Category Archives: Contemplation

Poems arrrived at by the thought process that makes one think a little – hopefully

Question of Self 2015-126

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A beginning with “I” and an end with “I” with words in between. Written at a time where I was questioning my existence when comparing my life with what I wanted, but did not realize just what I had at the time. I wonder if we are truthful to ourselves or in reality are not just untruthful, but mislead ourselves from finding out who we are and exactly what our true selves are to others………..

Question of Self 2015-126

I

Seek-Truth

Look for Direction

Explore the Full Meaning of Living

What Does Existence Truly Mean

Find Some Scattered Segments Now Extant

Deny the Reality Thereof

Self-Deceive

I

 

Den Betts

Why Again 2015-124

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I recently posted a blog called Why? It received somewhat of a good reaction, so I came out with another one, “Why Again” to expound a little further on the subject. The little boy is still asking, but still not getting the answers; I guess. Regardless, the same question comes up but will we hear what we want to hear sometime????

Why Again 2015-124

Why? The little boy asks,

For an answer to a simple question

Why, he asks, is the sky so blue,

Yet so black at night with stars

Why, for so many questions,

That come to a mind so young

I ask why too, but answers do not come,

For the many things in the world today

Why, for instance, do we accept the deaths

On highways due to drunks

Or drug induced horrors we see,

on TV and streets each day

Why do we condone the way

leaders do not lead

And why is there the killing done

in the name of religion too

Even those that do have not the real

Reasons of why they do…..

And yet, it’s not hard to understand,

The unanswered whys, I have

When we cannot even get along

With our neighbors for little things

The rage that occurs for simple reasons

That should not cause a stir

How can we expect nations to agree

And settle their differences with calm

To ask ‘Why Not ‘ for all these things

Is being naïve to a degree

But then again, I should know better

Den Betts

Awakening 2015-123

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Occasionally I will, on purpose, post a blog that may not make sense to some, but will to others. I hate calling them a challenge, but in essence they are exactly that. There is no prize, no reward, or even recognition if you understand, like or comment on this post. If you do not, that is ok, just humor me and continue to go on with life in your own way; which is ok too……….What scares me ,somewhat, is –I DO understand this one.

Awakening 2015-123

Stirring

The ability; taught from

a mothers creativity;

Nourished by life’s experiences

thoughts molded, reshaped over

again; held in reserve

 

Till

 

An occurrence by accident

creating a blankness in the mind

Evolving to an innocence

compared like dawn’s arrival

Sprung forth to freedom,

to scream at the world

A sharing to all, plus

reserved to part of the inner self

 

Questions

 

At first, not understanding

but then comprehensible with time

the reflections of ones own

and others of their deeds

From passing hours, arrives

the refinements; a process

of nature and time

exacting knowledge and compassion

as a by product of the process itself.

 

Known

 

Created by mothers milk and

remembered by the struggles of

survival, reborn by fate;

the Awakening continues

for eternity.

 

Den Betts

Appreciation 2015-122

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Most of us take thing for granted, even life itself. Most of us go through life in a way that doesn’t even think of what tomorrow will bring or how it will affect us. Such is life!!!! But, to take even a moment and consider where we are, where we are going and even where we have been, takes some thought. I wonder why we do not think about this more! Life is so, so short in actuality and we SHOULD do some thinking about this, to give us focus of where we have, are, and will be. That being said, here is a poem about appreciation in a most different way…………..

Appreciation   2015-122

Sometimes we should appreciate

the things we have in life,

At times we should express it,

in many ways that show.

Life is so short on this earth,

To take for granted long.

But how does one tell it

to the one we love.

Most often its hard to say,

our deep feelings inside.

Letting go with close thoughts

in ways not normal for us.

Maybe its as simple as a spoken word,

saying how you feel the moment now.

Allowing those that care for you,

to know you care for them.

Beginning with a simple “I” and

following with “love you”.

 

Den Betts

Dreams of a Creative Mind 2015-121

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Dreams!! What are they?? I would think they are the chances of exploring a different way of life, or of living. They are the making up of things we may not normally do or see. We can be enthralled and amazed or scared and be afraid of them. They can help us or control us in ways that are good and bad. The imaginative thoughts we conjure up can be exciting or as dull as crap; so be it………………

Dreams of a Creative Mind 2015-121

A man without a dream lives only

In today’s moment of time.

With a frame of mind of striving

Toward tomorrows goals

It is the creative essence

Of life’s existence; whereas

Today’s dreams are, in fact,

Or perhaps, the reality of the future

When observing the base

Thinking processes of life.

Take away a mans dreams

You destroy his very soul,

His reason for living; for

A body is nourished by

Food, but the mind is

Fed by the waves of thought

With rumination thru time.

Den Betts

Final Trip 2015-120

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I remember when my father died and as I sat there with him, before his passing; I wondered what he was thinking if at all. The labored breathing, the death rattle that was evident, made me really think of his life and its existence, and what was going through his mind, beforehand. The sound stopped and I knew he was gone, and I stood and said goodbye and felt his leaving, and at that moment, it was THE time for his passing to be. Sadness on my part became, not joy, but completeness of life in my discerning of his 93 years of existence. This is not a poem of HIS passing, but one of another, or of many……..

Final Trip   2015-120

The man lay melted into the bed,

His labored breathing the only sound

The full moon rays filtered in the room,

Bathing him, caressing his furrowed brow

A gnarled and spindly hand grasped the side rail,

As the other held a wooden cross to his chest

Eyes, once full of life, stared, hardly blinking,

Slowly a tear rolled down his wrinkled cheek

Then a remembrance of past times, joys fun and mirth,

Now forming a thin grimaced smile to parched lips

His wish, his desire to escape this tortured life,

To join with a wife so long gone before

A final sigh, a shudder, tenseness, then still,

No pain, worry, so suffering more

The soul, escaping the frail still shell,

That served the man so well

A last look behind and at a past time

Then gone to join others in a final life.

Den Betts

Why? 2015-118

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So easy to ask Why at times. We go through life not knowing the answers to the Why’s, but we still ask the question. Maybe when we stop asking    why, we will become so ingrained to those things that we will then, not care anymore. When that does happen, what have WE become ourselves?

Why?   2015-118

A little boy asks to his father “Why?”

He wants a reason for so many questions

 

No one really has an answer to the entire Why’s”

For the many happenings of the world today

 

The wars, the diseases, the fighting and such

Make you wonder what is or what will be

 

The horrors of the real world daily

Rival those of the works of fiction

 

There are not good reasons for many “Why’s”

Only answers that truly make no sense.

 

The little boy may not expect an answer,

But his question does raise the bar of thinking.

 

Too bad we don’t have the magic response

That would explain it to US at the same time

Den Betts

Interaction 2015-115

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Interaction   2015-115

When and where do we interact? What is interaction? Why do we do so? Questions on making connections with others abound and are either easy or hard to answer!

I think that when I interact with another I am directly involved, usually, with that person. I am as I said, making a connection with them. It could be a long activity or perhaps just a glance toward them, but still a connection.

Why do we do so? Many times it is because we WANT to do that, but in other cases it is due to circumstances. Holding a door open for another is a quick and easy one, but still one. To have a conversation with someone is also one, but maybe more involved.

The other aspect is regarding whether or not it is a good one or a bad moment with the person in question. How many of us have, in looking back, said “That was not a good moment”. On the other hand, we can have good, even great, ones, where we both come from it with an experience that is or was worthwhile.

Think about it. We ALL interact, every day. We do so with the TV, in various ways, but we still do so. We interact with our pets, in many ways that result in, sometimes, pleasure for both of us. The list goes on and on.

One way I interact is with the God that I admire, enjoy and love. OK, it is ONE of my ways, but still is an interaction. I meditate, contemplate and pray almost daily. It is my moments of these interactions that I get something out of doing. This type is very personal, yet is memorable to me in completing. I get more out of these interactions than most anything else or with anyone else that I do.

Interaction is where we have an effect upon each other versus a causal affect where there is none. We communicate with others as individuals, groups, nations, and any others that can affect us in some way. The feedback with a computer, where we get a response or where we steer a car that influences the direction or position and by seeing what happens when we do so, is an interaction. Ok, a small one, but still one to consider or understand.

I think communication is the main way I understand where we interact with each other, instead of with an object or other form of action. The social interactions where they are on purpose or even accidental, or made on a regular basis form the social interactions of life.

We can relate to each other, or objects, but overall we are affecting someone or something. We cannot get away from this action. I believe that being isolated without access to anyone or something, such as a cell in prison without contact with the world in any way would be a horrible existence. To say someone would go crazy is not without thought or merit, if this is the case.

So, we are ALL creatures of interaction. We, I would think, ALL need this to exist in a normal way of being. To isolate oneself, by oneself, is not a normal manifestation of being. The important thing is to do so in a positive way that benefits us and others. This is something that is not easy at times, and not really hard, but instead a plan of doing. How we do it is another matter.

Den Betts

Travelers Wish 2015-113

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Would it not be great to have a relationship with a person unknown to us and come away with a feeling of greatness? Would it not be great that mankind itself could look at existence in a positive way toward others? To many of us do not take the time to do so, and live our lives in an isolationist way of being; too bad……

 

Travelers Wish 2015-113

If, per chance, our paths may cross,

Our shadows inner mingle, on a summer day

May we both prosper, benefit,

And be truly enlightened by the experience.

And, may we both realize,

That regardless of the hue of external cover,

Spiritual convictions, tribal clan origins,

When we part, may we do so as friends,

Traveling onward, but also leaving in our wake

A part of ourselves behind,

In a kind remembrance to each other.

Den Betts

Questions in Life 2015-112

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I think I DID find one of the questions answered recently, but not sure now. So many thoughts of why things ARE the way they are and we just take most of them for granted, without question usually. Some may THINK they have the answer, but they really do NOT know for sure, just think they know – perhaps….

 

Questions in Life   2015-112

Can anyone tell me of the things in life

That are so vague and not for sure?

 

When does life really begin,

At birth or many months before

 

What makes the world continue to spin and travel

So many times round itself and Sun

 

How goes gravity really work

And can it someday be controlled

 

Where does the universe truly end

Are we perhaps in a very large bowl

 

So many questions such as above

I ask myself this simplistic day

 

Who knows the answers or is God

The one that only knows the way

 

Den Betts