"I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee..."
poetryREpairs v07.04:040
MARYANN HAZEN-STEARNS
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MARYANN HAZEN-STEARNS
On the Verge
brushstroked by the sun ambushed by birdsong
and waking out of a mediterranean sleep
to the soft motion of leaves viridian raw sienna sap green
all is beginning the back door leads to woods
the front opens to the city the pavement
the jostling of strangers
catching their glance feeling their touch
the cool affection of a palm
the murmur of excuse me
eyes like small breaths brushing her shoulders
a stare a smile a tide of voices rising and falling
footsteps echoing along avenues
until dusk holds the city
firmly in place with long lean stains of sunshine
"Poetry endangers the established order in the soul."
poetryREpairs v07.04:040
Advertise on poetryREpairs Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over twenty years. You can find the rest of these poems and subscribe to The Meditation Newsletter at: http://www.TheMeditationSite.com.
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STEVE GILLMAN
Spiritual Poems - Why Read Them?
What makes spiritual poems different from other spiritual writings? Poetry has a way of pointing more directly at reality, rather than just defining it. It uses words as tools for the transmission of experience. Spiritual poetry then, is more about enlightenment than belief. Here is a classic example from the Tao Te Ching:
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.
Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source.Returning to the source is serenity.If you don't realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you came from, you naturally become tolerant, disinterested, amused, kindhearted as a grandmother, dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao, you can deal with whatever life brings you, and when death comes, you are ready.
The Christian Bible is full of spiritual poems. Consider this short passage from the poetry found in Corinthians:
When I was a child,
I spoke like a child,
I thought like a child,
I reasoned like a child;
when I became a man,
I gave up childish ways
Spiritual poems are not necessarily religious poems. They can simply point at the universal values in life, and at our relationship to these.
This can be seen in the last stanza of the poem "Lake Superior."
There was the sun on my face,
and this was superior
to any description, idea,
belief or faith
I am going to write an article on the submission rule which basically says, a magazine will not take work that has been previously published and/or is being simultaneously submitted.
In this regard, I do have a bias. I believe that good work (in all forms) should be enjoyed as often as possible, and given the small subscription base of every small press literary magazine (especially print); the only way to reach a wide audience is to resubmit the work. I recognize the pride editors have in their magazines, and the time it takes to publish these magazines. I also recognize that every one can make what ever rules they want.
I invite you to send me your thoughts, opinions, bitches, and wisdom on this issue. PLEASE make sure when you respond to sign off your e-mail:
YOUR FULL NAME
TITLE (EDITOR / CO-EDITOR / WHATEVER)
NAME OF YOUR PUBLICATION
IS IT A PRINT or ELECTRONIC (or BOTH)
URL (IF YOUR HAVE ONE)
YOUR CICULATION:
· If you have a print zine, please give the number of subscribers only, NOT YOUR PRESS RUN.
· If you have an electronic zine, the number of hits per issue you get, or think you get.
I will collect all replies and shape them into the body of my article. I may use your reply and quote you on this matter, so feel free to swing away. I may shorten the length of your comment, but other then for length I will not edit your reply if I use it. So write with passion, but use spell check before replying.
FORWARD THIS MESSAGE to other electronic and print editors.
Charles P. Ries lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His narrative poems, short stories, interviews and poetry reviews have appeared in over one hundred and seventy print and electronic publications. He has received four Pushcart Prize nominations for his writing. He is the author of a novel, and five books of poetry — the most recent entitled, The Last Time which was released by The Moon Printing and Publishing. He is the poetry editor for Word Riot (www.wordriot.org), Pass Port Journal (www.passportjournal.org) and ESC! (www.escmagazine.com). He is on the board of the Woodland Pattern Bookstore (www.woodlandpattern.org). He is a member of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission, and a founding member of the Lake Shore Surf Club, the oldest fresh water surfing club on the Great Lakes. You may find additional samples of his work by going to: http://www.literati.net/Ries/
