Group 1 — Reflections

The flag flying so proud Singing its own glory aloud; Without the wind the flag will droop Hanging in shame, its head stoop. We too are just like the flag We roam in life, a proud stag; But if our source we truly know We will live life like a caring doe.

A veil of thin clouds hanging low, nearby Further away a thick plume rising up in the sky Still further, higher clouds would float and fly The blue sky peeking through, distant and nigh; Layer upon layer upon layer of clouds all around Now and again, through the gaps, sunlight reached the ground. And so it is with my thoughts in my mind Language and words are veils of some kind Layer upon layer upon layer of every thought To penetrate to the real meaning, must be fought; Every now and then, through the gaps of my mental bind Light of wisdom, inspiration, my soul will find.

Sitting by a lake, watching the snow covered mountain framed by the blue sky In the still, clear lake was the panoramic reflection; there inverted lie. I was wondering if the clear lake reflected the blue sky and the mountain high Or if the panorama was the inverted projection of the image on the lake nigh.

They say water is the symbolic representation of the subconscious,        and it makes perfect sense, why! Perhaps the outer world is reflected in my subconscious mind,        through the doorway of my eye, Or perhaps the projector of the outer world is my own subconscious        mind and I!

Mid summer looking into the pond Before my eyes three worlds I found: The world that's hidden, the world I see And the world that is in front of me. The first hidden inside the pond Next reflection of the world around, The last floating safe and sound By the grass that pond surround. Everywhere this you will find Even among humankind, Every person is three worlds The first inside, closely holds, Next is the world that all will see The last is actuality.

In the dark I set a candle aflame Its flame flickering, a playful game Put the candle in front of a mirror Which real, which the image, I wasn't sure I blew on one flame and put it out No more light anywhere, real or not. Once again I lit the candle with a match Both candles, fiery eggs, did hatch The mirror as good as naught, when it was dark Came alive with the flash of that spark Reflected or real, substance is light Candle, when lit, can shine twice as bright. Reflector of life too will require The candle of soul be on fire.

If God doesn't demand a price Why do we then insist on paying For our mischief and perceived vice Even when we were innocently playing? Not only once, but twice or thrice Through penance, shame, torture, praying. In this treadmill, we are the mice Who don't hear what God's saying. God wants us out of our self-made vice While we still insist on staying If God is loving, if God is nice Why think God wills for our slaying? We beg, we pray, try to entice God's will continue swaying Yet, through our own ignorant device Our venom spitting, spraying. But if we heed divine advice We too, will forgive our straying.