Righteousness Remains the Rock of Faith

June 10, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is faith, in honor of Ramadan, which begins on June 7.

Today’s poem is a Ramadan poem about how good works sustain faith.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Righteousness remains the rock of faith,

As what one does sustains what one believes.

Mere hypocrites might pray, the Prophet saith;

Actions must be words the heart conceives.

Do, then, what acts and rituals are due,

As faith becomes a flame that feeds on you,

No less than as a fire consumes dry leaves.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/righte.html. For more Ramadan poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/ramadanpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Faith.

June 6: Rapture Comes Most Easily Within

June 7: Ramadan Reminds Us that the World

June 8: Reason Is No Cause for Revelation

June 9: Read the Holy Book as Though Asleep

June 10: Righteousness Remains the Rock of Faith

Read the Holy Book as Though Asleep

June 9, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is faith, in honor of Ramadan, which begins on June 7.

Today’s poem is a Ramadan poem about reading the Holy Book not just for its wisdom but also for its beauty.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Read the Holy Book as though asleep,

And in a dream awaken to its beauty,

Making it the music of your moment

And weaving it like gold throughout your day.

Do not journey through it just to reap,

Avid for the kernels of your duty,

Neglecting the thick flowers in your way.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/readth.html. For more Ramadan poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/ramadanpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Faith.

June 6: Rapture Comes Most Easily Within

June 7: Ramadan Reminds Us that the World

June 8: Reason Is No Cause for Revelation

June 9: Read the Holy Book as Though Asleep

Reason Is No Cause for Revelation

June 8, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is faith, in honor of Ramadan, which begins on June 7.

Today’s poem is a Ramadan poem about faith and reason.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Reason is no cause for revelation.

A moment comes and goes; a word endures.

More than sense must underlie sensation.

A holy mind and heart such faith secures.

Depend, then, on your fasting to awaken

A love of Allah easily forsaken.

Nor is there mooring where one’s reason moors.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/reason.html. For more Ramadan poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/ramadanpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Faith.

June 6: Rapture Comes Most Easily Within

June 7: Ramadan Reminds Us that the World

June 8: Reason Is No Cause for Revelation

Ramadan Reminds Us that the World

June 7, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is faith, in honor of Ramadan, which begins on June 7.

Today’s poem is about the role of Ramadan in reminding us of the primacy of eternal life.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Ramadan reminds us that the world

Around us is a temporary place

Made for an equivocal embrace

As we ride this rock through vastness hurled.

Dance upon the Earth with joy and laughter

As long as you remember what comes after.

Nor will you find your home in time and space.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/ramad2.html. For more Ramadan poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/ramadanpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Faith.

June 6: Rapture Comes Most Easily Within

June 7: Ramadan Reminds Us that the World

Rapture Comes Most Easily Within

June 6, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is faith, in honor of Ramadan, which begins on June 7.

Today’s poem is a Ramadan poem about the relationship between discipline and rapture.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Rapture comes most easily within

A discipline that divvies up the day,

Making time for timelessness, and space,

A rolled-up rectangle holy anyplace,

Dear temple of delight where one might pray,

Assigned some sweet-tongued verses to begin

Now hallowing this hollow cask of clay.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/raptur.html. For more Ramadan poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/ramadanpoems.html .

This week’s theme: Faith.

June 6: Rapture Comes Most Easily Within

Make My Sorrow Pride

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Memorial Day, which falls on May 30.

Today’s poem is a Memorial Day poem about the pain of grief.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Make my sorrow pride.

Enter me with light.

Mourning turns to morning,

Or so I would believe.

Reach me with your tide.

Inundate this blight.

Awaken me with longing,

Lest I live to grieve.

Deaf, dumb, blind inside,

All I am is night,

Yet too frail to leave.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/makem2.html. For more Memorial Day poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/memorialdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Memorial Day.

May 30: Maybe in the Grip of Pain

May 31: Make of Me Whatever You Desire

June 1: Memories Respond to Invitations

June 2: Memory’s an Antidote for Death

June 3: There Is in Grief a Saving Grace

June 4: Maybe There Is More to Life Than Living

June 5: Make My Sorrow Pride

Maybe There Is More to Life than Living

June 4, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is Memorial Day, which falls on May 30.

Today’s poem is a Memorial Day poem about how life is a gift that is sometimes worth giving.

I welcome comments on my poems at http://nicholasgordon.blogspot.com.

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Maybe there is more to life than living.

Existence has more meaning as a means.

Maybe life's a gift that's well worth giving

Once the sacrifice distills the dreams.

Remember, then, the heroes we have squandered

In ignorance and fear and lust and greed.

All sacrifice ought equally be honored

Lest we confuse the courage with the need.

Destiny decrees the undreamed end

As some die for the dreams they would defend,

Yet yearning for what lies beyond the deed.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/maybe3.html. For more Memorial Day poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/memorialdaypoems.html .

This week’s theme: Memorial Day.

May 30: Maybe in the Grip of Pain

May 31: Make of Me Whatever You Desire

June 1: Memories Respond to Invitations

June 2: Memory’s an Antidote for Death

June 3: There Is in Grief a Saving Grace

June 4: Maybe There Is More to Life Than Living