Expressing Yourself

Each of us has a special gift within us that is "our way" of releasing our emotions.  Whether others feel the same as us about it or not, there is always something that helps us connect with our inner thoughts...something that helps us understand who we are.  And there is a two-way flow.  You have something you take in to yourself to enliven your senses and emotions, and then there's something that reaches its way out of you to show you who you are.

For me (as I believe it is with a great many of you), what I take in is music.  All kinds of music really speak to me.  But there is definitely one artist that seems to just click.  When "Owl City" comes on, my senses of sight literally become more vivid.  I think faster, I react smarter, I smile wider, and I just can't help but dance...which has caused a series of bruises, actually...the shower is a slippery place to lose yourself in the music.

What comes out of me is poetry.  When I really want to express myself or tap into my misunderstood emotions, I write a poem.  Sunday in particular seems to really draw my poetic side out of me.  So, I thought I would share a few of my poems with you.

My first of the three poems I want to share with you is more of a story (and, admittedly, my favorite, so perhaps I should have saved it for last).  I don't think most people think enough about what exactly happened during the one event that permitted us to be born on earth:  The Fall of Adam and Eve.  What an incredibly momentous occasion!  One that, if understood, gives us a beautiful blueprint for the basic tenants of humanity!  I wrote this in hopes that it might spark in others new ideas about this age-old tale that will change their view on our first parents.  I present, "The Mother of All."

To light the grand beginning of His great Eternal plan,

Almighty God took dirt and clay, and formed it into man.

He called the man's name Adam, and in Eden he was found.

This Garden, filled with evergreens and flowers all around,

Left Adam wanting nothing, but he tarried there alone.

So God did cause the man to sleep, took from his ribs a bone,

And made a help-meet by his side to whom the man did cleave.

He took the woman fair to wife in love, and called her Eve.

"Be fruitful, multiply," said God, "I've sons prepared for thee!"

But Adam wist not what it meant, nor Eve, how this could be.

"Behold the tree of knowledge between evil things and right:

The fruit thereof will open eyes to darkness and to light.

Now, of this fruit do not partake (of this there is no pardon)

If you wish to live forever in the peace of Eden's Garden.

If you wish to stay here and commune with God on High,

This fruit is then forbidden, for if eaten, thou shalt die."

So Eve and Adam went their way and God did follow after

Telling them His plans to hear exalted children's laughter.

Every morning God would come with stories so exciting

Of heroes overcoming death, or two great nations fighting,

Sometimes He told of fearless men who braved the ice and snow

To find a way back to their home and fam'ly they loved so.

The man and woman carried on, each day quite like the other,

And every night beside the fire they'd talk with one another:

"My darling Eve! How was your day?" the man began each night.

"Same as always," she'd reply, "except I took a bite

Of an orange, not a pear today. Then counted every tree..."

"Five hundred seventeen!" he'd say. "That's all that I could see."

And so the weeks went on this way with little alteration

Until, one day, a serpent called and offered Eve temptation:

"Why haven't ye partaken, as you've dwelt in here thus long,

Of this fruit, to be as God in heaven, knowing good from wrong?"

The woman then explained to him that she should surely die.

"Partake, and never taste of death!" the wily serpent lied.

Of course, the devil's story didn't match God's in the least,

And so the mother of us all ignored the slith'ring beast.

But as she pondered on the fruit of bitter consequence,

The stories God had told began to make a lot of sense;

She thought of all His lessons as she ran for Adam's fire.

"My darling Eve! How was your day?" routinely he inquired.

"Adam, dost thou think that this is all, or is there more?"

(The man was startled, hearing words she'd never said before.)

"What of families?" Eve pursued, "Those units God adores?

What of men of honor? What of peace that follows wars?

And what of passion? Charity? The stories God has told...

What if they're more than fairytale? What if they could unfold?"

"What of evil?" he replied, "Of savages and thorns?

What of the crown God tells us that unjustly Christ adorns?

What of hatred? What of sin? To fall, to fail, to die!"

Confused and frightened at the task, his wife began to cry.

Through careful contemplation, Eve and Adam soon perceived

That despite the Garden's haven safe, God needed them to leave.

Decision of uncertainty! The bite 'tween death and life!

Though Adam knew the fearful truth, he left it to his wife.

She thought of that forbidden tree, the costliest endeavor,

Whose fruit demands Gethsemane...else live in peace forever.

And then, with greater courage than had e'er been seen before,

She reached. She plucked. She bit, and was in Eden found no more.

I know that what Eve did was one of the most brave actions in the history of the world.  ...And don't worry, the other two poems are much shorter.  While contemplating on the things I wrote in my post "Conflicted Crosswalkers," these words began forming in my mind about the dual nature of ourselves, and how we can tend to lie to ourselves if we are not careful.  I call it, "The Second Self."

In everything, the old and new,

The mountains and the rubble,

There's so much more to me and you...

In fact, we all are double.

The one of us has come about

From those so dear we know.

Each expectation, word, and doubt

They will on us bestow

Will slowly mold this self of ours

To what the world desires.

It is from them our first self flow'rs...

Our first selves are the liars.

But buried deep beneath the first,

A second us is living.

And when the first has done its worst,

The second's unforgiving.

This one of us will not permit

To live this learned facade,

And when we to the world submit,

Our second self will prod.

Inside, this pure, melodious self

Is who we truly are.

So leave the lies up on the shelf,

And be that shining star.

I wrote this final poem after contemplating all the great changes that have happened in my life because I have met people that, for some reason, saw something in me and wanted to help me develop that something.  I have had so many friends that have caused me to blossom into something new, and I am so grateful for them.  I sure you know someone that has done this for you, too.  It is entitled, "Each Life That Touches Ours For Good."

A priceless gem, a work of art, 

Unique, one of a kind, 

I hid so well right from the start, 

Not even I could find. 

The energy was too immense, 

It fought so desperately, 

Until one day you caught a glimpse. 

You caught a glimpse of me. 

That tiny drop, that speck of light, 

Did your lone eyes behold, 

And with your pickaxe, day and night, 

You softly searched for gold. 

For my own light I could not see, 

Had nothing left to do, 

But in your mirror, first degree, 

I found myself in you. 

Now I can shine for all the world 

And reach the highest height. 

With my new flag of life unfurled, 

My beacon glowing bright, 

Do what I thought I never could, 

Because it’s you I met. 

Each life that touches ours for good 

We never soon forget.

Now it's your turn.  You don't have to share those things that you do, as I have, that help you express your innermost emotions, but just do it!  I don't share most of the things I write...they are simply for me, and I will always cherish them.  If you don't know what your gift is yet, go exploring.  It could be music, painting, sculpting, journaling...or something none of us have ever done before.  There is a powerful being inside of you, and it wants to come out.  Let it.  It's very exciting.