Manic Moments (monostitch)

Manic Moments Materialize Most Mornings; Mediates Marginal Mediocrity

Soooo….huh?  I was trying to say in one sentence how I seem to go at full speed then slow down to sloth pace throughout most mornings using only M words.  I dont think this worked but trying is part of the process.

Monostitch: a one lined poem

Quadriatic Life (Senryu)

 

Quadriatic mood–

emotional dysfunction…..

Borderline living

∞  ∼  ∞

I know most of you are thinking “HUH”?  So here is the explanation.  I had a revelation when my gifted daughter was attempting to explain quadriatic equations to me, which in laymen terms are “U-curves” or “waves”.  It’s bad enough that I have to learn from a child in school; even worse that at the time, she was in 7th grade.  Yes, quadriatic equations are being taught in 7th grade gifted classes.  Mind blowing.

Anyway, I like math concepts and theoretical physics.  I just cant do the math (although poetry is closely related to math, and I know several mathmaticians who indulge in the art).

While my daughter was explaining the equation for quadriatic U curves, I realized that here was a math equation for dysregulated moods!  And “quadriatic life” stuck in my head.  Now if there was just some lasting way to flatten the top of the curve out a bit……

So what are quadriatic U-curves? The math of quadratics is intrinsically related to a U-shaped curve known as a parabola. Perhaps the most familiar example is a stream of water that shoots from a drinking fountain. There are many other examples, such as the cross-section of a satellite dish or the cables on a suspension bridge.

Psychologists use the parabolic curve to map out the “wave” of moods.  In mood dysregulation, the top of the curve ( or the highest intensity of the mood) is much higher and wider than persons without mood disorders.  I was able to put this together during one of my DBT sessions.  DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) is a treatment for borderline personality disorder and I have so far found it to be transformative.  For the first time in 40 years, I have really started to know who I am and how I function.  My hope is that a better, wiser, less impulsive, less dysregulated ME will eventually emerge.

Senryu: same as Haiku structure but the theme is generally related to relationships or feelings while Haiku stresses nature

 

Wave Song (Two Word Poem)

Wave-song

pendulous legato

escalating crescendo

swelling sforzando

hanging fermata

breaking climax

whispered pianissimo

faint hiss

Waves fascinate me.  They are…..compelling.   I can sit all day and watch them;  perhaps because I don’t often get the opportunity locked in the middle of the Heartland.  I don’t know why I love them so much.  Perhaps because they are the same yet each individual wave is so unique. Perhaps because my heartbeat is intimately tuned to the universal ebb and fall. Perhaps because the sound separates me from the mundane hassles of life and allows my head to focus on a series of…..notes, building one on another to create a soul-stirring universal symphony.   Think of symphonies the next time you watch a wave and imprint its’ melody onto your heart.

Legato: musical notes are played or sung smoothly and connected

Crescendo:  A gradual increase in volume.

Sforzando:  Literally “forced”, denotes an abrupt, fierce accent on a single sound or chord. When written out in full, it applies to the sequence of sounds or chords under or over which it is placed.

Fermata: An indefinitely sustained note, chord, or rest. Usually appears over all parts at the same metrical location in a piece, to show a halt in tempo. It can be placed above or below the note.

Pianissimo:  Very soft. Usually the softest indication in a piece of music, though softer dynamics are often specified with additional ps.

Two word rhyme:  poems comprised of two words per line

Rekindling the Flame

In prophesy, the love of many will grow cold

yet I watch in silence as hate unfolds

for this heart, lukewarm, does weakly beat

and blood congeals with lack of heat.

I hear the words that pastor speaks

as I sit, frozen, week after week

and through it all I dutifully pray

for there must be a better way.

For apathy is a road to hell

and paves our souls in a concrete shell!

This apathy state, once fortold

is what makes our hearts grow cold.

 I think of others who, in secret, worship You

 in persecution , yet remain faithful and true.

These great warriors in battle,  in constant danger

boldly share Christ’s message to strangers .

 While we fatten ourselves on our free Christian feast,

yet hide Jesus’ message like lean ferrel beasts,

gorging on fast-food religion for health

our Bibles hoarded, unread on our shelf.

Our country is “free” but God’s light poorly glows!

Harvesting souls for Christ?  Boring and slow!

Off-shore banks stuffed with earthly wealth

as gluttony lulls us with languid stealth.

Oh Lord, sweep out the ashes from a fire now cold!

Rekindle our flame for your message untold!

Give us zeal to witness in tones loud and bold:

“Jesus our Saviour has  broken sin’s hold!

Jesus our Savior has broken sin’s hold!”

I support Open Doors, an international Christian organization dedicated to fighting persecution and assisting persecuted Christians.  Persecution is rampant and, in some areas of the world, near complete genocide.  I know this is not told in the news, but it is real and very frightening for anyone of faith.  No matter your religion, annihilating one group is a step toward annihilating yours.  The Bible prophesied mass persecution of Christians in the final Last Days, yet another sign that the time is near.  The Bible prophesied that the love of many will grow cold.

For those of us who still enjoy religious freedom, hold it precious for it is fleeting and will slip away before you know it.  The best defense is prayer and evangelism.  The elect are still out there waiting to be told the Good News.

Apathy is a gate to the road of hate.

Set Me Free

I know you had a plan for me;

I chose my path so stubbornly!

Now looking back my road is black.

I cannot change this path without Thee.

Body broken, mind unsound;

I’ve given up, there’s no more ground.

A twisted path is all I see–

Oh dearest Lord please help me.

Please wake me up, un-taint my heart!

Straighten my road, perfect my part.

Revise my plan, help me to stand

and keep me safe from Satan’s hand.

Lord, make my dark road white as snow.

Forgive my sins, restore my soul.

Purify my heart and make it whole.

Set me free that I may show

Other sinners the way to go.

While  I cannot speak for other Christians, my life road has been rather rocky with both physical and mental disorders.  I wrote this a long time ago when I was gripped with issues related to Borderline Personality Disorder.  At the time, I didnt know what was wrong, and God in His mercy has allowed me to be diagnosed and treated.  Just because one is a Christian doesn’t mean that one has perfect mental health.  God heals whom He will, and for others He plans to use your problem or condition to further His will.  Seek His will and be ready for the call.