Archive | June 2015

What can I say?

Jun28

What can I say?

What can I write about the one who has sacrificed
His freedom for love?
What can I say about the one who can still laugh
Despite these trials?
What can I say about the one whose patience
Is being tested by love?

It seems like we are sometimes punished for love
“the watchman is running after us”
and all seems lost

But if we see the end in the beginning
We will see the light that emanates from this sacrifice
A light so bright
That it illumines the path for the rest of us

Deeds not words are needed today
His deeds an example for all of us
Kindness like honey drips from his every word
The scent of humility wafts gently toward us

What can I say about the one who has sacrificed
His freedom for love?
You inspire us and you make us proud!
Your friendship rejuvenates us and
We honor you for your sacrifice!

Lida Berghuis
June 27th, 2015

For Afif Naimi

For now…

Jun23

For now…

So, it’s not what I wanted
Nothing I planned
The situation plumps itself down on me
and I feel its heavy burden

Where did it come from?
Another surprise on the road of life?
Was it in my blind spot?
Why didn’t someone warn me?
I guess then it wouldn’t be a surprise!

Now it’s here
I feel the unease
Actually I don’t feel good at all
I was going merrily on the road of life
And now this…

I’m told I’m supposed to accept what comes my way
That resistance is futile
But how does one accept unpleasant things
The situation reminds me of one of the valleys of love:

“On this plane, the traveler meeteth with many a trial and reverse.
Now is he lifted up to heaven, now is he cast into the depths.
As it hath been said: “Now Thou drawest me to the summit of glory,
Again Thou castest me into the lowest abyss.”*

What is the traveller to do?
I can see that the opposite of acceptance is not helpful
Won’t change things
It only creates bad feelings

So first I have to accept it’s OK not to be in my comfort zone for now…
It’s OK to be frustrated … for now
It’s OK to not have it easy… for now
It’s OK! For now!

And in the meantime
I’ll look for solutions
I will try to get around the obstacles of life
And find an alternative route

The process is not pleasant, I admit
But accepting things the way they are now
And remaining thankful for all that is going right, is key!

Lida Berghuis
June 22nd, 2015

*Baha’u’llah, The Four Valleys

Miss Emily

Jun19

Miss Emily,
You chose your own society
Perhaps your soul, so fragile
Needed to be protected from
people who may hurt you unintentionally

Miss Emily,
You wrote about immortality
A subject close to my heart!
In this world of ours
Joy and sorrow coexist
Joy does not last very long
The world of spirit is a more sane one

Solitude was your choice
Your freedom
The birth place of your poems and ideas

Mysterious Miss Emily
You kept everyone guessing
Why this seclusion, they thought…

But if this seclusion made you happy
And was the crucible of your poems
Who are we to question it now…

Miss Maya

Jun17

Miss Maya, I heard your voice today
Reciting your poems elegantly

Miss Maya, you have left us now
You’re in a peaceful place

Miss Maya, Let us know how things are
What really matters in this world of ours
Is wealth and success what brings us tranquility
Or is it a gentle and pure heart?

Is status and prestige what stands us in good stead
Or it is service to our fellow man?

Are the trials of life without purpose
Or are they an essential part of life?

Miss Maya, now you know the workings
Of this world better than us
Give us your wisdom
Send us your blessings
Cheer our heart

June 17th, 2015

Connected world

Jun14

What an amazing world we live in
We are connected through ether*
We travel on the wings of love
Distances disappear magically
It’s like we are sitting side by side

No need to be in the same physical space
To communicate now
Hearts can connect though miles apart

It’s a blessed time we live in
The world has shrunk
It has become one country
We are brothers and sisters all

June 14th, 2015

It was thought that electromagnetic waves travelled
through a substance yet unknown, but called ether!

The colour of sincerity

Jun12

What is the colour of sincerity?
It’s no colour at all
It’s transparent
Because this is no barrier between the sincere
person and others, none!

To be sincere is to be one’s authentic self
Nothing to hide
Perfections and imperfections clear for all to see

Because after all aren’t we all the sum
of our perfections and imperfections?
We all struggle to live our best lives
Love our fellow man
And contribute to the world

And if my sincerity inspired you dear friend,
I am humbled and thankful!

Wings of joy

Jun12

My soul is in another world
It has flown away on the wings of joy
How do I go on with daily tasks
With my head in the clouds?

Don’t want to come down from this blessed place
To which I have been transported by love
My soul is in another world
It has flown away on the wings of joy

A window to my past

Jun7

A window has been opened to my past,
Unexpectedly…
But don’t many things in life happen unexpectedly?

I’m now in touch with friends from high-school
Some still in Iran
Others living all over the world

We are all 35 years older now
But we share a special bond
Because of the year we spent together
In grade nine

Students from across Iran
Gathered in the Dabirestane Daneshgah
In the city of poetry and love, Shiraz

They’re now once again scattered across Iran
And across the world
In Australia, Canada and Denmark…

Messages are sent back and forth
Pictures and poetry is shared
Friendships forged years ago
Are still alive and well!

But there is one thing that casts a shadow over this joy
And that’s the lack of freedom of Afif,
One of our dear friends….
Nevertheless this sadness is mixed with thankfulness
Because at least we have contact with him

The love and friendship I feel from everyone warms my heart
The love we all have for dear Afif is evident and clear
This connection after so many years… is unreal!