My Spirit Animal

This week’s challenge is to find your Spirit Animal by taking the quiz. Then, write a syllabic poem about this animal. What fun! This was such an innovative challenge! Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to take the quiz. My spirit animal resonates with me. 😊

Spirit Animal Quiz result: You‘re The Tiger

I am not a Trophy

An epitome 
of beauty and elegance
can you match the ache
of adventure in my blood?
gifted princely gait
that is envied by my peers
fascinated men 
who came in hordes to conquer
my natural habitat

***

The cowards cowered
behind their whims and weapons
to rob my attire
and wear it as a trophy
or adorn their walls
with my magnificent coat
compassion of some,
alert animal lovers 
granted me the right to live.
© Balroop Singh

I chose to write a double Chōka. It is a nine-line poem with 5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7-7 syllable count.

Thank you poetry lovers!

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with  Hues Of Hope 

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#Spirituality #BookReview

I always thought that spirituality is self-development. I associate it with our psychological growth.  It is just being in harmony with yourself, exploring your thoughts and empowering them, delving deep into what you want and not being led by the so-called Gurus. It only comes with understanding people and the world. It is being kind, tolerant and forgiving, which may lead you to inner peace.

 Till I came across this book, which confounded me with a lot of questions though it claims that “‘The Untethered Soul‘ offers simple yet profound answers to these questions: What would it be like to free yourself from limitations and soar beyond your boundaries? What can you do each day to discover inner peace and serenity?”

My Review:

This thought-provoking book speaks the language of the usual yogis or so called “Religious Gurus” and inspires you to live in harmony, avoid extremes, contemplate death to learn from it; it takes you round and round, offers no solution but repeats three messages time and again, which are:

Let go.

Leave your comfort zone.

Break the boundaries you’ve set for yourself and look beyond.

I am sure we’ve heard these messages a thousand times yet we don’t “Let go.” Why? Because we all know how challenging it is to let go of our worries, stressful moments, emotional hurts, failures, haunting memories, betrayals etc.

Singer takes very basic examples of letting go and doesn’t mention the real issues like  – How can a successful person who has been laid off not get stressed?

What about the parents who have lost their young child in gun violence? Will they ever be able to let go? It might take a struggle of lifetime for them to see light within them. 

What about a woman who has to live with an abusive husband and her cultural compulsions don’t let her move an inch without his permission? How can she break the boundaries? 

Healing takes a long time. Spirituality is a long, meandering process but there is no such warning in this book. It makes it sound as easy as accomplishing a simple task of making a cup of tea.

Give this book in the hands of  a 20 year old and he would scoff at the possibility of letting go. He is eager to experience life, absorb the impressions and take all the risks.

 Give it in the hands of a 30 year old and he would shove it in one of the book shelves, as he has no time for “untethering his soul.” He would like to explore all the possibilities of reaching the zenith. He doesn’t believe in boundaries.

Give it in the hands of a 40 year old and he would say – ‘easier said than done’ because by now life has taught him many lessons. He has found his comfort zone. He also knows from his experiences that it is only when we struggle with ourselves, only when we try to make peace with an unfortunate event, only when we use all the available energy that we can remove the weight, that blocks our heart and mind. Untethering the soul is a far cry. 

Then Singer talks about unconditional happiness. The most shocking part is and I quote: “Do you want to be happy from this point forward for the rest of your life, regardless of what happens? Now if you say yes, it might happen that your wife leaves you, or your husband dies, or the stock market crashes or or your car breaks down on an open highway at night.” Then he says- just “let the events come and go.” “Don’t allow events to leave impressions inside of you.”
Really? Can you control the impressions that harrowing events leave on your heart and mind? Another shocking quote, “No matter what happens, you choose to enjoy the experience, if they starve you and put you in solitary confinement, just have fun.”

Though I didn’t dislike the book but it didn’t offer anything new. It is quite elementary.

I have given 3 stars to this book though it is said to be the bestseller.

Thank you.

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with  Hues Of Hope 

#Senryu #Poetry

Anger – blind alley
an irresistible walk
for some bullish freaks

***

Bare teeth, bulging eyes
hurl hollow words of dissent
to intimidate

***

Whimsical horses
with stirrups of fervent ire
perilous morons

***

Do they care for you?
beware, they are pretenders
with capricious love

***
© Balroop Singh

Written for #TankaTuesday poetry challenge (specific form) Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration.

Thank you.

For more poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with  Hues Of Hope 

Moon Melodies #HappyHolidays

Image from Pixaby

Moon sat with me last night
Adding magical light to my Christmas tree 
Mesmerized by his ancient tales
I looked at him in delight.

He told me who popularized Christmas trees
Why people lit them with small candles once upon a time
How love for Santa Claus grew
Who added the tradition of generosity to Christmas. 

He spoke of the snow that glitters in his light
Of myths that were created to ward off darkness
Of fairies that carried light
Of small handbells that added charm to carols.

He knew the first fragrance of seasons
The sweet scent of spring
The songs of summer birds
The glory of the first rain.

He told me about the secrets of life
Of holding hands despite strife
Of faith that never dies
If we learn to celebrate all seasons with a smile.
© Balroop Singh. December, 2022

Wishing you all many smiles and Happy Holidays. See you in the new year now.

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Here is my latest release  Hues Of Hope 

#Ekphrastic #Poetry Challenge – Crown #Cinquain

I am back after a long, fun-filled vacation, emotional reunions with friends and family after a gap of three years. Though jet-lagged, I am getting inspired by this beautiful challenge. Thanks to David for choosing a thought-provoking image for Ekphrastic poetry challenge this month.

“Ukrainian Figurines” by Kirill Shevchenko (Groder) Image by Кирилл Шевченко from Pixabay

Together?

The day
we all gathered
harmony of colors
depicted the dreams that connect us
with love

that day
we were summoned
by our mentor to show 
the luster of togetherness,
a glow

a show
of diligence,
of emotions that bind. 
our hair color could never change 
the goals

he said:
let’s meditate!
Donna stood tall, erect
Bob stood on his toes to show he’s 
alert 

just few
paid attention
to the artist’s vision
curious Cane watched from the edge
judging!

© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to craft syllabic poetry. I’ve written a Crown cinquain, a sequence of five cinquain stanzas functioning to construct one larger poem. This poem has five stanzas, each with syllable count of 2/4/6/8/2.

Thank you.

For more poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Here is my latest release  Hues Of Hope