You are one entire universe

[PrinceMyshkin]

Every syllable is a song,
every bird the harbinger
of a flock. In the Talmud
it says: “He who saves a single soul,
it is as if he had saved the universe.”

Be merry. Be humble.
Expect wisdom from strangers.
You are one entire universe
among many.

[Sweets America]

This is a nice poem.
I like the message of it, even if in a way you sound like a preacher.:) Not that I have anything against preachers! (Pen, if you read this!:p )
I think we can find in this poem again the didactic quality that often appears in your poetry.
I love the line 'expect wisdom from strangers'. This is so true sometimes. And the last two lines are great.
Now, beyond what I just said, I cannot help wondering if you somehow 'gave up' with this poem instead of developing it more? I think the poem is great as it is, I just wonder about what was on your mind when you decided to finish it this way.:) I think I am going to call you right now and ask you.:D

[amanda_isabel]

This is a nice poem.
I like the message of it, even if in a way you sound like a preacher.:) Not that I have anything against preachers! (Pen, if you read this!:p )
I think we can find in this poem again the didactic quality that often appears in your poetry.
I love the line 'expect wisdom from strangers'. This is so true sometimes. And the last two lines are great.
Now, beyond what I just said, I cannot help wondering if you somehow 'gave up' with this poem instead of developing it more? I think the poem is great as it is, I just wonder about what was on your mind when you decided to finish it this way.:) I think I am going to call you right now and ask you.:D


preachy but not bad... i happen to agree with it. nicely done :)

[ampoule]

Every syllable is a song,
every bird the harbinger
of a flock. In the Talmud
it says: “He who saves a single soul,
it is as if he had saved the universe.”

Be merry. Be humble.
Expect wisdom from strangers.
You are one entire universe
among many.


I think this is so very wonderful, Prince. I truly believe that the 'one' must be right with itself before anything can be right with the 'many'. Even though I was raised in the Baptist church I did not think of it as preachy, just telling. I did not read 'saves' in the 'religious' sense. I may have it completely wrong?? I hope you don't mind but I am going to begin my meeting this afternoon with this. May I? Please?

[PrinceMyshkin]

I think this is so very wonderful, Prince. I truly believe that the 'one' must be right with itself before anything can be right with the 'many'. Even though I was raised in the Baptist church I did not think of it as preachy, just telling. I did not read 'saves' in the 'religious' sense. I may have it completely wrong?? I hope you don't mind but I am going to begin my meeting this afternoon with this. May I? Please?

Oh yes! Of course you may! And I am SO flattered! But no, you did not read it wrong. I had in mind the saving of an actual person: "soul" is there because it is in the saying from the Talmud but I took it as the metaphor for the whole of a person, his or her essence. I'm deeply moved that you liked the poem although frankly I was a bit disappointed in it. I wanted it to sing more than it does, to bring in some magic, maybe some firefanglediana!

[ampoule]

firefanglediana! LOL! Great word. :D

Hmmm....you want it to sing more? Take it to your cafe this morning and stir it into your coffee while watching others save souls. It's more magic than you think.

[Sweets America]

Ahah, some firefanglediana!:lol:
I did not necessarily mean preachy in a religious sense, maybe more in a didactic one?
I think that my paragraph about 'giving up' about the ending was also influenced by an earlier discussion I had had with the Prince about his writing.:)
Ampoule, this is great that you are going to use this poem in your meeting! This is sweet.:)

[PrinceMyshkin]

Ahah, some firefanglediana!:lol:
I did not necessarily mean preachy in a religious sense, maybe more in a didactic one?
I think that my paragraph about 'giving up' about the ending was also influenced by an earlier discussion I had had with the Prince about his writing.:)
Ampoule, this is great that you are going to use this poem in your meeting! This is sweet.:)

Well, if there is anyone who ought to know about sweetness, it is you!

[Pendragon]

But too many have eyes for crowds.
Numbers mean so very much to them.
One lost lamb out on a foggy hillside,
Steadily getting further away from the fold,
They cannot be bothered...

Missing out upon a chance of a Universe,
By overlooking one soul right beside you.
Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees...
What excuse will be good enough to give...

[firefangled]

I have been sick all week with the flu, but yesterday I started to feel better. I will fully attribute my recovery to this poem, since I felt possessed for three days. And it most certainly has firefanglediana! :lol: :D

Very funny, my friend, not the poem, of course. And I did not see preachy in it either. It is something I too believe.

[blazeofglory]

Every syllable is a song,
every bird the harbinger
of a flock. In the Talmud
it says: “He who saves a single soul,
it is as if he had saved the universe.”

Be merry. Be humble.
Expect wisdom from strangers.
You are one entire universe
among many.


This is indeed philosophical> i like the way you have attitudes towards strangers.