My friend Gordon Neumann is a veteran from the Vietnam war. He is also a poet. His spiritual ruminations have afforded me comfort and insight, and I’m honored to share them here with you. --Marianne
April 07, 2009
Be Larger
In this dark hour,
golden forces muster
to greet all semblance of fear,
to cast spiritual light upon the darkness
and make discord disappear,
sweet dear,
such is the mighty power
within your heart-felt prayer,
as we become comrades
in the common endeavor
of allegiance to life,
through whatever strife
the world may deliver,
we are larger,
we are larger,
than any illusion
of time-bound terror.
Gordon Neumann
4/7/2009
Posted:04/09
March 17, 2009
Thinking of You
So flows the ocean of emotion
into the sea of tranquility,
as I leave my life,
here is my heart's confession,
if I ever loved anyone,
I certainly love thee,
as forces larger
take me away along paths of pathos
through screaming dark confusion,
I wonder,
when will our souls ever meet
to greet again our golden light,
just know, wherever I am,
whenever I am humble, grateful,
and unafraid,
I think of you.
Gordon Neumann
3/17/2009
Posted:03/09
June 09, 2008
The Speed of Light
What if
the speed of light could accelerate
and shatter man's delicate cosmology,
that conglomerated material picture of the universe
that seems so important,
falling off the table
into so many religious shards
of philosophic theory,
even the poetic crack of dawn
wouldn't be safe from conjecture
of some temporal conspiracy
to separate what we believe
from what we know,
for if
the speed of light is not a constant,
then where, oh where,
is our answer to it all?
Gordon Neumann
6/9/2008
Posted:06/08
May 31, 2008
Living Virtuously
In the valley of humility,
a fertile green garden-place of grace,
where the river of life flows
natural virgin virtue
of pristine splendor
from a ceaseless Source,
Of love, kindness, and beauty
bestowing unspoiled essence
to human understanding
under heaven
in harmony with the infinite,
Constant, strong, caring,
innocent, and wise,
allowing seeming opposites
to seed,
grounded in the growing goodness
of the Tao.
Gordon Neumann
9/3/2007
Posted:05/08
Guided by Inner Light
The sage is illumined
by an inner light
glowing the awareness
of the Tao,
Knowing giving
is the same as receiving,
and truth teaching
is the job of living,
In raising collective consciousness
to new levels of conduct
where compassion is spread impartially,
all inclusively, spontaneously,
to cover all possible scenarios,
Realizing the bad man is but
the good man's opportunity
to do love's duty,
instructing while conveying respect,
without judging,
One thought,
one action
at a time,
making the universe
a better place.
Gordon Neumann
9/2/2007
Posted:05/08
Staying Calm
Regardless of external circumstance,
the sense of serenity is still
a personal choice
in maintaining a balanced inner posture,
even in the midst of chaos,
Between confusion and tranquility
lies the ability
to stay calm
by claiming the honesty and responsibility
for one's own fearful psychic squealings,
To become sole master of self
oblivious to subliminal panicky feelings,
while sinking deep
within the easing quiet of the Tao,
in the face of impending turmoil
and careening crisis,
even unto the brink of death,
Gently surrounding yourself
with love and light
at your holy center
hosting the Creator,
Where peace blossoms
from a wise innate will
into a flower of ever-encompassing trust,
overcoming all form of earthly unrest.
Gordon Neumann
9/1/2007
Posted:05/08
Living without Excess
Clear the winding path of grasping weeds
that pride-fully boast of personal acclaim;
seek a freeing attitude of gratitude
knowing everything owned, touched, seen,
breathed, or eaten
is a gift from Source.
Bragging doesn't share enlightenment
or produce accomplishment,
but creates unneeded confusion,
While a perspective radically humble,
reveals the greatness of everyone,
making the way of the Tao
more visible.
Simple thanks
opens endearing eyes
to enduring wisdom,
without the weighty distraction
of ego's excesses
not essential
for the long journey.
Gordon Neumann
8/30/2007
Posted:05/08
Living Naturally
Rejoice,
that things are as they are,
on a cyclical trip
through time and space,
continuously composing
and decomposing,
returning to Source,
Pause,
to remember serenity and peace
await on the other side
of tension and strife,
as you cooperate
with the all-creating power
flowing through you,
Follow the Way,
and become one with it,
an unforced goodness
enfolding in you,
naturally.
Gordon Neumann
8/29/2007
Posted:05/08
Living Flexibility
Relaxing in the face of confrontation,
not restricted to a goal,
or proving a point,
but open to all possibility,
Bowing to the wind of the storms of life,
holding sway in trusting harmony,
as flexible as a palm tree,
without rigid pomposity
in beckoning Tao energy,
Using the strength of adversity
to become even stronger, wiser
in dealing with contentious nature,
Remaining whole,
malleable in renewal,
able to greet the new dawn,
gently.
Gordon Neumann
8/28/2007
Posted:05/08
Living Flexibility
Relaxing in the face of confrontation,
not restricted to a goal,
or proving a point,
but open to all possibility,
Bowing to the wind of the storms of life,
holding sway in trusting harmony,
as flexible as a palm tree,
without rigid pomposity
in beckoning Tao energy,
Using the strength of adversity
to become even stronger, wiser
in dealing with contentious nature,
Remaining whole,
malleable in renewal,
able to greet the new dawn,
gently.
Gordon Neumann
8/28/2007
Posted:05/08
