-- F.A. Villari
I used to write poetry back in the late 1970s. I abandoned the habit after accumulating a "book" of it, which I believed, at the time, was much too personally insightful. Needless to say, one morning I "accidentally Ollie North'd" the collection. I shredded it, along with the past week's classified intelligence message traffic. I've often wondered if there was a subconscious intent, those many years ago, possibly due to my personal life being in the toilet.
I have tried to start writing poetry again, but that particular muse is a shadowy phantom loath to manifest itself more so, it would seem, the older I get. I am equally loathed to allow anyone the opportunity to breach the protective walls of my redoubt. Not very often, however, my heart or mind will overcome my lack of material, or another "special" individual will spark the tinder of my creative furnace.
This verse is much more telling of my mental state, having discovered, with age, that life presents so much elephant feces I really don't need to waste energy on, not the least of which are those comments that spew forth from the pie holes of those countless members of the League of the Perpetually Offended. What is my attitude about this apparent "waste of humanity" that tries to insinuate itself into my life? I simply try not to care about their "perpetual petty selfishness" and humbly ask them to get off my path, so I might continue enjoying the same peace I wish for them.
Poetry is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language—such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre — to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, the prosaic ostensible meaning.
Poetry uses forms and conventions to suggest differential interpretation to words, or to evoke emotive responses. Devices such as assonance, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and rhythm are sometimes used to achieve musical or incantatory effects. The use of ambiguity, symbolism, irony, and other stylistic elements of poetic diction often leaves a poem open to multiple interpretations. Similarly, figures of speech such as metaphor, simile, and metonymy create a resonance between otherwise disparate images—a layering of meanings, forming connections previously not perceived. Kindred forms of resonance may exist, between individual verses, in their patterns of rhyme or rhythm.-- Wikipedia, "Poetry"
Those of us, who received a "quality" education, will remember this verse. But, can anyone remember the rest of it? It isn't all that long, as poems go. And yet, the entirety escapes many of us. In this way, I think, poetry truly reflects our lives as we travel our path. We remember the interesting meat of it, but the fluff seems to fall by the wayside. When it comes to remembering people, however, we seem to be even less discerning, a trait I recognize and, yet, also fall prey to.
The truth is, anyone we meet can be a friend along our path, as long as we are willing to treat them as we would want to be treated. With enough tolerance, love, and understanding, even the jackass among us, like myself, can be seen as a worthy friend, and might even find a gentler path for them, due to our ministries. But, many of whom we meet, are destined for the fluff pile because we just don't seem to have the time, or won't make time, to allow them a chance to become a cherished memory, a permanent part of our memory, our life, and our journey. Even those we are aware that we should probably take time to know better, are simply passed up, like vegetables at a buffet, in favor of the all-you-can-eat crab, shrimp, or London broil.
I think I'll go out and make a conscious effort to meet someone new, possibly at an inexpensive buffet. With any luck, they might shake up my inner poetic self. But, the real gift, as often overlooked, will be the memory of meeting them, like so many others along my journey.
The challenge for each of us is to make time for our fellows. It takes such little effort to try it. Make the effort, for yourself, and for others. As a matter of fact, try making an effort daily to make a new acquaintance. Whether they become a friend or not, your life and theirs will be all the richer for having known each other and for having made the effort.
“If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.”-- Zig Ziglar
Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.
Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.
Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com