We Are the Code That Interacts (new poem)

We Are the Code That Interacts

by Tim Kavi

sweeping and cleaning

lines edited

in Nature's dark surprise

destiny is made

along twisted roads

that go nowhere

where the apparent

is only freshly revealed

as we travel them

or by a singing note

of existence

or by a rampant ascension

or early demise

there is a place for humanity

for endings reveal themselves

as beginnings

selected, punctuated

in the balancing act

of synthesis

only to emerge

like waves

photons twisting in morphing

place, running a race

where light dances

on the walls of caves

again and again

sweet refrains

of who we are

becoming

what was imagined

in the lines of code

written at will

in the shadows

of song

we stand; 

lines in the code

emergent and conscious

naked and born

into the scripted world.

A Machine (new poem)

A Machine (New Poem)

by Tim Kavi

a machine

a machine!

is what I am

becoming in a world

of thieves

who conspire

lie low in dark rooms

to steal only

my identity

finding no cash

but who I am

stripped of meaning

so if you define me

telling me

who or what to be;

where are my stories?

for I am fashioned

by choices

that lead to driven

conscious identities

evolving over time

morphing into community

many forking paths

resolving into

the road less traveled by?

longing to be

and to remain free

you will never take

the real me.

Tree of Me (New Poem)

TREE OF ME (New Poem)

by Tim Kavi

I am rooted

drawn deep into the soil

my limbs longing for light

until the gentle ocean speaks

and the winds scatter

my leaves throughout the wild

wooded Earth!

There is only my existence

screaming in the void

fighting to stand tall

as long as I can.

About the photo:  Photographer is Beth Moon. The photo was featured in the Review Section of The Wall Street Journal; Saturday-Sunday Oct. 11-12, 2014; page C12.

More About Goddesses: Demeter, Greek Goddess (New Essay)

More About Goddesses: Demeter, Greek Goddess (New Essay)

by Tim Kavi

Demeter is known as the Greek goddess of the harvest and fertility. She is known as a goddess of origin, divine order and giver of food. She is also frequently associated with ruling over unwritten law, the law of nature which defines agriculture and civilized society. This can be implied that she helps to control the cycle of life and death, though not all interpretations of the myth of Demeter include this interpretation. Much of the association with Demeter and life and death stems from the myth of her daughter, Persephone who is featured along with Demeter in the Eleusinian mysteries.

The religious writing around Demeter shows her as taking on a variety of different religious functions.  In ancient history, many worshiped her as the “mother earth” or the Great Goddess who oversees the function of agriculture. Many harvesters would worship her, hoping that Demeter would offer her blessing for the work that they completed. Some areas of Greece have found earlier descriptions of Demeter acting as a poppy goddess with the belief that she was responsible for bringing poppies to Eleusis in Crete.

Demeter’s daughter Persephone was said to have been kidnapped by Hades who was looking for a queen to rule beside him in the underworld. Upon realizing that her daughter had been taken, Demeter fell into a deep sense of grief, causing all life on earth to begin dying. To prevent extinction, Zeus sent Hermes to return Persephone to her mother. To prevent this, Hades tricked Persephone into eating a pomegranate which bound her to the underworld. It was agreed that Persephone would spend a third of the year with Hades in the underworld and the remaining time on earth with her mother. This corresponds to the changing of the seasons. As Persephone leaves to perform her duties in the underworld, Demeter falls sad and life dies away in the winter months.

There were several cults that honor Demeter throughout Greece, Sicily and Crete. The ancient cult of Amphictyony on the coast of Thessaly was one of the most well-known of these cults. There is also the festival of Demeter of Mysia. This festival lasts for seven days and passes the shrine to Demeter as the parade moves from Mycenae to Argos. Only a few ancient texts describing this festival have been found so it is unclear how the deity was honored during the festivities.

Another interetsing fact about Demeter as she is presented in mythology (Demeter, who was also known in other terms as 'Ceres') is that she  never wanted to make her abode with other goddesses on Olympus. Rather, she wanted to be down to Earth and abide with her followers and those close to her, in her own temples, as a goddess with them.--TK

The image above is artwork from the work of a contemporary and interesting artist; Howard David Johnson --who draws goddesses, beautiful women, and mythological figures. ~~TK

Celestial Meadow (new poem)

Celestial Meadow

by Tim Kavi

gentle lands of rest

stretch across maps of peaceful

bliss of grassy green

my feet float on airy paths

of glorious silence

stretching to the horizon

sparse trees dot the place

that beckon to places

of pause and reflection

away from all the stress

away from racing thoughts

not just to survive

but to bravely exist

gentle bluebirds

of my Mother's voice

Gaia would you sing to me?

black crows wait to pick

but I know

that your beauty prevails

you will live longer

than humans have tread

oh pray

they will not kill you dead

for in your silence

they gravely mistake

you are not there

but there is only

too much noise

to hear you and be blest

but at moments like this

I only can gently walk

on the pillows

of your endowment

in the shadows of forest

and the paths of wooded trail

the stream flows nearby

into the ocean it flows

goes to the clouds

descends to the earth again

born again

to live again

and to see your glory

in forest, and stream

celestial meadows

where I see all my friends

playing again. 

More About Goddesses: Green Tara (essay)

More About Goddesses: Green Tara

By Tim Kavi

Tara refers to the savior-goddess in Buddhist mythology, more commonly referred to as Sgrol-ma. She is considered to be one of the mantras heard in Tibet and acts in a light of universal compassion which is a stronger form of a mother’s love for her children. It is said that Tara is responsible for guiding her followers on the path to enlightenment, providing longevity and protecting her followers through earthly travel.

Before Tara was considered a part of Buddhism she was depicted as one of the manifestations of Parvati in Hinduism. According to later traditions, Tara was born from the compassionate tears of Avalokitesharva when he looked upon the suffering of humans. These tears formed a lake where lotus blossoms bloomed. A beam of blue light emanated from one of these flowers and brought forth Tara. Tara appears in many forms, each with its own symbolism and power.

Green Tara is represented by the half-open lotus which represents that night. With time she will transform into the white lotus as she reaches full bloom, representing grace and serenity. Green Tara focuses on compassion for those that must labor night and day to relieve the suffering of others. It was once believed that every pious woman was an incarnation of Tara, though some will take on more green or white aspects depending on their nature.

Green Tara is also associated with a sense of vigor and youth. She is often depicted as being very active and fierce, though the actions she takes are always filled with compassion for those she is interacting with. Some believe that Green Tara is a self-born form of the Buddha Amitabha, and this will often be depicted in her headdress. Other stories say she was incarnated as a wife of the Tibetan king Srong-brtsan-sgam-po because in this culture green is a symbol for accomplishment and this king was known as the lord of action.

When she is depicted, Green Tara is often shown in a posture that is relaxed though still ready to take action at any time. Her left leg is usually folded in the contemplated position, but her right will often be outstretched so she could quickly move into action if necessary. She will frequently be shown holding blue lotuses as a representation of her origin story and will wear rich jewelry. It is quite common for people to illustrate her this way as a way of calling upon her compassionate nature.

My lonely face, My global face, Singing Their Song (new poem)

My lonely face, My global face, Singing Their Song

 by Tim Kavi

there is a oneness

captured in my lonely breath

where only the known

is revealed in a song

escaping my lips

dropping like tears from my eyes

across the widened

abyss of chastened justice

there is a universal wind

that, until singing it

only the powers will not know it

I arise

from the cobblestones

knowing my one face

has now gone global

in the rage

of technology's age

there is no hearing of it

until somewhere else

another voice is heard

a chorus of discontent

my heart reaches for it

in your lasting embrace, there is knowing

my arms circle around them

only to sing in glorious chorus

until all are free

again and again

for the sound of it is joined in music

where there is a turning

morphing of my single face

joined with a global race

where we all are one

can we care enough to hear the song?

Tears of a Prophetic Clown (New Poem)

"Tears of a Prophetic Clown"

by Tim Kavi

so do you think?

do you think I am Funny?

Always when You

are crying

I'm cruel

in making You laugh

out loud so?

and when You

thought you were dying

seeing a plan in all,

and so

You woke up

again and again

laughing in the telling

of deep purpose

to Do Something

to ease suffering

in and to the world

So go on laughing

and living gloriously

until the real end.

knowing that endings

are beginnings of renewal

dialectics of dancing powers

SO there is no need

to stop laughing

or to never hope in living

for that is the way of

those who are sleeping. 

Angels from Heaven (For Moms that Help at School) (New Poem)

Angels from Heaven

by Tim Kavi

To all the moms who help at school: 

never did the world see

in their beauty

and tireless missions

such pretty angels

as these mums

they must be from heaven

giving to the kids

in never ending

efforts, activities,

assuring students ascending

bringing their greatness

because these mums

make it all okay

make it all happen

in their grace each day

there is not one

student or teacher

untouched or unblessed

they really have done it all

Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall

that keeps the schoolyard

humming with many a happy kid

and the classrooms a place to learn

for kids to go home and tell all they did

these mums

are surely angels

messengers of hope and love

and we are grateful

they are sent from above

great mums always are

angels who arrive

from near and far

Angels from Heaven.

My second Mother's Day poem for 2014 is a new poem that was commissioned by someone who appreciates the moms who help out at her school.  (Reprinted with permission by that patron).  Moms are surely angels and surely helpful to children everywhere--as this poem celebrates their unique contributions to school life. They are referred to in many places as 'room parents' but to some lucky kids they are always 'mom.' ~~TK

There is Mom --Poem for Mother's Day With Photo (Poem)

There is Mom

by Tim Kavi

so what is this?

across the translucent orb

endless universe so vast

that God in his designs

would seek to make perfect

for sure to last?

but the need for what was created

man or woman

to never be alone?

but the sacredness

of family

of love

and of home?

and in that home

stands a sacred one

sure and true

the fortress of Mom

which every kid

growing up, knew

is true blue

in all she said

and did

until around

every troubled bend

twisted by life's

troubles

and uncertain wind?

there is the love

of God

and the love of Mom

gently guiding

assisting in fate

but always loving

there is Mom

there is Mom.

(This is a reprint of a poem that has been on this blog before on Mother's Day.  It is a very special poem as it was written for my own mother in 2010, and I read it at her Memorial Service in 2010.  Moms are very special and I am very lucky to have had a great mom who was always very special and as a child and adult--took care of me in so many ways!~~TK) 

The Corpse of Hope (Poem)

The Corpse of Hope

by Tim Kavi

the old ones

took me up higher 

on the mountain

and they showed me 

a bag of remains

I said who is it?

they replied

the corpse of hope

I said: why do you show me this?

because it is long absent

from many hearts

in the world

missing from the ideas

and schemes of needy ones

trampled by the greedy ones

thrown away by the winds

of war and oppression

until it has about turned

to dust

bound up in an earthy bag

stirred up by a newcoming flag

and forgotten by many

in the highest places

they imagine they need not see it

and refuse to believe it

the new body of hope

those who cannot see 

those lower ones

I replied how can those 

lower see it

since it is up here?

easy, they replied me

hope has been hidden

by those in power

and repackaged as a lesser hope

one that is devoid of true power

some have called it

the promise of better times

or even the rights

to not be bothered

as long as you do not question

do not ask about

or wonder, 

where has the true hope gone?

then all will be all right

and the wise ones said

but it is for  greater

freedom, some have bled.

then the old ones

said to me, Can these bones live?

and I said only you know

bone to bone

flesh to flesh

the corpse of hope

lives again

becomes a great body

in the songs of protest

and the instruments of change

although those in power

do not freely give it

the body of hope

stirs in the masses that seem

below, hidden

to the asses that gleam

in the palaced abodes

above

until it shatters

the storied glass

windows and hallways

of oppression

while dancing in the streets

the newly empowered

people enjoy the hope

of a new tomorrow

while the others

long for the corpse of hope

and the familiar dusty bag

yet it is no longer found

in their possession.

for hope is a living breathed

out being

in the aftermath of which

there is no deceiving

for the corpse of hope

has been followed 

by the dialectical

birth of social justice.

Poet's Afterword:  On this day that many celebrate as

a day of resurrection, I long that hope too shall live. Another poem of protest.~~TK

Gaia--Not to Touch the Earth (new poem)

GAIA--Not to Touch the Earth (Poem)

by Tim Kavi

Gaia

speaking messages

not heard

there is quaking

terrible shaking

ridges of trembled history

continental drifts

of worries of collapsed kingdoms

underneath changing

geographies

of postpartum birthing

memories of the way things were

before flags were planted

before urban density

throwaways of modern and postmodern

plastics

filtered the purpose

of your message

but we still try

to touch you

to touch the Earth

to know your glory

to esteem and respect

to be moved by all

that you are.

we long to respect you

goddess

before it's too late.

Remembered Space (New Poem)

Remembered Space
by Tim Kavi

lush overgrowth
showing empowering design
such wisdom
yet some say 
it's always overrated

but love grows
to meet us in every 
esteemed face
across every landscape
of doom and grace

it is everywhere
every space
and in every place

reflecting rays of light
in my remembered windows
of dreamy night
where I am struck
by the moonlit beauty
echoed in her embrace

Her many stories
are told, traversed
again and again 

a resounding crescendo
in the universal page
she is written
in the paths
of the wind

touched
by every artist's
gardened, skillful
round shapes

My love is full of it;
I saw it in her 
gathered lace

And revealed ever
in the lit bed
of her remembered kiss

I am left wandering
the maze
of brilliant memories
across remembered space.