I know why the caged bird sings (poem)

Originally posted by huckleberryhound
Hugging Darvley's pole, or Crowley hugging Dravley's pole ?

I'm not sure where you found darv. I'm not sure what I like either - it's all getting a bit too much for me.

Originally posted by stocken
Kahlil Gibran wrote:

You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link.

This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link.

And even though that is at the very end of 'The Prophet', it bothers me.
It's just not true. The strongest link will hold together a part of the chain, ...[text shortened]... nd the earth we walk upon, any pressure
is likely to wipe out more than a fair share of it.

Very true. You can only be as strong as the strongest link, if the chain is a single link (and by definition therefore not a chain). At the same time you'd be as weak as you are strong, as the strongest link is also the weakest.

Originally posted by rhb
At the same time you'd be as weak as you are strong, as the strongest link is also the weakest.

You certainly know how to put the obvious into words. Let me try. You
measure strong not relative to the weak, but relative to the pressure it can
hande before it falls apart into it's very pieces. Hence, if every part of the
chain is strong, there can be no weakness, or it's not really strong at all, is
it?

Originally posted by stocken
Kahlil Gibran wrote:

You have been told that, even like a chain, you are as weak as your weakest link.

This is but half the truth. You are also as strong as your strongest link.

And even though that is at the very end of 'The Prophet', it bothers me.
It's just not true. The strongest link will hold together a part of the chain, ...[text shortened]... nd the earth we walk upon, any pressure
is likely to wipe out more than a fair share of it.

You totally missed the balance within yourself!

He said,"you have been told!" unquote.

If you think Kahlil aimed that at you, you're wrong!
The glass is half empty??

Look beyond what intrinsically you think you know, because half of it is rudimentrally indoctrinated anyway! So actually, you don't have clear understanding of it - but He tells you 'yes you do!' - that's the difference!

When love beckons to you follow him,

Though his ways are hard and steep.

And when his wings enfold you yield to him,

Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him,

Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.

Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,

So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.

He threshes you to make you naked.

He sifts you to free you from your husks.

He grinds you to whiteness.

He kneads you until you are pliant;

And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,

Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing-floor,

Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.

Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;

For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, I am in the heart of God."

And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.

To know the pain of too much tenderness.

To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy;

To return home at eventide with gratitude;

And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

Is that not positive beauty?
Is that not a quest to impove your own understanding and experience?
Is that not better than impoverished claims of abuse and poor experience?

Christ, this is general forum, but this isn't religion either. You know I'm often an ass..... esp here. But there's been so much poetry crap going on....

Tell me you don't think that is superb?..... then I'll have an opinion and remark! 😉

Originally posted by mikelom
You totally missed the balance within yourself!

He said,"you have been told!" unquote.

If you think Kahlil aimed that at you, you're wrong!
The glass is half empty??

Look beyond what intrinsically you think you know, because half of it is rudimentrally indoctrinated anyway! So actually, you don't have clear understanding of it - but He tells you 'y ...[text shortened]... on't think that is superb?..... then I'll have an opinion and remark! 😉

Your whole post assumes a belief in the supernatural, all-loving God, which I
do not. I have a hard time believing in love as a universal truth even.

Originally posted by stocken
Your whole post assumes a belief in the supernatural, all-loving God, which I
do not. I have a hard time believing in love as a universal truth even.

Nope mate. There is no God. This is it! So If you don't find love in this single path then tough shiiiite! I am fortunate in that I have love, live it every day, and darned well appreciate it!

Don't assume I belive in any God because of a book called 'the Prophet'. Poetry was today's agenda and I had my say - end of!

My assumption that there is NO GOD is purely my opinion. However, that there is love to be had in the words of Kahlil Gibran is a different issue, and I am sure there are many here who have encountered it!

Originally posted by mikelom
Nope mate. There is no God. This is it! So If you don't find love in this single path then tough shiiiite! I am fortunate in that I have love, live it every day, and darned well appreciate it!

Don't assume I belive in any God because of a book called 'the Prophet'. Poetry was today's agenda and I had my say - end of!

My assumption that there is NO GOD ...[text shortened]... lil Gibran is a different issue, and I am sure there are many here who have encountered it!

Universal love, or specific kind of love? Romantic, longing and want-to-do-well-by love, maybe?

Originally posted by stocken
Hence, if every part of the
chain is strong, there can be no weakness, or it's not really strong at all, is
it?

If the chain consisted of one link, there will be weakpoint in that structure (probably - assuming a join makes the link loop in one place - at the join). So despite it's strength, it still has weakness which will be revealed in the passage of time.

Originally posted by mikelom
The world is miraculous to us, not us to it. We are merely guests here!


This planet's power far outweighs ours!

Let's get the agenda correct please. 🙁

Not sorry Stocks, but I read it three times now. It's cack!

As I've maintained for some time now, if you want to read beautiful poetry about man, woman or child then read 'The Prophet' by Kahlil ...[text shortened]... one has really experienced LOVE!....

Wolfie....... help me out here, ye of maturity??

What's the point? You didn't know all this before? Most poetry reveals nothing.

Originally posted by rhb
If the chain consisted of one link, there will be weakpoint in that structure (probably - assuming a join makes the link loop in one place - at the join). So despite it's strength, it still has weakness which will be revealed in the passage of time.

Still, while strong, it can't be weak. You faulter in your logic, and I will not
allow you to possibly taint my own any further. Be gone, thy most wicked
mind. Be gone!

Originally posted by badmoon
What's the point? You didn't know all this before? Most poetry reveals nothing.

On the contrary. Poetry is the very passage through to a deeper
understanding of all things human. No science or any amount of exact
mathematical calculus can describe what poetry can. It's just not possible.

Originally posted by stocken
Still, while strong, it can't be weak. You faulter in your logic, and I will not
allow you to possibly taint my own any further. Be gone, thy most wicked
mind. Be gone!

On the contrary - there will, at any point in time, be a potential force that would be sufficient to prove the weakness. Just because this is not being demonstrated right now, doesn't mean that it's not present.

Originally posted by rhb
On the contrary - there will, at any point in time, be a potential force that would be sufficient to prove the weakness. Just because this is not being demonstrated right now, doesn't mean that it's not present.

I really like this use of negatives. Bamboozling.

Originally posted by rhb
On the contrary - there will, at any point in time, be a potential force that would be sufficient to prove the weakness. Just because this is not being demonstrated right now, doesn't mean that it's not present.

😵

Just because you so desperately attempt to make your argument work,
doesn't mean it won't crack at any given moment in time. If you think it's
strong, it can still be weak. But if it really is strong, then by virtue of
that fact it cannot be weak. Not at that moment in time it cannot.

BE GONE, I TELL YA'!!!!

Originally posted by stocken
😵

Just because you so desperately attempt to make your argument work,
doesn't mean it won't crack at any given moment in time. If you think it's
strong, it can still be weak. But if it really is strong, then by virtue of
that fact it cannot be weak. Not at that moment in time it cannot.

BE GONE, I TELL YA'!!!!

I think where we differ is that I'm discussing a hypothetical chain, with no defined purpose.

You on the other hand seem to be assigning a purpose to the chain, for which it is presently strong enough to accomplish.

I think mine is more poetic.