…
Find your scars and wipe them clean
With my voice hear your own…
Easy strokes brushing soft… bristles caressing pores and groove…
No rush to erase all at once…slowly sweep and breathe…1…2…3
When you’re ready…now, open your eyes…allow…and…
All demons will easily go

I used to believe
I used to want to
I used to understand
Or so I thought to
I used to seek answers
For impossible questions
I used to
I used to



This was well prior
Before unrest
Well before
I learned how easy it is to be ignored

So now… I still inhale
But words don’t relax
The way a vapor trails

Down the esophagus 1…2…
Straight laced line…soft and swift…
Into the stomach… pieces linger upon the lips..
And back through throat…a pleasured pain…
Kissing cheeks smooth it gleams…
Before exhaling… hold steady still… then release
In a cloudy grayish white…push all out…push it clear…breath the air… clean and pure…and watch the vapors sparse the light…and in so doing… breathe again…and watch
All vexation depart your sight

Well thought I'd do something a bit different once more.  This week I thought, for OLN over at D'Verse, I'd go ahead and breathe and then some...  

Also, I'm planning on doing a few weekly programs on Youtube and also posting them on my creative site, Sqwerm.  Not sure all the details yet but will post well in advance.  

My idea for the shows are 

1. A review of my favorite poems each week.  As I've been going from site to site I take it all in, and am extremely impressed with what I've seen and thought it nice to read some.  Again not sure of all the logistics but that's one idea I had.  

The second I really want to do, but will need a bit of assistance.  Each week I want to highlight a poet and speak briefly about their life/experience and read a few of their works.  

The help I'll need is a brief write up regarding what the poet would like discussed about them.  Right now I'm thinking about a brief bio, a short talk on process, passions and finally what inspires them.  Then I think it best to allow the poet to pick 3 or 4 pieces they'd like read.  

Anyhow, if you're interested in being featured on this second program.  drop me a comment with a way I can get in touch further, many have twitter so DM's there may work well initially.  

But, if you're going to leave a comment about this poem itself, leave 2, as I really don't want to post anything that may be considered personal, i.e. contact info, on the blog itself, but still would want to post the comment on the poem.  So simply leave a second comment, which won't be posted and I'll get in touch.  

Again no set timetable yet.  Just thought I'd throw it out there and see what kind of attention it gets.  Thought it would be nice, so we'll see.  Thanks again.

23 comments:

  1. i like your ideas for the youtube shoes...will def tune in...

    the texture of the meditation you leave us on is nice...there is much i used to do, used to believe as well...how easy it is to be ignored changes the context for me...nice write fred...

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  2. seeking answers for impossible questions...i do this as well..this was a fine write fred..think my fav line was...Find your scars and wipe them clean..spoke to me...fine idea with the poet highlights as well...can't wait to read...and thanks for your long comment over at my blog...cool that you've been there..bet you've been to strasbourg or colmar, that would be the places to go...and they are beautiful...

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  3. With life being a pain in the butt sometimes I think many can relate to this piece, as I can. For I used to comes up alot. Seems as time passes I used to comes up that much more too. Not stopping to smell the roses and do what one used to do, just pushing on in the same old crap, spinning in circles. Very thought provoking piece. Oh and I did get the references thrown into your mob piece too, but I'm sure you'd knew I'd get them..haha

    As far as the video thingy goes. Can't hurt to give it a try. Although the cat would never consider himself a poet so, he'll just watch.

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  4. easier said that done.. hehe... nice, measured meditation on meditation

    Luke

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  5. I felt myself breathing out and in here too.
    Nicely done Fred and the Youtube thing sounds interesting too. Thanks for the lovely comment on mine.

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  6. I really enjoyed the journey I went on with this poem - it was so real - great imagery of something simple yet complex - often hard to do but you did it well. :)

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  7. I like the soothing words to relax and let it go.

    It also helps to let go of angst, hate and disappointments.

    As to the things you want to do, it is a lot of work and time. Some poetry sites do feature a poet and their works, on a weekly or monthly basis. If its fulfilling for you, I suggest you go for it.

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  8. Brian, thanks, hope it all plays out/ Glad you enjoyed the write

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  9. Claudia, thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed, Thanks, hope the ideas pan out, oh, my pleasure at your place, you're a magnificent poet, love my visits there...Really wish I could remember, Strasbourg sounds familiar, can't say for sure though, but that entire trip for the majority of all the places there were breath-taking. Would return in a heartbeat if life placed that opportunity at me again, which would mean a lot of good had also taken place- which I would so welcome. Thanks again

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  10. Pat, very like minded with your thinking, almost as if your psychic abilities are at full power, lol no, I'll go with the brilliant painting I've done, lol but yeah I agree so many snags in life, so much to understand, so much that sweeps by unnoticed, pausing, reflecting, sorting, not sure how much it helps, but typically feels good. Yeah, I know you got the references, you seemingly always do, thanks again, glad you enjoyed the write and as usual, for the feedback

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  11. Luke, thanks for the feedback, yeah easier said than done indeed, so true, thanks again

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  12. oh, I so enjoyed this. I actually feel lighter as I breathed deeper at your words. I used to do a lot of those things as well. I miss them and I actually began work on a painting (just today) to capture a time in my life when I stopped doing those things. My painting includes a starry night sky.

    Therefore when I read the following stanza I was a bit freaked out:

    Close your eyes…picture the world above and beyond…
    Watch the stars…reach out your arms…feel the texture of each point…
    Look inward now…see your own…examine the connections…and breathe…1…2…3…watch the stars shining…brightness amongst the dark… in doing point appear…in so many ways you ache to touch… now free your mind…move…slowly…breathe. 1…2…3…and run your hands…rough or smooth… now…
    Find your scars and wipe them clean
    With my voice hear your own…
    Easy strokes brushing soft… bristles caressing pores and groove…
    No rush to erase all at once…slowly sweep and breathe…1…2…3
    When you’re ready…now, open your eyes…allow…and…
    All demons will easily go

    I'd say there is something to the psyche part of your name (smiles) Plus, you were spot on in your comment on my poem today. Very impressive, my friend!

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  13. I'm probably taking your poem in an unintended direction, it's late here and I've spent too much time reading but here goes. For me, I used to turn to book for answers, I devoured them like they contained the answers to life. I was a bibliophile and I took my love of reading into passionate territory. Then I woke up one day from my naiveté and went out to find my own answers and stopped living vicariously through books. Sometimes I look back and want the comfort of those Halcyon days and other times I’m glad I began to define my own ethics and voice.

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  14. Alas, being ignored is the easiest thing in the world, unless of course you wish to be left alone, and then....

    I don't know what this write means to you, but to me it looks like an attempt to calm down and meditate, as in the expression "get a grip on yourself". I do see the act of poetry as a form of meditation with its own rewards, apart from any recognition one might receive.

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  15. Sheila, glad you enjoyed the piece. Yeah that is a bit eerie, actually happened to me over at Pat's site a few weeks back, I'd love to take credit, but I think many of us in the poetic community seem to be hardwired similarly. Anyhow, couldn't choose a better person to be inside their head if I could:) Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it

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  16. Anna, Poetry, for me anyhow, is not about what I as author intended, but is always as to what the reader gains or interprets as the priority. Therefore there isn't a set course or direction. If there were though, your take is really an excellent one indeed. Thanks for taking the time, I as well was up late and although enjoyable, it wears on the eyes after a while, I had to actually stop and go back to what I missed over the next few days. Really appreciate you reading this bit long of a write, really appreciate that:)

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  17. Mark, Very true sentiments about being ignored. Really enjoy your take on the write. i agree, poetry can be very meditative in its own right. I often just begin writing and kind of get into a trance-like state, very therapeutic for me personally. Thanks for the visit, wonderful feedback, really appreciate it

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  18. Hi, Rob Kistner here. Thanks for visiting me. This is a piece well written, engaging – good work… mine is here: http://www.image-verse.com/clown

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  19. Fred...this was a freaking trip! I think this is my new favorite...where am I to start without writing a book? I used to meditate...according to the books, didn't work for me. Now I know I need the night, the starts, and to really feel comfortable breathing, I need to feel comfortable in my "unimportance" yet at the same time, the connection to all that is...see, you've got me excited and rambling! Let's just say, I'm all warm and fuzzy now, and I'm going to sit outside and breath while looking at the stars...also, if you need backup with your plans...you know where to find me! I'm ending my reading on this very high note...Sweet dreams!

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  20. "Words don't relax..." Words are anything but relaxing. It seems sometimes the more one thinks on or consider them, the more they split in meaning.

    I can relate the stanza with the list of "I used to" Sometimes i think back and think, "I used to... " and still got ways to go. Feels like there's some unsaid in this poem, in that "I used to and still do but now it's also something more than..."

    The stanzas with the breathing -- I think it would be awesome to hear this being read and follow along the breaths. I think it would make for an interesting experience.

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  21. When you can't find answers, you breathe, deeply, inhale, exhale, ask again, repeat.

    Good poem.

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  22. I don't know if I am reading something in this correctly. In this stanza:
    Down the esophagus 1…2…
    Straight laced line…soft and swift…
    Into the stomach… pieces linger upon the lips..
    And back through throat…a pleasured pain…
    Kissing cheeks smooth it gleams…
    Before exhaling… hold steady still… then release
    In a cloudy grayish white…push all out…push it clear…breath the air… clean and pure…and watch the vapors sparse the light…and in so doing… breathe again…and watch
    All vexation depart your sight

    Reminded me of the days I would smoke pot. Anyways, that is how I took it. Great poem!

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  23. Rob, thanks Really glad you enjoyed the write thanks for the visit.

    Glynn- Pretty much, thanks for the visits, really glad you enjoyed it

    Raven, thanks for the great feedback on this and all your comments, really appreciate them. Yeah words are odd birds sometimes, sometimes I think they can be rather calming and yeah, like you say they can be anything but. Oh I've tons of these self-hypnosis tapes around here and there, I imagine it would sound like one of them. It probably would sound good read aloud, after all I think those whole sections lose something when read silently. As always thanks

    Tash, great feedback, thanks. I used to as well. And the idea about being comfortable in your unimportance is really interesting, sounds like something to dig into deeper. Really glad you enjoyed the write, and as always the feedbacks wonderful

    California- Yep- Exactly what I was thinking about at that point of the piece. Thanks, glad you liked the piece.

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