The Birth of the Poet – Poetry by Bruce Whealton">The Birth of the Poet – Poetry by Bruce Whealton
Published March 22, 2009 | 
">Bruce WhealtonThis was recently published in “the thin edge of staring, ” and it is available here. But I wanted to make a couple edits.
Birth of the Poet
I wonder if one can be reborn
as a poet,
leaving one life behind
and entering into a new life
and a new identity…
becoming a new person.
Don’t they say that
our inspiration is from
the spirit -
whatever that might mean?
For me
this transformation
was not one of leaving behind
what the Bible might call
a sinful life
for one of a higher calling -
no, my basic nature now,
is the same as it was 10 years ago
and 10 years before that.
For me, the transformation
was one of finding self discovery
and then self expression.
The shy boy I was
for those first 24 or so years
of my life
did not even consider
making himself known
or expressing himself…
he hid himself
was unknown
and didn’t think he had anything
to say.
Sometimes it seems
that I’m still invisible.
Posted in Bruce Whealton, poetry by Bruce Whealton, Uncategorized | 
inspiration, self expression, shy boy | 
1 CommentPrayer for Comfort – by Bruce Whealton">Prayer for Comfort – by Bruce Whealton
Published March 16, 2009 | ">Bruce Whealton“Now lay back in the chair,
resting your feet in the chair in front of you,
begin with a few deep breaths,
breathing in relaxation
breathing out tension
becoming more
and more
relaxed.”
Sister Jean was guiding us
in a new way
to pray.
I had come for comfort
and consolation -
I was grieving and needed
a mother a heavenly
Mother
who would hold me in her arms.
She continued,
“Now begin to feel yourself resting
in the arms of God.
Let go relax
deeper and deeper you drift
into re-lax-a-tion.
Feel yourself supported
in the arms
of a loving compassionate
God…
Held close,
softly.
A God that listens
and understands
and cares.
Look into her eyes” -
Did she say ‘her’ eyes?
I asked myself… that was what I was hearing.
“Tell her what you are feeling.”
Take all the time you need
now, to be with your God,
in her arms,
comforted in a state of complete
relaxation.”
This is what I remember…
Like it was yesterday.
Someone from church reminded me of this.
Bruce Whealton – March 15, 2009
Inspiration from Beyond – poem by Bruce Whealton">Inspiration from Beyond – poem by Bruce Whealton
Published March 16, 2009 | ">Bruce WhealtonThe exercise goes like this…
we are going to find an image that depicts
a concept of the spiritual realm,
or heaven,
or something glorious.
So to continue,
we are told to
find a photograph,
from among many.
One will jump out at you,
if you prepare your mind correctly,
I am told.
And when one does jump out at you,
just stare at the image
that makes just the right impression.
Then show us the image in a poem
give the reader an insight
into that concept of
the spiritual -
that glorious realm of the spiritual.
So, I found those images,
on many pages
on the web,
many of them,
that were tagged by others as
being just that -
images tagged with terms like
spiritual
or glorious
or heaven or angels -
Visionary images from visionary minds.
My mind seemed to become
angered by this
exercise in futility.
There can be nothing,
by definition!
Our senses only perceive the
natural -
the natural world -
by definition!
By darn!
What can it mean,
to perceive the supernatural? -
The spiritual?
We can only speculate
upon such matters,
and for that reason,
I found nothing.
You’d think my mind was closed!
Or perhaps,
I’m being stubborn!
But I tell you,
my mind was open,
and yet this is what I found
to be…
to be the truth!
How I wish I was wrong!
Bruce Whealton March 16, 2009
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