Two Poems
Quantum physics explained
An atom is a small thing
But filled with empty space
Around its core at awful speed
You’ll see electrons race.
Of course you will not see them
As they are rather small
And move so fast
It’s hard to see
if they are there at all.
Relative in size,
a speck of dust in a large room
depicts the area between
these items in the gloom.
Now, we are made of atoms!
So we are made of space!
So you and me and him and her
and all the human race
are not in fact material,
are not what we appear!
Oh my, that’s complicated
and even worse my dear
the small things have
much smaller parts,
all filled with space I fear.
For when I look at something
I change it with my view
So what I see is not at all
the same thing that you do.
So am I really here at all
and sitting in a chair?
Do I really have a face
and thinning greyish hair?
Do these eyes through which I look
And skin that helps me feel
exist only in my mind?
Pray what is there that’s real?
Is the world of things I see
illusion on the whole?
No! Thanks to God and Percy Sledge
I know that I have soul!
Anger
I know I should not,
But I sometimes do give in to irritation, even anger.
In fact, sometimes I allow myself to bathe in the feeling.
Mostly, it is towards someone I love - mostly.
As You know, and as I really do also know,
only those I love can hurt me - in a way that lasts.
Outrage towards a stranger, who has offended me,
usually dissipates quickly.
But as You know,
I have sometimes allowed resentment towards someone I love
to fester in my soul
For longer than it should.
This has happened more than once.
And as You know and as I know,
it will probably happen again.
Lord, I have an idea.
It is a humble suggestion for You.
In future, when unforgiving feelings enter my mind
And threaten to take over my heart
I ask this of You:
Whenever, I am annoyed, unforgiving, resentful, angry at someone,
Please send a blessing to that person
That is 10 times more powerful
than my negative feelings towards them.
Help me to remember this request at that time.
Help me to remember that I am the only one who suffers
From my negativity.
Help me to remember this at the summit of my wrath
And to laugh at my own stupidity.
Help me to laugh at the reminder that
I have so much more to learn
And that Your love always surrounds all.
Prep Class Poetry
Deniz Özbeyli, TurkeyTwo Poems
Lorcan Flynn, Germany