by D Shapiro with comments by J Shapiro
A collection of Meditation Poems.
Meditation, Inner and Outer
Kairos and Chronos
Innocence, feeling understood for one moment,
KAIROS
A God moment…….being born anew……..Zen mind freshness……
a lovely dancing, floating
reaches the heart and mind
then, like the beautifully crafted note of a flute
the wispiness of a dawn cloud….
vanishing….into mist
CHRONOS.
the moment passes………………..gone………………….. but not lost
sound sight feeling
linger whimsically
* * *
J’s comment very sweet and ephemeral, like its contents; and yes, it makes sense. I think it is saying that that moment of being understood by another creates a delightful feeling, like a beautiful music note or a floating cloud; I think this is a moment of Kairos, being born anew (state of innocence) ; then comes chronos: it vanishes quickly, and yet … its essence lingers; and when this happens, it is a feeling of oneness and connectedness with the world .
CONTRONYM HI KU*
OVERLOOKING THE
VAST EXPANSE OF SEE BEFORE ONE …
SELF CLARITY CLEAVES
*ku is a Japanese word: meaning: 1)section (i.e. of text); sentence; passage; paragraph; 2) maxim; saying; idiom; expression. Pretty cute: saying “Hi” to “Ku” and getting a Haiku!:)
Wow – and 3 in the morning! Your brain is really a remarkable brain. This is quite clever – overlook and cleave, and even the pun of see/sea. And apparently even haiku is a contronym (part and whole). Amazing. Plus I’m sure KU is shorthand for me (cutie!!). And so full of meanings – does the self cut clarity in half? Cling to clarity? Does the one (or One) see while staring out over the sea? Is there both a vast expanse of sea and of seeing available? Is the whole philosophical paradigm supervised, or ignored? I’m sure you have many more!!! Brilliant! Love, J
Yesterday we looked up the meaning of contronym, known as a ‘Janus word,’ that is its own opposite—like ‘fast’, which can describe both quick movement, and lack of movement. Last night I had this dream of one! I was pretty amazed at this contronym hai-ku! First, to have dreamed it (with a little polishing). Second to engage in such clever wordplay, including not only contronyms but homophones (words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meaning – see/sea [implied]; hai [implied]/hi). Third, to express really deep philosophical insights – through seeing (or taking the large perspective on seeing) or NOT (as in ignoring) seeing, we achieve self-clarity, to which we cling (or which we sever). Lots to ponder here, folks!
The Wave
Two undulating waves
sway
beneath the moon’s guiding hand
their trajectories destined to cross
as the swells pick up speed, foaming cresting, then
crashing into each other
colliding creates diamond like fragments
glistening as they shatter and are hurled
toward the sky
A brief pause, defying gravity,
then pulled downward , they merge…
reform into the water from which they came.
Then continue to roll patiently and tenderly on their journey to the beach
Only to once more say goodbye to the sand,
and be pulled back into the sea
* * *
J comment The Wave ..I really like the beautiful imagery of disparateness and yet unity; waves sway and are apart; then collide, glisten, shatter to be re-connected , tenderly; then goodbye at end, yet leaving to join what they always were … comes across perfectly – clear separation and union; lovely
Sights and Sounds, Inner and Outer
1979 Carmel
Sights and Sounds, Inner and Outer
I meditated this evening to
the sun setting
into the ocean
My knees and buttocks nestled
into fine grained white sand
on a sloping soft beach
My hands resting on top of my lap,
my spine and neck are straight
while letting thoughts come and go
As internal chatter slows, I hear the
ocean waves as they dance and rumble,
soothing, majestic, wild
My hands leave their resting position,
pick up my flute, and breath
plays some notes
To join in counterpoint and harmony
J comment (2022) This is lovely. I like the title, it captures the flavor of the poem, and suggests that what you describe in the external world is mirrored in your inner world. I especially liked the idea that breath, rather than you, played the notes. Love, J