Sunday, August 13, 2006

Love but Do Not Deny Evil
By Don Iannone

In our haste
to bring love
into the world,
we forget at times
evil has its day.
Amongst us walk
those with hearts darkened
by fear and hate.
They will see your love
as weakness
and your openness
as easy prey.
Continue to love
and open yourself to truth,
but also
surround yourself with protective light,
and decorate your altar
with gargoyles well-trained
in discerning those treading
for the wrong reason
on sacred ground.

19 comments:

serenity said...

Beauty in truth, Don. Again, your poetry speaks to me in volumes. Blessings to you, and thank you for being a source of that surrounding light.

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

Serenity...thank you...and so shall it be.

Bob said...

This fits in with what I was thinking about a couple of hours ago.

"She mistook me for an enemy and I mistook her for a friend" Robin Williamson (formerly of the Incredible String Band).

Thank you Don. It's encouraging to read your words.

starry said...

Just stopped to say Hello. You write such beautiful poems.

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

What a lesson!

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

Thanks Rob, Starry Nights, and Andrew. Glad the poem resonated with each of you. Have a wonderful weekend.

QUASAR9 said...

Words of wisdom!
Thanks for visit!
I'll keep in touch

QUASAR9 said...

PS - forgot to mention
interesting blog
Zen, poetry, beauty
Peace, no fear, no hate
I've taken the absence of these to describe love, since some
love to fear
love to hate

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

Thanks Quasar9. Like your PS thoughts.

serenity said...

Don:
I have re-read this poem again this morning, surrounding myself in the light of your place, and feeling the glorious beauty of the new day. Your words are a light of inspiration. Thank for your service to them.

Prasanna Parameswaran said...

Very nice post! True love however will not let yourself get cheated! When you showever the real love from your heart, there is very less chance that people would cheat you!

Your poems are nice!

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

Thanks Serenity. Glad it speaks to you.

Thanks Dan. Have a great weekend.

Thanks Indianangel...That is true about true love from the heart.

Kathleen said...

mmmm... they come to drink... not knowing that that is why they came... but come they must... and love them we must... for they, are us...

polona said...

a timely reminder, and wrapped in a good poem, too.

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

Thanks Kathleen and Polona. Yes, they are us, Kathleen. Indeed. And yes Polona, a reminder...first to myself.

The Lost Crow said...

haste is terrible

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

Lost Crow...thanks. Yes, haste can lead to problems. Haste, like all other imperfections, is a function of not knowing our true nature.

dumbdodi said...

"They will see your love
as weakness
and your openness
as easy prey" - That happens to me often.
Its intersting when you speak of gargoyles to ward off evil spirits. I wonder if our friends or our well wishers could play that part and be our gargoyles

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

Dumbdodi...thanks. Yes, our friends indeed can be our gargoyles. Very powerful reminders. Each of us is a sacred place and as such we can become vulnerable to those seeking prey. Openness is best for us, but when we are open we risk vulnerability. Most threats to us are those we create ourselves. Failure to trust ourselves for one.

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