Post No. 062: For The Creator, Part 5 — And Found God

(Image from ForWallpaper.com)

And Found God

I came to the edge of understanding
and found God patiently waiting.

I looked upon the face of death
and found God calmly breathing.

I gave up my hopes and dreams
and found God secretly believing.

I basked in anger and resentment
and found God totally forgiving.

I wallowed in the depths of sadness
and found God quietly reflecting.

I embraced the pomp of certainty
and found God playfully laughing.

I feared that no one would love me
and found God disarmingly adoring.

I came to a new understanding
and found God joyously celebrating.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: After moving to Portland, Oregon in August of 1999 from Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was born, I returned back to Utah for about two years from January of 2007 to April of 2009, while I was trying to save money, by living with my father, as I tried to pay off my credit card debt.

Then, a few months after returning to Salt Lake City, I became really sick and I was hospitalized about a dozen times over several months due to multiple infections. Plus, I went from being simply HIV-positive to having full-blown AIDS, which is also when I stopped being able to work. Also, I eventually had to declare bankruptcy, and I applied to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), since I could no longer work. And I almost died a few times due to the various opportunistic infections. But it was the last time that I almost died—and I faced my fear of not being able to take care of myself—which inspired this poem! Plus, this is when I first started taking HIV medications, which I have been taking ever since, and that has really helped to maintain my good health.

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

However, I may be remembering that incorrectly, because this poem may have been written in Portland, Oregon after I moved there for the second time in 2009; but, I think that this was the only poem that I wrote while I was still in Salt Lake City, Utah when I returned to try and pay off my credit card debt.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 062 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 061: For The Creator, Part 4 — I, Creator

(Image from Etsy.com)

I, Creator

In the beginning, power is realizing that
you are one with The Creator Of
Your Existence!

And in the end, power is actually becoming
The Creator Of Your Existence, since
there is no other place to go!

There is nothing more to The Game Of Life
than to play along with God as you
practice becoming God!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "There is nothing more to The Game Of Life than to play along with God as you practice becoming God!"

And another reason that I wrote this poem is because I was inspired by the title of the television series, produced by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) in 1976, which was titled, "I, Claudius."

You see, when I was ten years old, my parents and I watched the series on PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) in Utah, when it was rebroadcast in 1977. Here is a relevant quote from IMDb (Internet Movie Database):

"The show aired in 13 episodes on PBS in 1977, but was originally shown in 12 episodes in England, the first and second episodes having been combined."

I was always fascinated by that title, which is why I used a 'take-off' on that title for this poem as "I, Creator."

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

However, I may be remembering that incorrectly, because this poem may have been written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

"I, Claudius (TV series)" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable monthly donation):

"I, Claudius (stylized as I·CLAVDIVS) is a 1976 BBC Television adaptation of Robert Graves' 1934 novel I, Claudius and its 1935 sequel Claudius the God ... The series covers the history of the early Roman Empire, told from the perspective of the elderly Emperor Claudius who narrates the series."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I,_Claudius_(TV_series)

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 061 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 060: For The Creator, Part 3 — I Am The Vessel

(Image from Pinterest)

I Am The Vessel

I am the ship bearing
a sea-weary traveler.

I am the cup offering
water to a parched visitor.

I am the door opening
to welcome a total stranger.

I am the window allowing
an unclouded view of nature.

I am the vessel receiving
all that God has to offer.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "I am the vessel receiving all that God has to offer."

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

However, I may be remembering that incorrectly, because this poem may have been written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 060 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 059: For The Creator, Part 2 — The Gilded Cage Of Christ

(Image from Wikia)

WARNING: THIS POST HAS CONTENT THAT MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

The Gilded Cage Of Christ

They love you without question,
as long as you forgive their sins.

They love you without condition,
as long as you bare their burden.

They love you just the way you are,
as long as you come when they call.

They love you when darkness falls,
as long as you light their way; and

They love you always and forever,
as long as you appear as expected.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

"Can you love God unconditionally? That is the big question. All the time you may have thought that the question was, 'Can God love you unconditionally,' but the big question is, 'Can you love God unconditionally.' You can only receive God's love in the way that you give God yours." –Neale Donald Walsch on Facebook

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "Can you love God unconditionally? That is the big question."

I should mention that this poem was inspired by a quotation from Facebook (please see the quote above), way back when I was actually on Facebook, which I haven't been for years...

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

However, I may be remembering that incorrectly, because this poem may have been written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 059 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 058: For The Creator, Part 1 — God The Commodity

(Image from Wikipedia)

WARNING: THIS POST HAS CONTENT THAT MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!

God The Commodity

They only love you if you can
provide them with something.

They only want you around when
you can do something for them.

They are so glad you stopped by,
if you have something to offer.

They are happy to run into you,
when you are bearing handouts.

And they all want unconditional love,
so long as long it only flows one way.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

"Can you love God unconditionally? That is the big question. All the time you may have thought that the question was, 'Can God love you unconditionally,' but the big question is, 'Can you love God unconditionally.' You can only receive God's love in the way that you give God yours." –Neale Donald Walsch on Facebook

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "Can you love God unconditionally? That is the big question."

I should mention that this poem was inspired by a quotation from Facebook (please see the quote above), way back when I was actually on Facebook, which I haven't been for years...

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

However, I may be remembering that incorrectly, because this poem may have been written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 058 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 057: For The Day After Christmas 2021 — "Good King All-Of-Us"

(Image by Paul Whiting)

"Good King All-Of-Us"
[A "Good King Wenceslas" song lyrical adaptation]

Good King All-Of-Us traveled around,
whilst running winter's errands,
when the snow lay on the ground
cold and crisp as the air—and
dimly shone the sun all day—plus
the temperature wasn't changing,
when a poor man along our way
was outside 'cause he was "spanging."

Thither we went, his request to heed,
for we knoweth it and are telling,
yonder stranger is in need,
since the sidewalk is his dwelling!
Needeth he an offering of funds,
because the snow is like a mountain,
as the chill he tries to shun—which
is cold as a winter's fountain!

Giving him a smile with words so kind,
and for his needs he'll be tending,
thou and I shall know he's fine
as we offer him funds for spending.
Then, Good Kings, forth we'll go,
forth we'll go together,
through the rude winds wild lament
and the bitter weather...

...Sires, the night is darker now—and
the wind blows stronger—we shan't
fail their hearts, for we shall
help them out much longer!
Mark our footsteps good, We Kings,
while we assist them boldly;
we shall help the winter's rage
freeze their blood less coldly.

Then, as Masters we'll step and trod,
where the snow lays fraught out,
helping out those homeless folks
whom we Saints have sought out!
Therefore, Christian Faithful be sure,
money and compassion possessing,
we who now will bless the poor
shall ourselves be blessings!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

I budget for "carrying cash" each month in my monthly budgets for any expenses that I may wish to pay for in cash. And I budget—specifically—to use some of my carrying cash to help homeless folks who are panhandling, or "spanging" (which is a term that is a blend of the word 'spare' plus the word 'change' from the phrase, "Do you have any spare change?" or the phrase, "Can you spare any change?") and that is how I give "alms to the poor." –Paul Whiting (written December 26th, 2015, revised September 24th, 2019, revised December 23rd, 2021, revised December 24th, 2021, revised December 25th, 2021, revised December 26th, 2021 and revised July 6th, 2022)

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem is a lyrical adaptation of the Christmas song, "Good King Wenceslas," which was written by John Mason Neale and Thomas Helmore. And I wrote this adaptation in order to extol the virtues of helping the less fortunate, who are living on the streets—and who are in desperate need of "Alms for the Poor"—since they are homeless!

You see, I was homeless for ten days in October of 2009! And, for me, the toughest part about being homeless wasn't living outdoors, since I was basically "camping": it was the way that some people treated me, because I didn't have a place to live. [However, I should clarify that it never stormed while I was homeless, nor did it ever reach freezing temperatures; plus, I had money available to buy whatever I needed (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive and that I have full-blown AIDS) due to the fact that I am on "SSDI," or Social Security Disability Insurance.]

And so, I budget—specifically—to use some of my carrying cash to help homeless folks who are panhandling, or "spanging" (which is a term that is a blend of the word 'spare' plus the word 'change' from the phrase, "Do you have any spare change?" or the phrase, "Can you spare any change?") and that is how I give "Alms to the Poor."

Thus, I wrote this lyrical-adaptation poem from the original Christmas song (along with another lyrical-adaptation poem titled, "Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Of Blue," which is published on this blog), as a way to encourage everyone—who has the ability and desire—to please consider helping homeless folks in a way that feels right to you, just like I do throughout the year by offering those folks help-out money when I see them on the street!

And this poem was only published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog.

This poem was lyrically adapted in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

"Good King Wenceslas" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable monthly donation):

"'Good King Wenceslas' is a Christmas carol that tells a story of a Bohemian king going on a journey and braving harsh winter weather to give alms to a poor peasant on the Feast of Stephen (December 26, the Second Day of Christmas). During the journey, his page is about to give up the struggle against the cold weather, but is enabled to continue by following the king's footprints, step for step, through the deep snow. The legend is based on the life of the historical Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935). The name Wenceslas is a Latinised version of Old Czech 'Venceslav'.

In 1853, English hymnwriter John Mason Neale wrote the 'Wenceslas' lyric, in collaboration with his music editor Thomas Helmore, and the carol first appeared in Carols for Christmas-Tide, published by Novello & Co the same year. Neale's lyric was set to the melody of 13th-century spring carol 'Tempus adest floridum' ('Eastertime has come') first published in the 1582 Finnish song collection Piae Cantiones."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_King_Wenceslas

This poem was written as a lyrical adaptation of the original Christmas song, "Good King Wenceslas," on December 23rd, 2021, December 25th, 2021 and December 26th, 2021.

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 057 was edited on June 26th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 056: For Christmas Day 2021 — Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Of Blue ("He'll Have A Blue Christmas Without You!")

(Image by Paul Whiting)

Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Of Blue
(Or, "He'll Have A Blue Christmas Without You!")
[A "Pretty Paper/Blue Christmas" songs lyrical adaptation]

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue.
Wrap your presents to your darling from you;
Pretty pencils to write "I love you!"
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue.

Crowded street, busy feet hustle by him,
Christmas shoppers are just rushing by.
There he sits, all alone, on the sidewalk,
Hoping that you won't pass him by.

Should you stop? Better not, much too busy!
You're in a hurry; my how time does fly by.
In the distance the ringing of laughter;
And in the midst of the laughter he cries...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

...So, he'll have a blue Christmas without you.

He'll be so blue, barely coping without you!

Your Christmas tree, so beautifully trimmed,
Won't feel the same, if you're not helping him!

And when those cold snowflakes start falling,
That's when those cold shivers start calling!

You'll be doing all right, with your Christmas of white.
But he'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas!

You'll be doing all right, with your Christmas of white.
But he'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

...Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue.
Wrap your presents to your darling from you;
Pretty pencils to write "I love you!"
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue.

Crowded street, busy feet don't hustle by him,
Christmas shoppers are not just rushing by.
There he sits, not-so-alone, on the sidewalk,
Knowing that you won't pass him by.

You still stop, though you know that you're busy!
You're in a hurry; but so is Santa as he flies.
From your hand the ringing of spare change;
And in the midst of the ringing he sighs.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

I budget for "carrying cash" each month in my monthly budgets for any expenses that I may wish to pay for in cash. And I budget—specifically—to use some of my carrying cash to help homeless folks who are panhandling, or "spanging" (which is a term that is a blend of the word 'spare' plus the word 'change' from the phrase, "Do you have any spare change?" or the phrase, "Can you spare any change?") and that is how I give "alms to the poor." –Paul Whiting (written December 26th, 2015, revised September 24th, 2019, revised December 23rd, 2021, revised December 24th, 2021, revised December 25th, 2021, revised December 26th, 2021 and revised July 6th, 2022)

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I rewrote the original Christmas songs, "Pretty Paper" and "Blue Christmas," as a lyrical-adaptation poem, in order to extol the virtues of helping the less fortunate, who are living on the streets—and who are in desperate need of "Alms for the Poor"—since they are homeless!

You see, I was homeless for ten days in October of 2009! And, for me, the toughest part about being homeless wasn't living outdoors, since I was basically "camping": it was the way that some people treated me, because I didn't have a place to live. [However, I should clarify that it never stormed while I was homeless, nor did it ever reach freezing temperatures; plus, I had money available to buy whatever I needed (the reader should know that I am HIV-positive and that I have full-blown AIDS) due to the fact that I am on "SSDI," or Social Security Disability Insurance.]

And so, I budget—specifically—to use some of my carrying cash to help homeless folks who are panhandling, or "spanging" (which is a term that is a blend of the word 'spare' plus the word 'change' from the phrase, "Do you have any spare change?" or the phrase, "Can you spare any change?") and that is how I give "alms to the poor."

Thus, I wrote this lyrical-adaptation poem from the original Christmas songs, as a "medley" (along with another lyrical-adaptation poem titled, "Good King All-Of-Us," which is published on this blog), as a way to encourage everyone—who has the ability and desire—to please consider helping homeless folks in a way that feels right to you, just like I do throughout the year by offering those folks help-out money when I see them on the street!

And this poem was only published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog.

This poem was lyrically adapted in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

"Pretty Paper (song)" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable monthly donation):

"'Pretty Paper' is a song written by country music singer-songwriter Willie Nelson in 1963. After being signed to Monument Records, Nelson played the song for producer Fred Foster. Foster pitched the song to Roy Orbison, who turned it into a hit. Nelson later recorded his own version of the song in November 1964."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Paper_(song)

"Blue Christmas (song)" from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia—which is funded primarily through donations from millions of individuals around the world, including this blogger (I make a totally affordable monthly donation):

"'Blue Christmas' is a Christmas song written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson and most famously performed by Elvis Presley; it was first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948. It is a tale of unrequited love during the holidays and is a longstanding staple of Christmas music, especially in the country genre."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Christmas_(song)

This poem was written as a lyrical adaptation from the original Christmas songs, "Pretty Paper" and "Blue Christmas," on September 28th, 2021.

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 056 was edited on April 15th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 055: Who I Truly Am, Part 6 — My God Is With Me

(Image from Vuible.com)

My God Is With Me

My God is with me...

...I am with me...

...My God is me.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: "My God is with me...I am with me...My God is me."

I wrote this poem before I moved to Portland, Oregon from Salt Lake City, Utah. And, although I do not remember the particular circumstances that inspired this poem, I do remember feeling really close to God.

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 055 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 054: Who I Truly Am, Part 5 — Wings Unfurled

(Image from Change Your Limits)

Wings Unfurled

Now
I am ready
to be lit as a flame;

Now
I am a wick
waxed for the match.


Now
I am ready
to be deeply immersed;

Now
I am wood
porous for the river.


Now
I am ready
to be planted anew;

Now
I am a seed
germinating for the soil.


Now
I am ready
to soar off the cliff;

Now
I am wings
unfurled for the thermal.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem before I moved to Portland, Oregon from Salt Lake City, Utah. And, although I do not remember the particular circumstances that inspired this poem, I do remember feeling ready to heal, because I was ready to face whatever I had to face in order to heal.

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 054 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 053: Who I Truly Am, Part 4 — Grieving For The Loss Of Who I Am Not

(Image from photo.net)

Grieving For The Loss
Of Who I Am Not

I cried for a reason that mystifies me!
I cried because I was comparing
myself to someone else.
And I also realized how much pain I still have
waiting to be vocalized for this very reason.
It is the same pain I have been
running from my entire life.
It is the pain that surrounded me when
I was young, in my silent desperation to
not to be found out for who I truly was—
for the fear that I would not belong...

...and for the fear that I would not fit in!

The funny thing is, I never did fit in
—even when I was trying to.
And the more I tried to fit in, the worse it
got—the more I pushed others away, because
they could feel I was acting out of fear.
And, like angry guards at the gate, they
attacked with their cruel words and their
thoughtless actions. And, thus, I ran away
from my fear and further into my pain...

...until I stopped running!

And then, it finally dawned on me that I
had been—literally—running away from
myself! I know that may sound simplistic;
but, at the time, I thought that I was running
toward what I should be, rather than
running away from what I was.
And I am realizing that is why I cried!
There is a part of me who still
grieves for not being like the others,
for knowing that I don’t belong and
for knowing that I don’t fit in...

...because I am someone entirely different!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing About Comparing Yourself To Others: Do not compare yourself to how others are: instead, compare yourself to how you used to be. –Paul Whiting (written April 12th, 2016 and revised August 25th, 2022)

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem before I moved to Portland, Oregon from Salt Lake City, Utah. And, although I do not remember the particular circumstances that inspired this poem, I do remember crying "because I was comparing myself to someone else," which is something that I do a lot!

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 053 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 052: Who I Truly Am, Part 3 — An Instrument Of Peace

(Image from Sacred Spirit Journeys)

An Instrument Of Peace

How can I explain to you
what I am capable of?
How should I convey to you
the potential that I hold?

There are no words to tell
the depth that my feelings reach.
There are no images to show
the height that my desire knows!

I have living within me
a passion to understand the
mystery of—the very essence
of—every metaphor of life.

My soul is calling for me
to follow this path, which I
have been searching for—and
now that it is laying before me:

I must enter the dreamscape;
I must drink deeply at the well;
I must give my fear to the fire;
I must journey on as a shaman.

I have not stumbled upon this—
I have struggled to get here.
I have traveled into my pain
and grieved what I found there!

Thus, these words do not flow
from some babbling brook;
they are carried on the waves
of a crater-formed lake.

So, I am choosing my next step,
since it is not chosen for me!
I am becoming who I am;
I am knowing myself into being.

I am creating my existence
as I fully wish it to be—and
I am making myself into
An Instrument Of Peace.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem in preparation for telling my family why I was moving to Portland, Oregon!

You see, I was living at my parent's house, at the age of thirty two (which means that it was the year 1999), and doing odd jobs for them around the house in order to make money, since I could not find a fulfilling job in Utah. And, although I had no job lined up, my plan was to live in Portland (with a friend from Salt Lake City who had moved there also) and get a temporary job until I could find a permanent job.

And I wrote this poem (along with another poem that I wrote titled, "North Toward The Ways Of The Earth," which is published on this blog) in anticipation of my family asking me why I was planning to move; that's why the first stanza of this poem reads: "How can I explain to you what I am capable of? How should I convey to you the potential that I hold?"

So, I invited my family over for dinner at my parent's house to tell them that I was moving and the funny thing is that nobody asked me why I was moving!

By the way, I consider this poem as my "signature poem." You see, I have printed on my business cards the last lines from the poem:

"I am choosing my next step, since it is not chosen for me! I am becoming who I am. I am knowing myself into being. I am creating my existence as I fully wish it to be—and I am making myself into An Instrument Of Peace."

Plus, I use this poem for the 'About Me' sections of my personal profiles on various websites in order to describe myself.

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 052 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 051: Who I Truly Am, Part 2 — North Toward The Ways Of The Earth

(Image from American Travel Center)

North Toward The Ways Of The Earth

You have asked me how, how can
I just up and leave like this without
knowing precisely why—or, for that
matter, how or where—I am going?

I understand the concern behind
your question and will answer you
as best as I can, with all of my skills
for the metaphor at my disposal.

Being here does not bring me joy.
I am not being fully who I am. For,
I simply cannot be who I am, where
I am. And this can no longer be!

I have chosen to listen to what
I am supposed to be in this life,
for far too long, and have lived
a 'non-life' because of my choice.

And, yet, this detour was a necessary
step in the journey to who I am.
This choice was a mistake—but
it was the correct mistake.

And this choice was also painful.
I have felt totally inadequate and
unworthy—as the person I am—
for as long as I can remember.

So, I chose to not be myself and
to be what others chose for me to be;
I chose to not do what I desired, but
to do what others desired of me.

Because of this, I have experienced
a constant fear of not being acceptable
enough, of not being lovable enough,
of—quite simply—not being enough.

When the pain became unbearable,
I chose differently. I chose to face my
fears head on. Thus, I chose to surrender
to my fear and finally won that conflict.

And, with every surrender, I experienced
a little death—and then I experienced a
little birth! For, my fear had died and my
joy was born. So, here I am yet again...

...Once more, I am choosing to go with
my soul and, therefore, to leave my fear
behind kicking and screaming demanding
to have its way—determined to be heard!

But I will not heed its cries. I have
listened too much, too often and for
too long—and have known only grief
from caving in to the demands of fear.

Fear is—in fact—a cave! It is dark and
cold and damp. It promises safety, but
you cannot see where you're going—
then you trip—and fall deeper into it.

Thus, I am here making this choice
while the voices of fear are crying out,
“What will you do?” “Where will
you go?” “How will you survive?”

Sometimes, these voices come from
others—and sometimes they come from
myself—but still they come! And, still,
I will not let them all the way in...

For, all I have to go on is the pull of my
soul north, toward the ways of the Earth.
She is The Goddess and I totally trust Her!
And I must go so that I can be closer to Her...

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem in preparation for telling my family why I was moving to Portland, Oregon!

You see, I was living at my parent's house, at the age of thirty two (which means that it was the year 1999), and doing odd jobs for them around the house in order to make money, since I could not find a fulfilling job in Utah. And, although I had no job lined up, my plan was to live in Portland (with a friend from Salt Lake City who had moved there also) and get a temporary job until I could find a permanent job.

And I wrote this poem (along with another poem that I wrote titled, "An Instrument Of Peace," which is published on this blog) in anticipation of my family asking me why I was planning to move; that's why the first stanza of this poem reads: "You have asked me how, how can I just up and leave like this without knowing precisely why—or, for that matter, how or where—I am going?"

So, I invited my family over for dinner at my parent's house to tell them that I was moving and the funny thing is that nobody asked me why I was moving!

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 051 was edited on November 5th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 050: Who I Truly Am, Part 1 — To Those Who Have Gone Before Me (My Ancestors)

(Image from Business Mirror)

To Those Who Have Gone
Before Me (My Ancestors)

Come to me in my hour of need,
those who have gone before me.

I am here—yet I am not—because
I don’t really know where I am!

I feel so very lost in this world and
am profoundly longing to be found.

So come rushing in, my friends, and
whisper to me which way to run!

I need to know the road that I should
take to find my way as you have done.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem during one of my many periods of self-questioning when I was confused about how to proceed with my life. And I was praying to "To Those Who Have Gone Before Me," or my ancestors, if you will, in order to gain insight from those older souls!

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 050 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 049: For My Family, Part 7 — My Father's Passing Away

(Image from Cannon Mortuary)

A Day Which Will Live In Infamy
(Or, "My Father's Passing Away")

I cannot find the words
to express how I feel about
your passing away, Father,
except to say that,
for me, it was "A Moment
Which Will Live In Infamy."

I cannot comprehend the thoughts
to express the way that I feel
about your passing away, Pa,
except to think that,
for me, it was "An Hour
Which Will Live In Infamy."

I cannot shed enough of my tears
to express my feelings about
your passing away, Dad,
except to well up with how,
for me, it was "A Time
Which Will Live In Infamy."

I cannot hear enough of my crying
to express these feelings about
your passing away, Papa,
except to weep for the way that,
for me, it was "A Day
Which Will Live In Infamy."

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: My father passed away on February 18th, 2018 and his funeral was held at Cannon Mortuary in Salt Lake City, Utah (the image of which is illustrating this poem). I did not attend his funeral (unlike the funeral for my mother, which was held at the same mortuary), because I was in Portland, Oregon and I was not able to travel. (The reader should know that I am HIV-positive with full-blown AIDS.) And I realized that I had not written a poem for my father's passing, as I had done for my mother's passing; so when I republished the poems that I wrote for my family on this blog, from my "Small All White in the Forest" blog, I decided to write a poem in order to honor my father's passing away.

This poem was written from December 17th, 2021 to December 18th, 2021, which is three years and three hundred and three days since my father's passing away, which I have not really grieved until now.

And this poem was only published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog.

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

However, even though this poem was not written in Salt Lake City, I still have this poem labeled under "My Utah Writing," since the topic of this poem is based upon my family, who live predominantly in Utah.

-Paulee

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 049 was edited on September 17th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 048: For My Family, Part 6 — A Haiku-Style Poem For My Father On 86th His Birthday

(Image from Masons Attic)

Thank You for Teaching Me
(A Haiku-Style Poem With Multiple Stanzas)

Thank you for teaching
me to be responsible
for all things in life!

Thank you for teaching
me to be accountable
for mending my strife!

Thank you for teaching
me to be independent
in all things I do!

Thank you for teaching
me to be one who teaches
others—just like you!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I reread the "Conversations with God" series of books [which I reread from just shortly after June 5th, 2016 to exactly September 12th, 2016]...

...And I was rereading "Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialogue, Book 1," when I read the quote below on page 114, which reminded me of how my father, who passed away in 2018, raised us kids—while our mother was dealing with a lot of physical and psychological issues, which she experienced her entire life. Here is that quote:

"My pay—the payoff you get when you 'work for' Me—provides a great deal more than spiritual comfort. Physical comfort, too, can be yours. Yet the ironic part about all this is that, once you experience the kind of spiritual comfort My payoff provides, the last thing you’ll find yourself worrying about is physical comfort.

Even the physical comfort of members of your family will no longer be a concern to you—for once you rise to a level of God consciousness you will understand that you are not responsible for any other human soul, and that while it is commendable to wish every soul to live in comfort, each soul must choose—is choosing—its own destiny this instant.

Clearly, it is not the highest action to deliberately abuse or destroy another. Clearly, it is equally inappropriate to neglect the needs of those you have caused to be dependent on you.

Your job is to render them independent; to teach them as quickly and completely as possible how to get along without you."

And I felt so inspired by the quote above, that I wrote this poem on July 6th, 2016 (ten days before my father's 86th birthday), which started out as a classic Haiku-style poem, but ended up being "a multiple-stanza Haiku-style poem," as I explained more of what I meant about this feeling.

I should mention that this poem was written for—and posted on—Facebook, way back when I was actually on Facebook, which I haven't been for years...

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

However, even though this poem was not written in Salt Lake City, Utah, I still have this poem labeled under "My Utah Writing," since the topic of this poem is based upon my family, who live predominantly in Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 048 was edited on September 19th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 047: For My Family, Part 5 — My Mother's Passing Away

(Image from Cannon Mortuary)

But To Praise Her
(Or, "My Mother's Passing Away")

I come not to bury Claudia,
but to praise her! I come
not to weep for her passing,
but to rejoice for her living!

Hear me now, Oh Mourners:
There is nothing to grieve—
and everything to believe!
For, there is no death; there
is only ever-changing life.

Let all those listen who have
ears to hear: "Elvis has left
the building—and just because
he called it home, does not
mean that he was Graceland."

Thus, the Claudia whom we
knew is not the Claudia who is
now; she has shed her clothing
and stepped unadorned into
the waters of All Knowing.

She is there with her family.
She is there with her friends.
She is there with all those
who have gone before her
and she is basking in The Sun.

She has played her part.
She has spoken her lines.
She has now exited the stage
and removed her costume.
The play is over and she is
off to her next performance.

For, we are not our bodies—
we are our souls. We are
not the characters we play
in this theater we call life.
We are the actors who
bring our characters to life.

So, join me in celebrating
a life lived to its fullest in
the face of many challenges;
a truly beautiful voice in
an often-chaotic opera.

Let her brush strokes speak for
themselves; let them show what
she went through—again and
again—to pick up her palette and
her brush and to paint that canvas.

I am proud to call her mother!
I am proud to call her friend!
I am so grateful for the dance
she that danced with us and
I can't wait to see her again!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: My mother passed away in 2004 and her funeral was held at Cannon Mortuary in Salt Lake City, Utah (the image of which is illustrating this poem). And I wrote this poem and I read it at her funeral, because I was trying to convey the idea that all of life is eternal and just because "the actor has left the stage" does not mean that you will never see them again...

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 047 was edited on September 19th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 046: For My Family, Part 4 — Upon Your Half Century

(Image from Barnes & Noble)

Upon Your Half Century

Warmed by the vanilla light
of your favorite
lamp,
you sit
submerged into the world
of another
renowned personality,
or distant country,
or nearly forgotten
civilization.

How impassioned you are
to absorb
all knowledge!
If only all
those books could be read
intravenously,
or via osmosis,
or even digestively
as that magazine
so erroneously suggests.

But, alas,
until Radio Shack can install
a "Ronco Read-O-Matic"
discretely
upon your person,
you will
have to be
content spending
the second half of
your century under that
Itty Bitty Book Lite,
where age may
mistake you
for a timeless scholar.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem for my mother's 50th birthday!

You see, my mother, who passed away in 2004, was an avid reader. And she would spend hours reading newspapers, magazines and books by the light of her Itty Bitty Book Light! And her favorite reading material, specifically, was biographies and autobiographies. Plus, reading helped my mother to escape the stress of life because she dealt with a lot of physical and psychological health issues her entire life.

So, her scholarly side is what inspired this poem!

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 046 was edited on February 10th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 045: For My Family, Part 3 — I Am So Sorry For Your Loss

(Image from Pinterest)

I Am So Sorry
For Your Loss

I am so sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry for your grief.
I am so sorry for your sadness.
I am so sorry for your pain.

I hope that grieving will heal your loss.
I hope that crying will heal your grief.
I hope that love will heal your sadness.
I hope that peace will heal your pain.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: My cousin's son passed away and I wrote this poem as a way to offer her my condolences.

I should mention that this poem was written for—and posted on—Facebook, way back when I was actually on Facebook, which I haven't been for years...

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

However, even though this poem was not written in Salt Lake City, Utah I still have this poem labeled under "My Utah Writing," since the topic of this poem is based upon my family, who live predominantly in Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 045 was edited on September 19th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 044: For My Family, Part 2 — Calling All Angels

(Image from Wikipedia)

Calling All Angels

When everything is gone, which
you thought could never be taken;
And the beliefs, which you guarded
like children, have up and left you;

And your world of certainty has
spiraled into an abyss of unknowns;
And you feel so alone, because no one
could possibly know your pain;

Remember, that you are never alone,
although you may be on your own!
You are positively surrounded by souls
who touch your life every day.

You have known them since childhood,
or—perhaps—since this morning.
These are your Angels, who are forever
calling you to where love is.

Your Angels come to you in more ways
than you can possibly imagine.
They come to remind you where love
does—and even does not—exist!

They come to confront you in your
fear and hold you in your love.
For, it is only when a fear is faced
that love can be held in its place.

To your Angels, you too are an Angel—
and are here to remind them, as well.
For, we are not Angels who have fallen,
but Angels who have forgotten.

And we have chosen this Earth as
the realm to remember who we are.
So remember, you are always in the
presence of Angels—for you are one!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem for my uncle who was experiencing a really difficult time in his life! He had gone through a really painful divorced from his second wife and he was lonely and suicidal. So, I wrote a poem for him to express the idea that we are all 'Angels' and, therefore, you are never truly alone "although you may be on your own."

By the way, I also did a rewrite of this poem that I wrote for 'Everyday Heroes' which is titled, "An Everyday Hero Lies In You," plus, I did another rewrite of this poem that I wrote for United States Military Personnel which is titled, "The Soldiers Of The Cross," both of which are published on this blog. (Please see "Calling All Angels-Style Poem" in labels for the poems.)

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: "If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States." Dial 988

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 044 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 043: For My Family, Part 1 — The Candles Of The Sun

(Image from Hot Wallpaper)

The Candles Of The Sun

Come winter, come spring,
Come summer, or autumn,
In sunlight, in moonlight,
In downpour, or flurry,

When the fat lady sings,
Or the barrel's at bottom,
Though what's left isn't right,
Though our sanity may scurry,

Through the anguish of pain,
Through the anguish of bliss,
When the truth tears us apart
And then makes us whole,

After all we have gained,
After those we still miss,
Despite the love in our hearts
We sometimes don't show,

We are family forever.
We are kindred. We are one.
No distance can divide us—
We are the candles of the sun!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing About The Candles Of The Sun: Come winter, come spring, come summer, or autumn, in sunlight, in moonlight, in downpour, or flurry, when the fat lady sings, or the barrel's at bottom, though what's left isn't right, though our sanity may scurry, through the anguish of pain, through the anguish of bliss, when the truth tears us apart and then makes us whole, after all we have gained, after those we still miss, despite the love in our hearts we sometimes don't show, we are family forever. We are kindred. We are one. No distance can divide us—we are the candles of the sun! –Paul Whiting (written date unknown, then turned into 'my writing' on September 19th, 2023)

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I used to give poems as Christmas gifts! And I wrote this poem for my family for Christmas one year—although I don't remember which year it was.

You see, gift giving at Christmas was always really stressful for me, because I was usually poor, so that is why I would write heartfelt poems, like greeting cards, that were holiday-like enough to be used as Christmas gifts and I would give them in photo frames that I bought from the dollar store.

Eventually, however, my immediate family (that is, my two brothers and two sisters-in-law, my sister and brother-in-law, and my parents) decided to stop exchanging gifts amongst the adults, but to still keep giving gifts to the grandchildren, which made Christmas a lot less stressful!

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 043 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 042: Shoveling My Way Out Of The Haze, Part 2 — More Mountains To Move

(Image from Questions on Islam)

More Mountains To Move

What is
keeping me
from my purpose?
What is holding me back
in life? I have faced more fears
than I could possibly imagine and yet,
there are more waiting for their turn! I
thought that if I was willing to do all of
this "inner-work" that my world would
unfold before me! It has undoubtedly
changed, but it I still remain what
seems like miles—or, for that
matter, even years—from
my destination! I feel that
I have enormous potential.
And, yet, I feel as if I have
been struggling this whole
time just to come up to zero,
just to shovel my way out of the
haze. For all the work I have done,
I have yet to find something so basic
as a job which does not totally drain me
and still pays the bills! I know that I came
here to first heal myself, then to share what
I have learned with others, so they may
heal as well—just as others have done
for me, from whom I have learned.
What still escapes me is how to get
there! I have peeled back layer,
after layer, after layer of fear
and self-misconception—yet, I
still seem to remain covered
in it, like a snake who
thinks this has got
to be the last time
that he will have to
go through this whole
process of shedding—yet
again! And just as before,
I will seek out Wise Counselors
and ask them, “What is my next
step?” I will heed their advice
and do what I need in order to
remove yet another obstacle in
my path—but only it seems in
preparation for the next one to
come along! That is why I am so
incredibly tired of having to ask for
help; so tired of the struggle; so tired
of working so hard and facing so many
fears, only to find that I have so many
more to face. I feel like I have moved
mountains—only to find that there are
so many more mountains to move!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I wrote this poem before I moved from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Portland, Oregon, and found a job better suited to my Type A personality, which was being a "Litigation Document Coder" and later on, an Administrative Assistant, at the same company.

And before I found those more suitable jobs for me—at a more suitable company—I used to go from job to job to job. You see, I would try over and over again to find work that paid the bills, but that also did not drain me, so I still had a life, because I am an introvert with a Type A personality!

And I wrote this poem as a way to express my frustration over facing fear after fear, so that I was more confident and could find work out of 'love' rather than out of 'fear,' but I still seemed to be covered in fear "like a snake who thinks this has got to be the last time that he will have to go through this whole process of shedding—yet again!"

The issue, as it turned out, was my fear of finding work in Salt Lake City, Utah, where I was born, which wasn't exactly conducive to me being consistently employed, since I am really effeminate in my mannerisms and there is a lot of homophobia in Utah!

Plus, as I mentioned before, I really have a Type A personality that is "outgoing, ambitious, rigidly organized, highly status-conscious, impatient, anxious, proactive, and concerned with time management," which is not how a lot of folks are in Salt Lake City, Utah! They are much more like Type B personalities than Type A personalities.

However, in Portland, Oregon, I was surrounded by Type A personalities, such as lawyers (Portland has one of the highest number of lawyers per capita in the U.S.A.), and here I truly felt at home with all of the other perfectionistic, get-it-done-right-the-first-time-or-do-it-over-and-over-again-until-it's-done-right workers, who are customer service focused, efficient, well organized and task-oriented!

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 042 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 041: Shoveling My Way Out Of The Haze, Part 1 — Second Coming

(Image from Pell City Picture of the Day)

Second Coming

I feel a death is coming,
but it is the sky closing
behind the lightning
that I feel.

I smell my sorrow coming,
but it is the dampened grass
in the wake of rain
that I smell.

I see a grieving coming,
but it is the street water
rising up to the sun
that I see.

I hear my second coming,
but it is a mother talking
softly to her womb
that I hear.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I was inspired to write this poem while I was outside taking a break from a job that I did not really like, but a job that paid the bills.

And the street water from a recent storm was rising up from the pavement, due to evaporation, and I got the strongest feeling that I was headed for a "Second Coming." In other words, I felt like I was going to experience an intense emotional transformation soon...

...Later on, that emotional transformation happened when I faced a fear while I was in therapy. It was such an intense experience that I was walking around my apartment crying and tugging on my clothes! However, it was the emotional breakthrough that I had felt was a "Second Coming."

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 041 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 040: For My Friends, Part 5 — The Bright Sun Blessing

(Image from Transforming Truth)

The Bright Sun Blessing

How bright the sun
Warming your face!

How wise the star
Marking your path!

How full the moon
Guarding your rest!
__________

How clear the spring
Filling your well!

How fertile the soil
Yielding your seed!

How soft the breeze
Cooling your brow!
__________

How eternal the flame
Heating your hearth!

How sweet the love
Imbuing your home!

How kind the hand
Holding your own!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I used to give poems as gifts for holidays and special occasions!

And I wrote this poem in as an any-occasion gift poem for anytime that I needed a heart-warming message, like a greeting card, but one general enough to be used for any special occasion.

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Small All White in the Forest." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 040 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 039: For My Friends, Part 4 — It Will Do

(Image from 7-themes.com)

It Will Do

What more can I
tell you of the way
I feel about you
that you don’t
already know?

Should I try to
conceal how deep
and still the water
of my trust is
drawn for you?

Would my lips—
blue in the undertaker's
dressing room—keep
silent my delight
for you?

Should I ineptly
proclaim the radiant sun
a candle, as to call
what burns inside
for you love?

Perhaps, it will do
to let what I feel flow
effortlessly to you, as
does the rising sea toward
the ascending moon.

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., A Creative Writer)
"I maybe say too much about how life really is!"

My Writing Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem was inspired by "Chase" (which was his nickname) whom I met at a bookstore where we both worked. And we often got mistaken for "twin brothers," since we were so similar.

You see, we were friends for quite a while but, later on, we had a falling out over a multilevel marketing ('MLM') program in which we were both involved! You see, the MLM program direct marketed a great product called Intra® which is still sold "as a natural food supplement [that] helps balance and strengthen the body's systems with the essential nutrients that are lacking in most modern diets."

And using my credit cards, I paid for three of us (that is, Chase, plus his boyfriend, and I) to 'go direct' as Independent Distributors—which cost about $2,000 (as I recall) for each of us back in the early 1990s—so that we could all qualify to buy the Intra® product at the lowest possible wholesale price. But none of us were really 'salesmen' (or should I say 'salespersons'?) and we couldn't sell enough of the Intra® product in order to make money!

And, eventually, he gave me back all of the product that I bought for him and his boyfriend that they couldn't sell (plus, I still had my own product from that original purchase that I couldn't sell either—all of which I gave to my father, who simply loved Intra® as an "Herbal Juice Suitable for All Ages") and we never spoke to each other again!

But do not let that diminish your perception of Intra® which "is a precise formulation of 23 time-tested and trusted botanical extracts manufactured by Lifestyles Global Network Canada," because it really works!

And this poem was also published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Small All White in the Forest."

This poem was written in Salt Lake City, Utah.

-Paulee

https://smallallwhiteintheforest.blogspot.com

This "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" Post No. 039 was edited on September 12th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]