A Spiritual Place

 

(Picture Credit - Love Exploring)

A spiritual place.

Set amongst ancient mountains

All clothed with timelessly old trees.

Streams and waterfalls gurgling

Down to meandering rivers.

 

Countless ancestors buried

Or ashes scattered here.

Battered old castles

Haunted mansions

Even the odd old parsonage

Perched upon a bleak northern hill.

 

You can’t put your finger on it,

But there is something in the air:

More than the howling wind;

Still present even when the thunder

And lightning

Stops.

 

Ghosts of the past are amongst us

As surely as the aromas of flowers

And cut grass.

 

The ancient souls are still with us,

No doubt wondering

What the hell we are doing.

For here are civilisations that

Have basked in glory

For many generations

Only to fall and crumble.

Abandoned, lost cities,

Cultures and even languages

That have blossomed and thrived

Only to fade away.

 

Perhaps the same fate awaits us too.

All things must end.

For even the very universe

Will fade away

Into a misty sea of protons

Leaving no memory of anything

Or anyone.

 

All that will remain

Is this spiritual backdrop

Countless souls

Refusing to go away

Even in the blackest night.

Dry ice still creeping

Through the gloom,

Never surrendering.

 

Paul Butters

 

© PB 25\6\2021.

Keep Cool

 

Keep cool and calm,

Don’t do any harm

To others or yourself.

Even when rejected,

Don’t be affected.

 

Swim through the storm

Don’t even get warm.

Maintain self esteem

You know what I mean.

Control your emotion

In all the commotion.

 

Be Mister (or Missus) Cool

And don’t be a tool

For their challenging way –

You know it won’t pay.

 

People can be evil,

We all know that.

Almost primeval –

That’s a fact.

 

Feel good about yourself

Ignoring all barbs,

Keep up on that shelf

And deflect all those words.

 

If you can, smile and laugh,

Show you’re not bothered.

Like a giraffe

Don’t get smothered.

 

Beat them with wit:

Show them you’re mentally fit.

Use sarcasm too –

You know what to do.

 

If they then want to fight

Bring it on if you must,

But if outnumbered and outpowered

Get running -

Leaving a cloud of dust.

 

But first don’t react

Or do anything you can’t retract.

Keep your Cool

Don’t be the angry fool.

 

Assert yourself

And say what you want.

While doing your best

Not to affront.

 

What more can I say?

Being Cool is the way.

That’s my message

For today.

 

Paul Butters

 

© PB 22\6\2021.