A Life Well Lived

A LIFE WELL LIVED

Mrs. Smith with Brenda

I saw you

In the sunset of live

After many a year

Of joy and strife

Surrounded by love

From those around

And those above

Nary a word

Could be found

That was not of love

So deep, profound

A legacy

You did leave

As witnessed

By those who bereave

And the host that grieve

Your constant smile, lives on

In the memories

Of days long gone

The joys you’ve shared

The way you cared

Tis certain

For the next world

You are well prepared

Tis hard to let go

But in this, we know

A better place

You did go

Tis not the end

Of this I’m sure

You continue to shower

From above

Upon your dear ones

Your eternal love

-Shiidon, March 2012

This poem is for a very special person, Mrs. Trellis Faye Smith.  Ms. Smith was my cousin Ramin's mother-in-law.  She passed away this past week.  I spent many a special day and night in her presence.  It was a blessing to know her and see the love that surrounded her from her loved ones.  I am happy to say that there are enough memories that it is hard to pick one particular one.  My fondest memory is at Ramin and Brenda's daughters wedding.  Johnny and Anisa were to fly back to Texas early enough the day after their wedding that the family gathered at the house and opened presents and spent time sharing and talking.  There was a special spirit present that night.  It was not just a wonderful wedding, it was a moment when paths and times seemed to cross and intersect.  I fondly remember hearing the tale of Ms. Smith and her marriage to her beloved husband.

Relatives are not always family and family are not always relatives.  I appreciate the love and connection that I have been able to make with Mrs. Smith, her daughter Joyce and my dear friend and "cousin" Darwin.  My thoughts and prayers are with you as you say your goodbyes to a life well lived.

Lengthening Shadows

Lengthening Shadows

The shadows lengthen

Along the ground

The dusk draws near

And alas, I fear

The Fast has ended

For another year

These days past I’ve grown

With fortitude

Hoping my actions

An act of certitude

My sorrow of It’s ending

Embraced in gratitude

With longing I wish

These days would go on

But my body protests

And I know t’woud be wrong

Another Fast has gone by

My body did I deny

But more lofty I think

My spirit did fly

The shadow lengthens

The birds do sing

The babble of the brook, doth ring

A deep rooted joy

Doth it to me bring

This most blessed day

The first day of Spring

-Shiidon, Naw-Ruz, 2012

The Bahá'í has ended and as of sunset last night the Bahá''í Holy Day of Naw-Ruz started.  This is a shared special day and it so happens to embrace two parts of me, the Bahá'í and the Persian.  For over two thousand years this has been the Persian New Year and it is very special to that culture.  It is the first and most significant holiday in my memory.  It is also the Bahá'í New Year.  While the Persians will celebrate with those things of their/our culture like putting out a special table and other traditions, the Bahá'í's all over the world and from other cultures will celebrate by holding festivities.  For the those of us on the northern hemisphere it is the first day of Spring.

I had a special time.  I stared last night by braking the Fast with Shahdi in a Persian restaurant.  Today I then went with Winrik and  joined some dear friends at that same restaurant for lunch.  We were surprised by a large family that is very dear to me showing up at the same time.  Now I am off to join my study circle for a Book 4 on the life of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh.  What a special day, what a special time.

Happy Naw-Ruz, happy first day of Spring to all.

Adventures Abound

ADVENTURES ABOUND

I looked over the cliff

The breeze upon me

Strong and stiff

I gaze beyond

To the myriad of choices

That abound

I stay within

My comfort zone

The pretense being

My skills to hone

Countless days

Roll one into another

An even keel set

And nary a bother

Yet instinctively I see

How much more

I want to be

And from the doldrums

To be set free

I breathe deep

And awaken

From my self-imposed sleep

And into the void

I take a leap

As I fall

Into that place

To which

I am meant to face

I reflect upon

The events transpired

And those hopes and wishes

I once desired

I now let fate take me

Where I need to go

Towards a future

I do not know

But certain am I

Either way to grow

What is it for

That I live

Ti’s the opportunity

With my all to give

The changes within

Already begin

Ere the unknown destiny

I find myself within

The greatest adventure

Begins with one step

No matter how inept

The unknown

I do accept

-Shiidon, March 2012

So I find myself in the middle of the Fast.  Bahá'í's do not eat from sunrise to sunset from March 2nd to March 20th culminating with our New Year, the first day of Spring, March 21st.  So far things have been fine.  I have reflected upon much during these days of fasting.  One thing that has stuck with me during my meditations is that one can't sit and wait for life to happen, one must arise and take steps towards their destiny and then follow the signposts along the way.  I am tired and therefore won't put much here.  I thought  a photo of dinner would bring color to the page and strike home on what it means to be on a fast.