Sun glints on the broad sweeping sea,
the waters traveling in a strong tide
following the gravity of the moon.
On the earth’s surface
forces pull and people yield,
giving themselves to the urge
of the crowd, the stories
to believe and follow.
Like the old track of the moon
we’ve been trained in gravity,
in what will allow our weight
to be supported by the mass.
Shamans around the night fire,
prophets at the city gate,
warriors who know their inner hearts
and the priestesses denying vanity
know the trap and refuse
the pull of the herd.
Every truth will be found false,
every demand to follow will wither.
Ride on alone if you must,
seek the high ground
above the roaring tide,
the rock rooted deep
to the earth’s core.
Shine on like your brother sun,
humble like your sister moon.
These are the days of earthquake
and upheaval, and in these days
stand fast and be unmoved.
photograph by Sandy Brown Jensen
Reading with music by Bob Dylan
So beautiful!
Stand fast and honor the present moment with gratitude, the portal to Love’s wisdom and strength.
Poem for the times…it hit home this early morning
Mighty words of apocalyptic power — surging glory in the photo. These are the days when the weight of the Holy World is held strong and true in the gravity of Love while the old heaven trembles and the old earth quakes.
Don, this one stands out among your trove of fine poems. It’s lyrical, strong and pointed. In my opinion, the last five lines are not needed in this poem.
Stunning, grounded and oh so real today. I love this! I meet you strongly right there… Thank you Don.
Don, Each of these poems are like a tread, growing to a rope, a cable and then a huge pipe of energy moving us into the sea of awareness from which we cannot return and from which we are reborn. Thank you once again for holding steady to point us north where the old traditions bring us the courage and wisdom of the elders and teachers.
Hits home!
“Stand fast and be unmoved.” Yes! We may be aware that power beyond imagining has already wrought vast transformation in subtler realms, and it is indeed ours to be unshaken as evidences of this show up in the denser world and in our own minds and hearts. Don, your words ring with the message, “Fear not.” Thank you!
Powerful Brother. It touched a deep wave in my heart.
Shine like the powerful sun, humble like the moon…………most wonderful! Thank you, my friend! Love is robust but not imposing.
This new format of speaking your poems, your heart and soul, conveys your strong spirit. I love this one especially. Speaks my heart and soul accurately and powerfully. Thank you Don.
A poem for the ages.
“Shamans around the night fire,
prophets at the city gate,
warriors who know their inner hearts
and the priestesses denying vanity
know the trap and refuse
the pull of the herd.”
Love this: “Earthquake and upheaval…”
thanks for sending this poem out into the world.
This is the prayer the whole world sorely needs now. Will it be heard? One can only hope.
Strong words, Don. “Stand fast and be unmoved.” Here is the perfect mantra for these troubled times of upheaval and unexpected change. Thank you.
You have said it so well here, as always, Don. And I heartily concur …
Your precise penning of “Stand Fast” (and hence, the dozen or more resounding replies thereto) epitomize one of many elements that I deeply respect and ongoing protect as regards You and your poetic artistry,
(A short, simplistic description would be this):
Your honest, fearless, and full-throated addressing of the human state, and the omnipresent solutions readily available to be received …
Enough from me for now …
With Rich Thanksgiving for Your Manifest Expression …
The message to stand fast is most timely. Stand fast, let life declare itself, as it will anyway. Thank you Don, I rejoice with you.
Warriors who know their inner hearts. Yes. We take responsibility for all that comes into our world. Thank you.
A Warrior’s Poem– beyond beautiful, and courageous, and true!
My weary heart thanks you, Brother…
Lovely poem, Don. Lately, I’ve been ruminating on existence itself, and perhaps existence is the lone subject of all of our poems as Rilke said, “those mysterious existences.”
As Athena conveyed, this poem is prayer. I thank you for this steady pulse of prayer each Sunday from you as we sculpt together the essences of the New Heaven. This is no small thing and bespeaks of the power of Attunement.
Standing firm with you all right here from Sunrise Ranch! So good to feel your devoted hearts.
Don, I agree with Tony. I really like hearing your voice speak your words and your personal rhythm. Your intentional cadence gives me more understanding of your meaning. When I read your words to myself, I often feel something different. That’s okay too, but I find that hearing your power and intention, opens up something different for me. I promise to stand fast and be unmoved no matter what.
There’s power in this poem. I always resonate with your echoes of the ancient:
Like the old track of the moon
we’ve been trained in gravity,
in what will allow our weight
to be supported by the mass.
Shamans around the night fire,
prophets at the city gate,
warriors who know their inner hearts
and the priestesses denying vanity
know the trap and refuse
the pull of the herd.
We are such a company.
I read these words earlier today, Don, only to be pulled back to them this evening as I, for the first time, heard you speaking the words aloud not just in written form—& I heard anew & understand more clearly now I think, somehow grounded more in the present moment, somehow resonating more with ancient truth, somehow listening with you anew…
A very potent poem… for our time
I wholeheartedly echo Rose’s words.
The Truth and the Tone of your words resonate into the depths of my heart and soul. Thank you, Don. Standing Fast.