Hi Poetry People

We have moved the blog to a new location, to overcome some limitations of Blogger.

www.poeandpenmen.blog

Thanks

Etienne.

Doubts

 

There can be no doubt,

that I am not,

what I am not,

I thought I was something else,

but now I see,

I was something else.

Delusion made me sure,

and sureness deluded me,

A lantern came slowly through the fog,

and the fog was in no doubt,

I was adrift,

in a dark profound fog.

Comfortable the arms of despair,

wrap themselves around me,

filling me with,

that uncomforted feeling,

of  what is, undoubtably,

nothing at all.

Emptiness came looking for me,

and found nothing to take,

No Doubt disappointed at going away empty,

but safely,

the same,

as when it came.

Surprisingly!

Unexpectedly!

a small Hope rose to challenge, 

So, doubt hid a while,

knowing, no doubt, his place,

but  just for a moment, 

for whilst I hope a lifetime,

yet undoubtably I doubt,

I just doubt.

Etches Penmen

The White House 

August 2020

(edits May 21) 

I sliced.

Important, Importance is Important I say,

Imbued,         Embroiled in Independence I Dance,

Intoxicated, Isolated in Ignorance I am oblivious,

Idolatry,         Awash with power I procure hope,

Intuitive,         Knowing the answer intangibly fraught,

Institution, It lies Locked away with those who know they know,

Enamoured. Blindly in love with images of those around me,

Irrelevant, Alas missing the point and washed away,

Ir-repressive, Yet still I cling to the the bubbly surface spray,

Immovable, Holding on Ego full to the Importare idea.

I am. That I am.

Thomas Poe & Etches Penman

2002-2009

Oxford Corner, Sydney

Originally Called 'Important says the White Rabbit' Of Matrix or Alice's fame or frame.Why? I really can’t tell. 

Can we hear ?

Can you hear?

Steel on Steel,

Wood on Wood,

Stone on Stone,

The Waterfall,

Can you hear?

the Hand on Heart,

meeting Eye to Eye,

warm Feet on Sand,

the Kiss of Hello  - Goodbye?

Can you See?

a Head to Head,

a Toe to Toe,

men using Steel and Wood, 

against their Foe.

Grinding Earth into Dust,

Greed and Lust,

Want and Desire,

Passion and Plea,

Hearts all a Fire.

Can you feel?

An image - a sound? 

What melts your mind?

what sends your spirit soaring?

does your heart hear & see?

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Nov 2009 - earliest date

T Poe

cannot wait

To Western Man 

Life a is a meal

in 7 course to partake

she is served life on a plate

Out of Control

As if our perceptions really mean

it’s In Control

Within the frame, 

time and Picture

within the bounds 

I had understood

With in me

Golden Leaf

A golden leaf of Autumns grace,

falling towards me,

it floats,

knowing nothing of rules,

it darts,

knowing nothing of economy,

it catches,

attention but, cares not,

it radiates,

the sun twinkling through its fading pastel water colour.

leaf and wind,

laugh together,

two friends,

in love of life.

I reach to catch it ,

it whispers its name:

‘I am Simplicity’,

not for holding ,

not for documenting,

not for analysis,

Simply a moments joy,

Simply a breath in life,

Simply a reminder,

of wonder.

Etches etching

Jul 09 

Thomas reworked in Covid times 

can i reach out to others; as does the simple Autumn leaf.

 

Thanks, Roads, Kings and Foundations

For some thanks, 

For some no thanks at all,

If only I had realised,

If only my mind had seen,

You cannot travel two roads ,

Not two roads at once,

To think it,

is only a dream,

Seek no other Kings,

and see,

The tide has washed away,

the buildings of this life,

Oh, and now we see, 

the foundations laid,

oh, so much larger,

than the life lived.

November 2007

Thomas Poe

Feel like I might have read those final few lines somewhere in my life

so let me know to whom I may owe credit. Etches.

Betrayal - shh

 

we hear its name,

we hear its name,

we hear its name,

we often watch it play the game,

on tip of tongue,

it lurks waiting for a captive,

to be set ‘free’,

on you and me,

the promise broken,

a hope postponed,

a volte-face,

the paternal correction,

an enamoured mis-direction,

a kiss.

we hear its name,

we know its coming,

the beat of drums,

a lie becoming,

its shadow falls on us.

it falls on us,

it falls on us,

the room has gone cold,

an indiscretion,

the white lie,

a cover over the frail drawn self,

the stumble becomes a fall,

a truth become a lie,

a kiss.

we hear its name,

we flinch,

we cry,

we are crushed,

we are torn,

we are betrayed.

Etches Penman

Oxford Corner

9th November 2009 .

--

Pondering betrayal for many weeks now. How is it that we have trust and hopes

often silk tissue paper thin on the walls of life, some might poke holes, but the

betrayal of trust tears the fabric - the beauty drains from every face. Alas the loss

Edited and added Nov 2020 -11 years later but alas

so much betrayal during these covid times

so much theft of hope.

Space

Inner space, Outer Space,

Space food sticks Stick em’

In your face, in case,

There’s Alien presence in your,

Parking Space?

 

Vista-Wide open spaces,

Those places where we find ourselves,

and Space to breathe,

Where we can say,

“just give me some space! man,

 

Hectic pace crushing, 

Inner space,

Thoughts move out, leaving,

Activity rearranging the furnishings,

And there is no more space for,

 

Dazzling stars,

Romantic moons,

Bugs Bunny and the Looney tunes.

 

 

 

Thomas Poe

Sept 02

 

Edited by Etches 

Oct 2020

The photo is actually of soemthing the size of a pinhead - but looks a little like the moom too.

Humility is

 

What do we really think of this word,

in modern world absurd,

abused, neglected and oft forgotten,

Humility, a trait list of, at bottom,

not declination of design,

not demur, polite, obscure, 

no defensive bowing,

nor furtive face shading,

but alone on the road,

out up front, on ways not recognised,

dying to self with pain a given,

letting go and doing all,

humility is,

directly explained,

in unpoetic lines,

letting I am do with you, as he will,

will you let I am in?

humbling yourself?

bowing the knee?

and doing as I am will do with you?

let go the manmade dreams,

let go the complex-a-cation,

let go of letting go and,

this time, let go.

Etches Penman

Oxford Corner

Sept 09

edited October Corona 2020

Humility is misdefined misunderstood and hated in halls of 

government or movements or business.

Conspired Events

Giving. Being. Thinking. Having.

Stopping, Going. Playing. Sleeping.

Talking. Smiling. Praying.

                Just Saying,

Eating. Drinking. Paying. Holding. 

Listening. Breathing. Hugging.

                Just Hoping,

Reading. Reaching. Falling. Staying.

                Just Trying,

Loving.

                 Just loving.

Walking. Running. Raining. Cleaning. Breathing. Swimming. Snorkelling. Flying. Imagining.

                                                               Doing.

Etches Penmen,

16th Feb 2019

A Birthday

Belief, Does my life reflect my belief, or do I find myself caught in the silver silent threads of worldly comprise and construct, themselves amoral and deaf and dead? What is my priority and is it my priority? 

Envy (And Bitterness)

 

May bitterness swim away,

an ne'er more been seen this day,

For the salmon out to sea is lost for all ,

And most to me,

Ne’er let me see spawn the horrid hulk,

Of nights forlorn,

With bitter heart and angered grief,

Envy blaming others whilst,

trying for me to elope with relief,

Let’s upstream against the current flow,

with Wisdoms words I don’t yet know,

With her words that will refresh a heart,

And peaceful play in life my part.

Thomas Poe

Singapore 

January 07

Bitterness and perhaps envy can fill oceans but holding on to these 

will not bring peace or win a race or cook a dinner.

edited by Etches October Carona 20

Turbulence

There's instability in the atmosphere!

Small things matter,                now truly they do,

body blow,                             (after blow after blow), 
stand up,                                with friends, arms across your shoulders,

Touch the earth,                      touch reality,

breathe in the sky,                  soul refreshing,

embrace,                                an other,

walk around,                           look over our shoulder,

the construct of our mind,        kindly, smile at others,

evaluate,                                 in love,

be-friend,                               yourself and another,

His strength lifts,                     kind words,

he whispers,                            to you & me,

look at your feet,

where are you standing?

have you been transported? &

are you standing where you ought to be? 

Etches Penmen

19th Feb 2019

TWH

& Sept 2020

Deja-vu = to see again

Orange

Orange has a History 

but just for today let's just ignore 

Orange failings

so

When God made me 

He was thinking in Orange

and made a special batch

Orange is the colour

and Orange and I are in love

and have been for a very long time

It laughs

it sings

its the breeze that's cool and comes in

always smiling

always gay

when I bleed its orange you'll see

If I speak , let the words in orange be

If I write, may you feel the orange as you read

watch in case you see Orange and I walk by

Etches Penmen 

Bucharest 

Sept 2020

 

Be at Peace

 Am I wrestling the world?

or am I wrestling only myself?
can I break the law?
or only break myself upon it?

I have a sense,
I should have purpose,
but my purpose is like a twinkling mist dancing at my fingertips,
not for grasping,
only for following,
without a single promise.

Who laid these expectations on my neck?
Who shackled me behind life's oxen?
I look over my shoulder hoping for rescue,
and wishing at the mountains.

 

8th August 2017 
TWH
Thomas Poe

I love you AFM

A dance to find a thought

a thought lost,

in the bracken of my soul,

Weep

little Child,

the one you love is taken.

but for this thought,

cry with pain,

cry with humanity broken,

cry in utter empty desperation,

‘have I not....’

‘did you not know....’

cry revealing,

a slice, a glimpse, a droplet,

of the true quantum particle, 

that 'elusive emotion',

that red shift revealing pattern and,

a thought hidden from the eye,

is it prides’ gravitational pull?

or does my soul know?

the dangerous thought, 

he cares

28/11/2010

Sydney

T Poe

just around the corner in this crowded city lies a thought hidden

a fact of love hidden and elusive the suited crowds walk by hardling

lifting thier heads not thinking to just take a peek around the corner 

where this thought lies in wait

the evening

As the evening draws in,

I stand with my back towards,

the waning sun,

and my shadow grows long,

Covering all that I have been given,

All those I have known.

 

Is it a spirit of darkest foreboding? 

or a gentle presence touching those I love? 

I wonder what will remain,

When the sun goes down?

I wonder.

 

What will survive in the dark of this night?

When the frost and cold, 

and the thief and vermin,

come without care to call, 

and take a prize. 

 

as the evening draws in,

I wonder what will remain come morning?

T Poe 

May 2005

(Counterpoised with this)

The truth will set you free.

Truth the white,

Truth the light, 

Truth that spring of pure water,

Freed not by privilege but, in hope.

 

This Truth heard lives in the heart,

and Truth in the heart. 

Divides the dark,

Darkness gone means, 

There is light,

a Light to the way,

To live a life,

Life in the full, 

Fully alive,

now there is truth.

 

T Poe 

May 2005

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

He is truth and life.

Where can I buy this truth? how I want for instant effortless satisfaction

Can it be seen, can it be known? Can I touch and feel it whe I am alone?

Will I know it when I see it? Will it fade away?

Truth in the soul brings peace and

Truth in the mind Guides theGuides the hand

in What Small Spaces

in What Small places does man dwell ?

in His Mind?

in His heart? or just, 

a small room in which to write?

a noble house or home?

or with yard and gate? the nobles' estate?

in village or town?

in grand county or state?

 

to move.

a yellow bike?

a green bus?,

a hybrid car? 

tho in and through all,

just a few precious feet of space is filled.

By what?

 

Gods incarnate, 

powers of Merlin or,

mere lily-of the field?

existence

hope desires wishes wants,

are these small spaces to build or to war?

to fight and save? 

or curse and destroy?

 

oh the depth of my soul ,

does not know,

The limitations of this, 

body and being.

reach out to eternity? and beyond?

or perhaps a journey inwards 

pause and reflect 

discover a universe from this very chair

Seek ye the destination of,

Our dreams.

T Poe

circa 2006

Oxford 

Should we just exist without asking questions about ourselves

Of what construct are we 

we are so very small and yet we behave as though we are everything 

filling the Universe