A Poetic Warning

In a former life

Of chaos and disorder

Through a cosmic haze

Of bloodshed and strife

I well remember

A pilgrimage metaphysical

Seeking wisdom ancient

And knowledge mystical

From a secret agent

By the mythical code name

Brainwave Alpha

“First you need learn how to fly,
if indeed, you wish to kiss the sky.”

With a flash of white light

And the clap of thunder

Upon a path often taken

Riding the crest 🏄

Of a wave breaking 🌊

Over the breast of creation

I was lifted asunder

To the lofty heights

Of some outer realm

Had this mortal drifter

Lost in a dream

Found the portal

To a higher dimension

Of perpetual bliss?

Could this utopia

Possibly be heaven?

Was I being anointed

Amongst the appointed

Celebrants of Nirvana

Marching in joyous procession

Around Myriad Mountain 🏔️❓

(Like a revelation 👁️💡 👁️
it dawned on me much later
that amongst the plethora
one face was clearly missing.)

But just then

Like some beatnik

Bohemian prophet

Complete with harmonica

(secured around his neck
with a bent coat hanger)

And electric guitar 🎸

Bob Dylan came along

Singing this song

Like the gentlest

Tap on the shoulder

A poetic warning

That cut like a knife

Through an intense cloud

Of esoteric incense

And the hypnotic chanting

Of fallacious nonsense . . .

🎶 With a time rusted compass blade

Aladdin and his lamp

Sits with Utopian hermit monks

Side saddle on the Golden Calf

And on their promises of paradise

You will not hear a laugh

All except inside the Gates of Eden 🎶

Artwork:
‘Beyond the Horizon’
~ by David B. Redpath © 2018

Quoted Lyrics ~
From ‘Gates of Eden’ by Bob Dylan

“Watch out for people who try to dazzle
you with big words and intellectual
double-talk. They want to drag you off into
endless arguments that never amount to
anything. They spread their ideas through
the empty traditions of human beings and
the empty superstitions of spirit beings.
But that’s not the way of Christ. Everything
of God gets expressed in him, so you can see
and hear him clearly. You don’t need a
telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope
to realize the fullness of Christ, and the
emptiness of the universe without him.
When you come to him, that fullness comes
together, for you too. His power extends
over everything.”

~ The Evangelical formerly known as Saul

https://youtu.be/ygEJqEVQkZE

16 thoughts on “A Poetic Warning”

  3. Despite living way down under,
    thanks to Dylan’s ‘Endless Tour’,
    I’ve had the priveledge
    of attending several performances.
    Once with Tom Petty and
    the Heartbreaker.
    Alas, it breaks my heart to confess
    … of that concert,
    I don’t much remember.

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  4. David, your blog, words, soul are amazing! I love how you see and write truth to the world! How lucky you are to have seen Tom Petty and the heartbreakers! Lost a good one there for sure! I love all of your beautiful photos of the people who live in India. Beautiful truth in those faces. Fantastic all that you live, love, and have seen! Thank you for stopping by to read my nonsense. I don’t have many readers, but maybe Something I write may touch the heart of just one person, young or old, or in between that just might save a soul? We may never know, any of us who write whose life we may touch in a positive way? Just one line! Thank you again for sharing your time upon the pages of my blog! Hold your loved ones tightly, and may you live in an abundance of love!

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    1. Thank you very much for the kind thoughts.
      I find your words very encouraging 🙏
      I do enjoy reading your profound poetry,
      and have been moved to comment, but alas.
      And yes, by grace, love is the one thing
      in plentiful supply in my life … along with
      a plentiful supply a children 😎

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      Reply

      1. Plenty supply of children! How wonderful!😀 Thank you for a most surprising compliment on the subject of my writing! David, I closed the comment box because there really weren’t any. But. I would love a comment from you when you have time on a letter I wrote to a poet friend who wrote me a beautiful open letter for me when I was leaving a previous poetry site. I’m only online for a few minutes today. The letter is titled ‘Mighty Warers I’ll repost it. This is truly not the correct way to correspond, there seemed to be no email access.🙂 I have great respect for your work. Please know that my writing is True! I’m aware of the (imagination jokes dead smack in my face) we all have a personal style of writing, mine is my heart. And I am right there in every word! I’ve been through enough, and have fought for my peaceful life. I find it very sad that so many people want fame (even God’s warriors) that they write negativity about fellow writers. Truth is…at the end of the day there are only a handful of truly memorable writers?
        Happy endings…Hope! ✌️

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      2. I’ll be sure to to plug in and check it out💝
        Talking of truly memorable writers, a small
        sample of the monumental, for your Monday
        … It’s Alright Ma (I’m only bleeding);

        Pointed threats,
        they bluff with scorn
        Suicide remarks are torn
        From the fool’s gold mouthpiece
        The hollow horn plays wasted words
        Proves to warn
        that he not busy being born
        Is busy dying . . .

        Disillusioned words like bullets bark
        As human gods aim for their mark
        Made everything from toy guns
        that spark
        To flesh-colored Christs
        that glow in the dark
        It’s easy to see without looking too far
        That not much is really sacred
        While preachers preach of evil fates
        Teachers teach that knowledge waits
        Can lead to hundred-dollar plates
        Goodness hides behind its gates
        But even the president
        of the United States
        Sometimes must have to stand naked

        An’ though the rules of the road
        have been lodged
        It’s only people’s games
        that you got to dodge
        And it’s alright, Ma, I can make it
        ~ Bob Dylan

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      3. Yes!! Thank you for reminding me of the previous real people ‘who get it”! I’m sitting quietly with a friend who has lukemia, she’s sleeping soundly. And I’m writing a poem title ‘Walk On Water” . Thank you ever so much! Now ‘shoe’ off and raise the dead in everyone!! 😀 Bless your 💓 and to your beautiful Linda! (if I may add?)

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      4. Looking forward to reading it.
        Linda is very trebley blessed 😎
        And as a direct consequence
        so am I, whilst in her orbit.
        Thanks for the thought 🙏
        I hope your friend finds
        peace and restoring rest ✌️

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      7. There’s no fool like an old fool.
        So Monday sounds like a good day
        to celebrate that April fact . . .✔️
        so thanks for reminding me of that 🙏

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