The Meaning of Eternity

January 3, 2017

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is epiphanies, in honor of the Christian holiday of Epiphany, which falls on January 6.

In Christianity, Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, celebrates the coming of the Magi to see the infant Christ in Bethlehem. But the word epiphany refers to any sudden insight or realization. This week’s poems will relate to epiphany in both of its meanings.

Today’s poem is about the meaning of eternity.

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

Yours,

Nick Gordon

THE MEANING OF ETERNITY

Most people think of eternity as a very, very, very, very, very long time.

Which, of course, it’s not.

Eternity, being outside of time, is neither short nor long.

It just is.

The isness of every instant.

The isness of every grain of sand.

Something that is eternal never changes.

For example, a truth.

For example, a mathematical equation.

For example, a moment that is over.

For example, a character in a play.

For example, a loved one who has died.

© by Nicholas Gordon

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

This week’s theme: Epiphanies

January 2: Every Child Might Redeem Your Soul

January 3: The Meaning of Eternity

Every Child Might Redeem Your Soul

January 2, 2017

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. The theme for this week is epiphanies, in honor of the Christian holiday of Epiphany, which falls on January 6.

In Christianity, Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, celebrates the coming of the Magi to see the infant Christ in Bethlehem. But the word epiphany refers to any sudden insight or realization. This week’s poems will relate to epiphany in both of its meanings.

Today’s poem is a poem about the epiphany that comes with every child.

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

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Every child might redeem your soul,

Put your sins to right, unclasp your heart,

Invade your fantasies and make them whole,

Prepare you to perform your destined part.

Here is your Bethlehem, where from afar,

Alight with faith and love you’ve made your way.

Nor would you be a king but for that star

You knew would lead to where your purpose lay.

© by Nicholas Gordon

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

This week’s theme: Epiphanies

January 2: Every Child Might Redeem Your Soul

How Beautiful the Turning of the Year

January 1, 2017

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem is a Happy New Year poem about the beauty of the moment when one year ends and another begins.

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

Yours,

Nick Gordon

How beautiful the turning of the year!

A moment artificial yet profound:

Point upon an arbitrary chart

Passing like a breath upon the heart,

Yearning with anticipation wound,

New hope new harbored in old-fashioned cheer.

Even when the boundary line is clear,

We recognize the oneness of the ground.

Years, like circles, do not end or start

Except we lay across their truth our art,

Adjusting dates as they go round and round

Revolving to a tune long sung and dear.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/howbea.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here’s a Happy Harbinger

December 27: Happiness Depends on More than Years

December 28: Hope Is Often Rented by the Year

December 29: Hours Mean No More or Less than Years

December 30: Millennia Are Fairly Common Things

December 31: New Years Are a Chance for a Beginning

January 1: How Beautiful the Turning of the Year

New Years Are a Chance for a Beginning

December 31, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem is a New Year’s poem about the need to dream.

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

Yours,

Nick Gordon

New years are a chance for a beginning

Even when there hasn't been an end.

Wheels turn in an interminable bend,

Yet, marked in one spot, seem to wobble spinning.

Each year we hope to do a little better

Although we know that really nothing's changed.

Reason often is from hope estranged,

So we must dream if we would fate unfetter.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/newye2.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here’s a Happy Harbinger

December 27: Happiness Depends on More than Years

December 28: Hope Is Often Rented by the Year

December 29: Hours Mean No More or Less than Years

December 30: Millennia Are Fairly Common Things

December 31: New Years Are a Chance for a Beginning

Millennia Are Fairly Common Things

December 30, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem was written for the turn of the millennium.

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

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Millennia are fairly common things:

In a billion years are quite a few.

Long or short, their roundness pleasure brings:

Life needs some pretext to start anew.

Each millennium's a fresh, blank page:

No future ever stretched so fair and far.

Now we wait upon the empty stage

In hopes we'll catch a glimpse of who we are.

Underneath is something vast and free:

Millennia are chains across a sea.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/millen.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here’s a Happy Harbinger

December 27: Happiness Depends on More than Years

December 28: Hope Is Often Rented by the Year

December 29: Hours Mean No More or Less than Years

December 30: Millennia Are Fairly Common Things

Hours Mean No More or Less than Years

December 29, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem is a Happy New Year poem about the purpose of artificially designating one moment as the beginning of the New Year.

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

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Hours mean no more or less than years.

A moment is a point with no dimension.

People count to undermine their fears,

Persuaded numbers lead to comprehension.

Yet time is an illusion of our motion,

No realer than the rising of the sun.

Each line we draw rests on a restless ocean,

Way, way beyond the scalable scope of one.

Years do not begin and never end

Except for purposes of calibration.

A need to share our yearnings, friend to friend,

Requires just one point of celebration.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/hours.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here’s a Happy Harbinger

December 27: Happiness Depends on More than Years

December 28: Hope Is Often Rented by the Year

December 29: Hours Mean No More or Less thanYears

Hope Is Often Rented by the Year

December 28, 2016

Dear Subscriber:

Each week we examine a theme from a variety of points of view. This week’s theme is New Year’s Day.

Today’s poem is a Happy New Year poem about one’s lease on hope being renewed each year.

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

Yours,

Nick Gordon

Hope is often rented by the year.

A ceremony helps ensure the signing.

People like transitions to be clear,

Preferably at moments when they're dining.

Yet as a rental flat can be a home,

No one wants to terminate this lease.

Each thinks hope too poor a risk to own

While needing its bright arc for inner peace.

Years therefore start with hope again renewed

Even as the old year's wishes die.

After all the books have been reviewed,

Ring in the New Year!--with a gentle sigh.

© by Nicholas Gordon

Hear or watch me recite this poem and listen to the music I chose for it at http://www.poemsforfree.com/hopeis.html. For more New Year’s poems, go to http://www.poemsforfree.com/newyearsdaypoems.html.

This week’s theme: New Year’s Day

December 26: Here’s a Happy Harbinger

December 27: Happiness Depends on More than Years

December 28: Hope Is Often Rented by the Year