A Poetic Warning (Revisited)

In a former life

One 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 among 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 much ludicrous

And 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:
‘The Road Often Taken’
~ by David B. Redpath © 2018 – 2024

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 Evangelist formerly known as Saul

55 thoughts on “A Poetic Warning (Revisited)”

  2. David, this may sound weird here, but I was prepping to co-lead a discussion on Hebrews 12: 14-29 tomorrow. With its “warning” message, it just felt so weighted to me, leaving me with the feeling that I’ll never get it right. I had to realize once again it’s not about me. But the “make sures” and “see to its” in the verses there, triggered my ol’ “performance proves my worthiness” persona I’ve been in recovery from for years. I know it’s all about Law vs Grace so I had to go back and reread until I felt Jesus’s arms. Like your words here. Thank you.

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    1. Thanks for that lovin’ spoonful
      of simpatico, Karima 💝
      Why must nostalgia always be viewed
      through a rearview mirror? 🤔🕶️
      I feel so sorry for a generation left
      with nothing but K-pop after the fall
      of western civilization 😎

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    1. Thank goodness that someone from
      the booming generation was keeping
      a lookout for New Age bull . . . t 👁️🚫👁️
      I thought it would be nice to thank Bob
      for doing it ☑️😎 Especially after the
      Beatles got high and were carried away to
      India by their guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

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  9. Pingback: “A Poetic Warning (Revisited)”/David Redpath | By the Mighty Mumford

    1. Thank you.muchly, Shelley 🙏😎

      “Every act of creation is first an act
      of destruction.” ~ Pablo Picasso

      Visions of beauty to transform.
      Inspiration that can break through
      the gloom of a chaotic world out
      of order. Perhaps even a shelter
      from the storm, that gives a divine
      glimpse of a reality much higher.

      “Art washes away the dust of
      everyday life.” ~ Pablo Picasso

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  11. A critical warning, David. There are all too many false prophets and false messiahs who will doom their followers. May we take heed while there is still time.
    I realize that Australia does not have an “official” Thanksgiving Day. But I wish you all God’s best.

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    1. Merci beaucoup, Anna 🙏
      I do give thanks every day,
      despite missing my flight 🛸
      to Heaven’s Gate 🥲🕶️
      I’ll just have to wait for the next
      fly by of that Hale-Bopp comet,
      sometime around the year 4385.
      (In Australia we have a culture
      of turning tragedy into comedy
      . . . much like America 😎)

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  16. Wonderful poem David, I review poetry past and present on my own page.
    I hope you don’t mind, but I did that for this poem. I’ve shared the link below. If you have any issues, I’ll immediately take it down.
    Congrats, on your success to date, and I’m looking forward to seeing more great work from you.
    You may find the link to the review here.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. Pingback: A Poetic Warning (Revisited) – Bloggranger247

    1. Good old common sense is best
      with a touch of gracious elegance.
      Otherwise many wouldn’t listen, as
      common sense isn’t that common.
      Being a wordsmith extraordinaire,
      of course, you already know this, Chris.
      I hate to say it, but Uncle Ernie is off
      with the fairies 🧚 but that seems to
      be his natural state, apparently 🤔🕶️

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      2. Interesting that you should mention
        that Shakespearean masterpiece, Chris.
        Uncle Ernie’s latest autobiography is
        titled, ‘Just Call me Titania ~ the story
        of an Australian Fairy Queen 🧟’.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Uncle Ernie does enjoy a bit of mischief.
        He thinks that Puck replacing Nick
        Bottom’s head with that of an ass was
        hilarious. In fact, in his stage show,
        ‘Cumalita Does Shakespeare’, he does
        a reinterpretation of that scene, Uncle
        Ernie style … I’ll say no more.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s very much appreciated, Charlie 🙏
      As time goes by I find myself increasingly
      grateful for the opportunity to delve the
      deeper mystery of the word ‘spiritual’.
      Haven’t got to the bottom of it yet, as the
      further one goes the higher one gets 🤔🕶️

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    1. Keep on fully activated, Resa.
      In a world of injustice, only the active
      can ever hope to see justice. We owe
      much to the political/social activists
      of the past. Yet today, justice for all
      seems as far away as ever.
      Personally, I believe in a radical Jesus,
      who stood up to the corrupt political
      and religious leaders of his time.
      A true spiritual revolutionary.

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