Friday, July 21, 2006

The Spaces We Try to Fill
By Don Iannone

Nothing there
...except what we write
...into the space inside us
...that grows the more we fill it.
Habitual humming thoughts.
One to the other and the other
...that doesn't really exist
...except as a space holder for another.
There is no other--
other than that which we create
...to keep us company.
Just elevator music
...keeping the mind occupied
...as it endlessly rises and falls
...again and again.
Even when you observe it
...it doesn't stop.
Instead it becomes just another object
...the observer observes.
Just consciousness--that's all.
Scary thought?
It's just a thought.
So who are you? Who am I?
Always that which comes before.
And that too is always changing.
Nothing permanent: not you or me.
Let go of whatever else you seek.
Rest in knowing you are already that.

Category: Metaphysical poetry about
how we experience our consciousness.

15 comments:

Kathleen said...

Amen...! yes... resting.. resting... and yet seeking arises... and then there is resting in that..! very interesting isn't it?

thanks Don! :)

Anonymous said...

Just elevator music
...keeping the mind occupied
...as it endlessly rises and falls
...again and again.


Don,it's a wonderful thought..

dumbdodi said...

Habitual humming thoughts.....I guess most of us have them without knowing or realising it and you still managed to describe such a complex thing in such simple clear way

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Kathleen, Dumbdodi, and Gangadhar. All great observations from the poem.

The mind (spirit or consciousness) is with us always, leads us, fills us with us-ness, and evaporates like smoke.

Complex, but also simple. I am.

Bob said...

Interesting point about the elevator.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Rob...thanks. Good morning. Up and down...

Pat Paulk said...

I try to cure those with MORE BEER! Kidding, good poem!!

Dan said...

Extremely excellent!

gautami tripathy said...

the title says it all...your poems make me think...

polona said...

well done - something to ponder...

Plus Ultra said...

Elevator Music...well, one more genre of music,beautiful fresh imagery, I go up and down with the elevating music that is inherent in your verses, and yes it is a poem of questioning,never be satisfied with what you have, go beyond yourself, Excellence personified, thats your poem in a nutshell! Maybe your poem will trigger one in me, watch for it, Don.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Kathy, Plus Ultra, Polona, Gautami, Jon, Pat, and Dan.

Pat first...more beer generally works as long as it's "Lone Star." LOL.

Plus Ultra...you always offer musical insights. You really hear the poems, which is neat.

To all, this is a light poem that you'd read to a 1st grade class as a guest poet. They would get it completely. That is the part about being nondual in life. Kids don't see the boundaries that "educated and experienced" adults see. Know what I mean?

CE said...

Great teaching!

Jim said...

The seed contained the 'life contexts', the life supplies the content, I think that is what you are saying, it works at all levels of life and experiences, that is what 'lifetimes' are, and there can be many in a seed.

I want to name it 'Growing to Fit' or 'Finding My Clothes'.

Very good. Thanks for the read Don.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Jim. Yes indeed many in a seed. And even none in a seed. This poem is all about the illusory side of life. It is also about the nondual nature of life. Not two, not three, only One. All is One in life. We create the many from the One, including all the distinctions, but there is just One and all of us are "that."

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