Can you measure
a bird of flight
by the weight
of a single feather?
Can you look
into the face of a child
and not see
the deepest treasure?
Yellow, black,
brown, or white …
love divine
is at the heart
of the matter
Where hatred
is a raging river
there’s a purpose
for the yet to be
hero of great valour
who sees beyond
the muddied surface
More precious
than gold or silver
that wide eyed innocence
The loving potential
of the truly essential
… Imaginessence
At times
we all get it wrong
In the weakness of the body
we can still be spirit strong
The mountain ahead
and the power to leap it
Man, you know
who you are
and to whom you belong
You have the birthright
to claim and proclaim it
Finding everlasting joy
in the presence
The attaining
of true happiness
In essence
we are all made
deep at the core
from and for
that celestial sublime
… Imaginessence
The very best
version of oneself
always hidden
under the mask
Slow and steady
with wisdom
from within
the living heart
of holy mindfulness
Upon tasks anointed
and appointed
with steadfast allegiance
Deeds that echo
with consequence
Compassion
beyond the callous
Loving mercy
Doing justice
Peaceful resistance
with a rock solid defence
against the corruption
of this current darkness
Make no mistake
The stakes are high
the tide is risings
and the times
are getting serious
But just a smile
of amazing graciousness
can be all that it takes
That glowing radiance
magnifying significance
flowing with
… Imaginessence
The doing
of hard time
It don’t come easy
Life is no soft serve
nor a sugary drink
all bubbly and fizzy
Yet dream big, baby
under the heavens
To funnel the flood
down tunnel visions
In the deepest valley
I can still hear laughter
from where the water
of life is flowing
through the house
of the living
For across the road
a fire is burning
Knowledge swelling
with voices many
“If you cannot
bring good news,
then don’t bring any!”
Cease and desist
the bleating
of religulous repetition
The loving word
better heard in a smile,
a tear, a kiss, a caress
An exhibition
of true forgiveness
The real deal
in Christ Jesus
driving away fear
All bold and courageous
without pretence
within that divine gift
of wide eyed innocence
As the eagle
gathers height
upon thermal currents
of pure delight
with true love in focus
… Imaginessence
Words & Image:
~ by David B. Redpath ยฉ 2018-2020
A chant to our divine gift of imagination. The romantic poets like Wordsworth, Collerige et al would love this. Love your word creation “Imaginessence”. Deeply philosophial, existentialist and beautifully expressed as always. The whole poem has a special flow of its own, like the waves of the ocean and the soft wind that gently fill your soul. The first opening lines ending in a question with the images of the bird and the child are already very powerful. Your poem is like a river with some places to linger and then it falls again torrentially in waterfalls. Love this:
“The water of life
flowing
through the house
of the living”
It reminds me of ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus where life is a constant flow. We never bathe in the same river while thousands of rivers slip through our skins. I believe such is also the power of “Imaginessence”.
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Thank very much, Marta.
So glad you connected with
this one. Don’t know about
Wordsworth, but a favoured
Talking Heads song of mine;
‘Take me to the river,
drop me in the water
Take me to the river,
dip me in the water
Washing me down,
washing me down’.
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beautiful sentiment David. Great poem.
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Thanks for that, Dennis.
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Beautifully expressed ๐
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Thank you very much, Mahee.
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๐๐ท
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I love this David! It is epic and takes flight, has wings. It is resilience and possibility and what’s real. So good!!!!
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Thank you very much Susan,
for your kind and gracious words.
Poetry is the expression …
the flowing of what has been
seeded and nurtured within.
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You are a writer who speaks to the heart!!!!
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Thank you, Susan.
The Word inspires.
I try my best.
That’s all one can do.
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You are very optimistic and tender today, my friend! I like your imaginessence!
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In the silence of the hour
pouring from the mooring
I can feel the power …
light from a towering Basilica.
Efcharistรณ, Basilike.
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HErome na se diavAzo, David!
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Your poetry has been well seeded and nurtured. You have a style I envy.
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Thank you very much, Walt.
“Looking through my window”,
like Bob Dylan watching
the river flow, I see
the wisdom in your writing. Like Eric, the Clapton says,
“Love is lovely … let it grow”.
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I love the way you interject musical themes into your comments ๐
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If music be the food of life,
I like to be well fed, Walt.
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As an old rock drummer, keyboardist and songwriter, i understand. โบ
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Respect๐๐ผโซ
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๐ต๐ถ๐ผ๐น
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Most wonderful poem. Early in morning here . Thank you
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Thanks, early Jay.
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๐
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The rhetorical question:
Can you measure
a bird of flight
by the weight
of a single feather ?
kept me reading your poem to see how you would develop your deep thoughts. A great write!
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Thank you very much, Newrana.
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Words have so much power especially when there is a human face behind them!!!!
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Yes indeed, Efi.
Words can break the soul,
or console and make whole.
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Oh David. This is amazing. You are SO clever with poetry. I could read you for ever. I just adore your work. I read it and think one thought, but then there are a thousna more thoughts that come to me with each phrase that you write. You are my poet of all time. Thankyou SO much for your words
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Thank you very much,
BeeZeeGee.
I don’t what to say,
for words I am lost.
It may take a while
for me to recover,
and blog my next post.
And BeeZeeGee,
It will all be your fault.
Seriously, thank you for
the complimentary comment.
I have my source of
eternal inspiration, and
I’m not about to let go.
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Wiw! Lol. And I LOVE being calked BeeZeeGee. Ha!
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This has a lyrical quality and flows with its own force. Love the title too, David.
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Thanks Punam.
I tend to be inspired when
listening to music ๐ถ …
so I suppose I’m usually
squeezing words into a song.
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Best version of self, there, below surface! Love this poem and the theme!
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Thank you very much, Luiza.
‘… to thy own self be true’
was Shakespeare’s way to say
‘expose the self’… I guess.
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Ha. thanks! A David and Shakespeare collab, sort of!
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He’s the bard …
but I’ve got the barb.
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I’ve saved this comment!
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Reblogged this on From 1 Blogger 2 Another.
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This is a magnificent poem, David.
You’re one of the best poets I know.
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Thank you very much.
I’m humbled, Christopher.
Especially knowing how
extensively read you are.
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David, you are a gifted wordsmith.
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Thank very much,
fellow traveller.
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Beautiful! โค
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Thank you, Anna.
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What a beautiful treat to arrive here and experience Imaginessence. I knew I was in great company when spying the Talking Heads reference. I have a deep appreciation for the lyrical expression, especially when put to music. Reading the comments and your subsequent replies says so much.
Thank you for sharing David and for taking the time to follow my Expressions. I look forward to spending time lost in your words and sharing so many more of my own. ๐งก
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We stand on the shoulders
of lyrical poetic giants.
Some of whom fought for
the freedom of expression
we now revel in.
Much of my inspiration comes whilst listening to
the music ๐ถ of the truth
seeking/freedom generation.
Thanks C.M.C. for sharing.
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loved this …take a bow dear poet… so well done…
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Thank you very much, Geetika.
Very glad you liked it.
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most welcome…it was a pleasure to read, learn and be inspired…
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Lovely work and a pleasure to read, David. Wishing you a lovely day.
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You too, MG. Thank you very much.
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Really beautiful!!!
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Molte grazie, Luisa ๐
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Beautiful — however many times I read it, David. “And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6: 8). โค
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Not much to ask for
from the One who
created the whole universe
… and more โญ๐ชโ๏ธ๐
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David… your poetry and image just brought me happy tears and head-tingles. It’s rare that happens for me when reading online these days. Thank you for sharing. So very beautiful. A powerful and important message I completely agree with.
“Cease and desist
the bleating
of religious repetition
The loving word
better heard in a smile,
a tear, a kiss, a caress
An exhibition
of true forgiveness”
Wow. So perfectly put. Bravo. ๐
The statue and the artwork you made from it is also amazing. ๐ธ๐ ๐งก๐จ
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Thanking you endearingly, Lia ๐
I greatly appreciate your response ๐
During this current lock down
my heart seems to be wandering
the highlands of Scotland ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ
I found that statue of a mother
with her child at the Kelvingrove
Art Gallery in Glasgow. There was
no religious iconography attached.
Just an expression of pure emotion.
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How wonderful!! thanks for sharing further notes of your travels, lovely to read ๐๐
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a terrific poem, David; a glorious hymn to compassion, love and the holistic embrace —one our leaders should heed
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Thank you very much, John.
Yes, the world could do with a
big dose of love & compassion,
with a Covid safe embrace ๐ท ๐ถ๏ธ
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Amazing. Poetic And beautiful
X ๐๐๐
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Thanking you fast and furiously,
Fiery. Your good opinion is my
treasured opium ๐ ๐๐๐
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Treasured opium.๐ฅฐ
Love that
๐๐๐๐๐
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Beautiful, David!!! ๐
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Merci beaucoup,
mon cherie Katy ๐
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Mon plaisir! ๐
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Some future Thesaurus will be very enhanced with your creative vocabulary, David. I think it’s so cool to formulate and embellish our words– especially, through the verse we create in poetry. Always enjoy reading your stuff.
Art
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Thanking you unsuperfluously ๐
Shakespeare added some 1,700
words to the English language, so
I’ve still a long way to go, Art ๐
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Love you works so vibrant and bouyant would you consider submitting some works to my site Myfanwy and friends free to submit works wanting time illustrate that our writing styles are as unique as we each are They would then be showcased on site and twitter too email: myfanwy80@yahoo.com
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I imagine a mother teaching her child about life, from the cradle to the eventual leaving home for the big world beyond. Yet, she continues to care and love over a lifetime. David, this poem was a joy to read.
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Thank you immeasurably, Buckeye.
Truly, the hand that rocks the cradle
should rule the World ๐ Rather
than the geriatrically unstable ๐ค
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Very well written…. The very best
version of oneself
always hidden
under the mask…. loved this
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Very pleasing to hear.
Thank you, Ankush ๐
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Love your words so much!!! Best thing is I get to keep going back and reading more and more of your poems!!
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Thank you greatly for the positive
vibrations. I’m still endeavouring
to pen my subversive opus that will
crack open the final curtain ๐
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