The Poem thread

[Contratrombone64]

Margaret - that's very touching, you know.

There is a wonderful brass statue of one of our early explorers in the city, behind the statue is a brass statue of his cat. The cat is looking up longingly at his master, there's a very sad story behind the poor feline and being separated from his master. I'll try and take a photo of it and get the story right and post it here. You'll love it. Makes me weep when I see the expression on the cat's face ...

[marval]

Hi CT

Pets are very loving creatures, especially cats and dogs.

Sometimes when a person dies, the dog will not leave their side no matter how hard people try to coax them away.

I would like to see that photo and hear the story.


Margaret

[intet_at_tabe]

Ms. Margaret

I found your poem - anonymous at Mercedes´s. Don´t be sorry, that I found the poem by Auden strange and difficult. The only way we all can learn, is to deal with what is difficult the first time, study it, reasearch it and ask questions, so we the next time are better informed and prepared.

Here´s one short poem by Robert Frost:


Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

[intet_at_tabe]

Hi CT

Pets are very loving creatures, especially cats and dogs.

Sometimes when a person dies, the dog will not leave their side no matter how hard people try to coax them away.

I would like to see that photo and hear the story.


Margaret

Ms. Margaret

Excactly like two people, who have been married for 40-50-60 years and have had a tight loving relationship depending 100 on one another. One of them suddenly passing away, and the other who has been left alone shortly after with no visible physical reason passes away, but simply because of the loss of the other person in the marriage in every day life. It happens.

When our Sibirian Husky passed away, the two other dogs did not eat, did not want to take a long walk in the forest, did not want to play and fetch a stick or a small ball thrown in our garden, excactly like you said, they stayed apathicly for days. Like it was very emotional difficult for the entire family. We get attached to our pets, like we do to our children or a very close friend, you would do anything for to help out.

Pets always (with cats and dogs, not Anacondas I would assume) welcome us when we come home, like we were the Queen of Sheeba. They are loyal to the extreme, and we love them because they are always happy and they make us feel happy, comfortable and not lonely in the world.

[marval]

Yes Intet

You are right pets are very loyal. Some people I knew had two siamese cats. When one of them died the other one refused to eat, and pined away. It died because it could not live without it's friend.


Margaret

[marval]

I Dreamed I Was Riding a Zebra


I dreamed I was riding a zebra
with curly pink hair on his head
and when I woke up in the morning
that zebra was there in my bed.

I rode into school on my zebra.
It caused all the teachers to scream.
But then I was slightly embarrassed
to find it was still just a dream.

I woke up again in my bedroom,
and saw with relief and a laugh
I don't have a pink-headed zebra.
I guess I'll just ride the giraffe.

Kenn Nesbitt

[methodistgirl]

Thank you Lord for creating this beautiful earth for us to live on.
Now the earth is hurting and I know that you hold it in the palm
of your hands. I see tears in your eyes because of what you see.
Please forgive us of what we do. I know that we do things that
you don't want us to do. I know that you are always with us.
You have blessed us with such beauty on this earth from the
tiniest flowers and creatures to the massive waterfalls. I thank
you for it.----Indian Prayer
judy tooley

[marval]

Hi Judy

That is a lovely prayer.


Margaret

[intet_at_tabe]

The poem "if":


If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!


Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)

[marval]

Hi Intet

I like that poem.


Margaret

[marval]

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

[intet_at_tabe]

I Dreamed I Was Riding a Zebra

I woke up again in my bedroom,
and saw with relief and a laugh
I don't have a pink-headed zebra.
I guess I'll just ride the giraffe.

Kenn Nesbitt

[intet_at_tabe]

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.


Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.


You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.


Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann

Now Ms. Margaret you know what it means. The second time.

You´re not gonna believe this. This is my favourite poem of all poems. It´s my personal mantra in my life. I have this poem hanging on my wall beside the computer - in Danish though. It´s been there for the past 6 1/2 years after leaving the last of never again physical rehabilitation centers, since I got this new ground floor apartment of mine as an early pensionaire off work for good - at least for Brussels as a lobbyist. It used to hang on the wall at my office in Brussels. I used to read it, whenever I felt sick of the violent treacherous crazy world outside the windows...... mostly every day (lols).

I also had a copy of this poem in my briefcase, next to my Time Manager and the photographs of my children and wife traveling by train, airplane or my classy fancy dark silver blue BMW, which was stolen on an off ramp public parking in Belgium with a small rest room, next to the highway. So whenever booking myself into a hotel for a couple of nights in Stavanger, Norway - Madrid, Spain or Palermo, Italy etc.etc. looking for a politician connected to the EU parliament or a buisness manager from a huge corporation, I would always read it quietly and slowly before going to sleep, remembering myself on - no matter what would happen the next day, if I would succeed my search for someone or not, to get close enough to talk to my mark, to have his or her opinion, I knew the world would still exist and spinnin´ not because of me, but because certain things in all our lives just are...... and all I could do was always to be polite and carm and prepare myself the best way to do my very best, and if it wasn´t enough - so be it.

Some people might read the Bible on such traveling occations, or go to the local taverna, I would visit the local church to reach out to my personal mentor above, and always read this poem by Max Ehrmann before sleeping, because the words always made me feel relaxed, comfortable and at peace with myself.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

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Max Ehrmann (September 26, 1872 - September 9, 1945), an attorney from Indiana, was best known for writing the prose poem "Desiderata" (Latin: "something desired as essential") in 1927.
Ehrmann, who was of German descent, received a degree in English from DePauw University, followed by a degree in Philosophy from Harvard University. He then returned to his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana to practice law. Eventually this led him to work in his family's meatpacking business and in the overallsmanufacturing industry. Finally at the age of 41, Ehrmann decided to forget such work and become a writer. At the age of 55 he wrote Desiderata, which achieved fame only after his death.

[marval]

Hi Intet

I am so glad it is your favourite. You sound to have had times when words like that are very comforting.

I also have it at home, it is framed and hanging in the hall. So when I go out I can have a read, and walk with a calm heart and mind.


Margaret

[intet_at_tabe]

Hi Intet

I am so glad it is your favourite. You sound to have had times when words like that are very comforting.

I also have it at home, it is framed and hanging in the hall. So when I go out I can have a read, and walk with a calm heart and mind.

Margaret

Dear Ms. Margaret Group hugging


This will be a bit longer than ordinary post from me in the poems thread, I ask for the patience of you and the moderators, I just need to get something off my chest about my Dad, whom I LOVED very much, who was the first person to introduce me to Max Ehrmann and this poem.

He was a labour union leader, a true believer in socialism, very powerful in the union, but not what most people thought at all about him. He had this "disability" in his own words, shortly before he passed away, he couldn´t stand to watch someone suffering. So my entire childhood, we always had people living with us, who had no other family or place to live and mostly without anything else than what they had on their bodies.

At one time in 1993 our company in Brussels had been invited by the Danish government to go to Nairobe, Kenya in Africa, because we had very good releations to the President in Kenya. It was on his recommandations to the Danish government, we got involved.

Both my partner in Briussels Niels and I knew how important this contract was both to Denmark and Kenya and to our company, while the Danish Danida company (Danish aid program for Third World contries) had a contract with Kenya on artificial water for the fields.

Two days into the Kenya contract, 120 miles north East of Nairobe I received at telegram from Denmark from my Mom, saying my father had been rushed to hospital. It was a matter of days perhaps hours. Please Lars come home, signed my Mom.

I knew, I had to go back to Denmark to be there with my Dad. I asked for a special audiance with the President of Kenya, and told him straight on, Sorry but my Dad is dying at a hospital in Copenhagen, I know I have set up this deal but I have to go home to be with him to ease his pain and to be with my family (I was crying at the time in front of the President).

So I left in 90 minutes after the meeting with the President, who had offered me his personal airplane to which I could not say No to, it would have meant arrogance.

Arriving at the hopital in Copenhagen, I had not seen my Dad for three months. He was pale in his face, much more skinny than I remembered him to be, very fragile. He had tubes in his arms and was at the Intensive Care Unit, having morphin injections every four hours to ease the pain of stomach cancer.

He was sad, and told me he had not been a good father to me, and a husband and lover to my Mom, always having other people to live with us, and a lot of other accusations towards himself. He was very afraid, he would not enter Paradise, but would be send to Hell. He was not a christian believer before, but here on the day he was.

I knew my only job there and then, was to make him understand and comprehend my words to him: Dad, I love you, you have always been my HERO, your wife my Mom loves you. Every one we have known for years LOVE you. You will enter Paradise.

I can remember his eyes, and his hand in mine, knowing it was the first time in his life, he realy profoundly understood how much we, my Mom and I loved him, and how much the both of us would have wanted for any of us to have been able to take his pain and insecurity of going to Hell instead of Paradise away from him. He was my HERO in my life always supportive always there when I needed him. He took a loan when Niels and I decided to start up in Brussels to help us out. He even came to our office with friends of his and painted the whole damn office for free.: This is my son Lars the lobbyist. like he said proudly.

On the 6th day after I returned from Kenya, I was sleeping in his bed. He lay with his back to me after having had a heart attack during the night, and he had passsed away, while I had fallen asleep beside him.

I my hand I found a small piece of paper, written with very shaky fingers: You gave my life importance Lars. Take care of my beloved wife, your Mom.

After we had put him to his final resting place, I received a letter from the Danish Prime minister at the time, asking me to follow him to Kenya due to a special invitation from the President of Kenya.

We talked on the airplane to Nairobe, and he told me that the contract between the Danish Danida and the Danish State in agrreence with the state of Kenya had been signed the very same day, I had left Kenya two weeks ago on the airplane sponsored by the President of Kenya.

He gave me a letter from the President of Kenya which said: A man and a friend of Kenya who can share his tears of his father dying in Denmark, is a man and a trusted friend forever more of Kenya.

So my beloved father was a part of this agreement, not knowing it and his love for great poets like Max Ehrmann and great storytellers like Rudyard Kipling he gave to me.

He once told me: Remember Lars in your own life, you can never live your own life according to your own wishes on behalf of what other people´s expectations of you or think on how you should live your life. Stay firm in your own believes, but never show arrogance towards oithers, because their opinions are as good as yours.

Thank you Ms. Margaret.