« NUDED | Main | Metahaiku--Theme and Variations with an Homage »
April 30, 2005
Chains of Desire
Desire-memory
of heaven painted on things
as we see them now.Object of desire--sure sign
of its maker--Lord of life.In not holding on
to things we know, need, and love,
we grow heavenward.The sky is His-promise-blue--
beyond blue--no clouds--no rain.Learn now how to be--
see--autumn sky, fall leaves--cool
promise of winter.Desire--good as it seeks He
who is end of all desire.Desire--ill wind that
keeps blowing as it is fed--
seeking self alone.Desire teaches us good, shows
us how to see, be, and want.I want the ocean
broad salt, the great rivers, I
want and do not need.Desire stretches want into
need. It doesn't know its end.Stalk the white egret
for its plumage finery
for a woman's hatwhatever we want becomes
the end to which we will go.The heart's home, the warmth
of the breath breathed at the start,
Holy Spirit's flame.How then can we know the line--
want and need, shadow and light?Seek first the kingdom
and His righteousness, all else
comes to you through these.But the human heart is trained
to want far beyond its means.Trained to desire, chained
to desire--the will gives way
in the face of it.So we must learn to not want
to have without having now.To enjoy all things
both for themselves as they are
God's own goodly work.But also to see within
them God's shadow. Taste God there.Desire would hold you
bound, pining, dying not
for itself but for want.Desire is the spur, the goad, God's
direction arrow pointed home.Love without keeping,
take without taking, gold chips
in the chilly stream.Glint for those who come after,
for you, the moment God spoke.Hear Him in every word,
see in every motion, not one
thing is without Him.Desire calls us home-answer
and discover where home is.
Okay, it's only a start. There seem to be much, much more to say on the matter, but I must come back to it. Too much compressed poetry squeezes the mind and the japanese forms were not meant to do this. Nevertheless, it comes off rather like the Analects, so not a complete failure--and by way of an answer to one at Lofted Nest.
Between the heron
and the wren--silence builds a
home, spring comes early.
Posted by Steven Riddle at April 30, 2005 3:16 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.stblogs.org/scgi-bin/mv/mt-tb.cgi/10117
Comments
I like your haikus. Keep doing them. I have to be in a certain mood. Here is one I sent to our daughters for Mother's Day:
Mothers every day
Children, grandchildren
Always a heartbeat away
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Peg at May 1, 2005 6:56 PM
Dear Peg,
Rhyming haiku. How splendid. Thank you.
shalom,
Steven
Posted by: Steven Riddle at May 1, 2005 8:06 PM
poets are like stones
thrown hard against the water
skimming over life
Well done, Steven.
Posted by: Sparrow at May 1, 2005 8:10 PM
You have a lot going on here, Heron. I think you're right, the form can not contain the thought.
>> Between the heron
>> and the wren--silence builds a
>> home, spring comes early.
all birds sing as one
explicating the heavens
with glory to God
Posted by: Dan at May 2, 2005 7:59 AM