Half Way To Paradise? Poem by John Knight

Half Way To Paradise?

Rating: 3.9


This poem is dedicated to Olfa Drid to encourage her in her very exciting and precious search for spiritual truth.

Life makes such high demands on me each day;
Demands of social intercourse, demands of physical existence,
Demands of mental exercise, demands of spiritual response.
From where comes all the energy to meet this plethora of demand?

I am a child of my environment, shaped by the Ying and Yang of life.
I learn more from my own mistakes, than by the foolishness of others!
I try to grow each day in wisdom amd in stature,
In favour with myself, my mates and with my Maker.

Is growth in mind, body and spirit, incremental
Or is each day a tabla rasa, a fresh start without precedent?
I don't think so otherwise:
Each day I'd have to learn to wash and dress.
Each day I'd have to learn to speak and eat.
Each day I'd have to learn to walk and ride.
Each day I'd have to learn to laugh and cry.
The list is endless. How on Earth could I survive?

But where does all his energy come from?
For physical prowess, from food, deep within my freezer.
For mental activity, from neurons, deep within my brain.
For social interaction, from inner resources and my community.
Accumulation of experience of day-by-day activity,
Things learned and then things understood!

So, let me try and philosophise my life's progression.
Is each day easier than the last, but harder than the next?
Does life get better, brighter, more beautiful?
Is life's pathway lighter and less arduous,
Making old age mellifluous fulfilment of my youthful daydreams?
I don't think so have you visited a Retirement Hostel recently?

And finally what about spiritual energy, does that come from within?
Or from without, from some rich cosmic force, which in some way
Supplements the physical, the mental and the social,
And then provides that extra special spark.
That extra spark which makes the mundane special,
Which makes the ugly beautiful, the wornout workable
And every stage much more bearable.

Best of all it promises life after death and immortality.
Imperfection raised to perfection, dishonour to honour,
Weakness to power, natural to spiritual and terrestrial to paradise!

These four coexist - Physical - Mental - Social - Spiritual
But in the last analysis all is reduced to the Spiritual.
This simple faith, this grasping of divinity
Gives strength for all vicissitudes of present life,
Makes all life's little ups-and-downs seem like a passing vapour
Ephemeral comparison to all the Glory that's to follow!

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Philosophy of a DewyFlower 05 September 2009

deep thoughts highlights a philosophical pathway. this piece evinces -> the progress of our life, ->the mysteries of simple things which live with us for life, ->the details of the most complicated system (Human Being) wise question throughout the poem.

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Catrina Heart 21 August 2009

wow....magestic composition....profound one...with tons of wisdom and take out here, , ,10

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Varanasi Ramabrahmam 13 August 2009

A highly contemplative and philosophical poem, full of spirituality, social responsibility, managing daily routine etc., and the final goal of all this course to attain a glimpse of divinity is very well expressed. The spiritual energy comes from interaction of without (can be cosmic force) and within (energy due to breathing process, food and water taken etc.,) A fine analysis and summation of life and suggestions about goals of life. Enjoyed the poem much.

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John Knight

John Knight

Liverpool - UK
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