Journey to Ixtlan

I’ve written many poems about beauty. “Beauty Seen” is yet another one, this time considering if beauty can be properly presented beyond the original form.


Beauty Seen

I wish I could sketch the beauty seen
or take a picture that would preserve
the scope of all I've witnessed here

my life is experienced in splendor's realm
in my mind I am the unworthy visitor
an intruder walking halls I should leave

the presence of form and nature is too much
for this child with fragile feet of clay
with tools that fail to portray the grace

so here I am in my journaled quest
to express what cannot be told
the indescribable that I adore

I will capture what I'm allowed
by turn of phrase or photo frame
to show the world how it's blessed.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170622.

I am surrounded by amazingly lovely people. Though our interactions are limited, I learn much about myself and what I find beautiful in life. The poem “Point the Way” is about that journey.


Point the Way

You point the way
to beauty's rendezvous
predilections I embrace
the sum of my hope's desires
you may not be the one
instead a signpost with the hints
of what I wish for in my heart
of what I long for in my soul

we'll have our time in these days
I'll record the interplays
appreciating what you may bring
to life's exquisite masquerade
education by present company
the best of the world's assembly
I've seen the face of the belle
what more could I ask it to foretell?

in another lifetime, not in this place
if fates had been more kind
these notes would be replaced
by experience embraced by us
that is not the case sweet one
so I'll take what is offered
appreciate the sights and sounds
within this realm that fades away.

© 2017, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170223.

I began writing “Beauty’s Song” with the line “words are the mirror’s face”. It turned into a poetic expression about building a song in honor of a singular beauty.


Beauty’s Song

Letters echo what nature brought
character born of nurture’s womb
honed by the tides of time
by kin and friends helpful hands
pottery by the perfect mold
broken once it conveyed
unique creation oh so fair
stated by the characters.

Words are the mirror’s face
silver to the gold embraced
by a beauty worth much more
than fair metals sparkling bright
flashing to blind the eye
yet dim when I compare
the lights to brilliance I see
when looking beyond the glass.

Lines combine in stunning foil
as they strive to convey a truth
all can see and few can match
belle imbued to walk the earth
amongst the mortals like myself
too simple in dull comparison
when the certainty is expressed
in verity from God’s own hand.

Stanzas long to match in kind
splendor’s child now in my life
elegance in form and speech
now so close yet out of reach
perhaps this is best for all involved
as such visions are far beyond
the reach of a lowly soul
who sees more than I may grasp.

These lyrics are my heart’s desire
to state what grace I now see
the heavens have brought you here
angel’s sing in sweet refrain
ballad sprung from characters
groupings made to words imbued
into lines strung to stanzas’ voice
singing from the beauty’s song.

2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20161224.

It seems like I’m surrounded by people more beautiful and handsome than ever I’ve seen in my life. The continuing appreciation of them prompted me to write the poem “Dear Attraction”.


Dear Attraction

Dear attraction
my most close friend
you tease my heart
with nothingness
you yank libido
down empty halls
why must you linger
and haunt me so?

The choice was made
you had your say
now you've revolted
against that day
with further pokings
prompts to dash
with no direction
the walls too high.

That ship has sailed
to a distant shore
there you should stay
tease me no more
with whispered jests
of what could be
when none of that
is in this realm.

Yet still you prattle
look at the curve
background chatter
see the smile
the static drones
feel the firm
this does no good
when line is drawn.

Dear attraction
I'll say this last
Mother Nature
is quite the tease
Father Time
with jester hat
and you're their gift
I'll always have.

2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20161019.

The poem "Your Beauty" was inspired by a conversation I had with a friend. They claimed to not photograph well, even though they are very very (very) high in my list of photogenic people. The resulting poem covers inner and outer beauty, what the camera shares, the limits of beauty appreciation, and recognition of humanity in the face of inherent beauty.


Your Beauty

If you could know your beauty
how you appear to my eyes
you would know of God's grace
visited upon this mortal one.
The outer is the starting point
the inner claims inspection too
between the two I am impressed
by the sum of fairness shown.

The glass eye agrees with me
capturing life for all to see
put to paper or computer screen
vision shared of your beauty.
It is with joy that I deliver
circumstance held in amber
images produced to fast confirm
motion blessed or calm conferred.

Is this a bridge to greater depths
an invitation for us to play?
The Bard makes warning to such fools
to thus dash you will lose.
I'll not claim Cupid's shot
my praise is not romantic thought
it is appraisal of the facts
dispassioned view of handsomeness.

I'll not say you're perfect
still human is your cross to bear
yet a blemish does not detract
from the whole your cloth is made.
Perhaps I see you in times of joy
or you have an ease with me
either way I am so blessed
by the best of life's congress.

© 2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20160722.

I was looking over Tumblr for inspiration, my go-to place for daily poetry stimulation. I came across a meme that said “reblog if you think its fine for guys to wear makeup, and it can make them more attractive to the opposite sex”. I’ve always thought it was a bum deal for guys to miss out on the cute dresses and beauty enhancing makeup, but that’s the trade-off for benefiting from the patriarchal hierarchy.


Manscaping

May I wear the primer
to ensure the rest stays on
put to the face and eyes
to pave the way for my beauty.

Might I add foundation’s blur
make even sight you see
from brow to chin covered thin
with a tone that finds the mean.

I request that I put the powder
set the former in its glory
taking brush to the skin
with natural as the end result.

I beg for the touch of rouge
put to the cheeks in pursuit of youth
accentuate the cheeks to see
flattering division of high and low.

I’ll beseech to put on my lips
the color I long to share
with gloss to accentuate
with liner to mark the space.

An appeal to set the highlights
illuminate the whole in the glow
shimmering end to creation’s goal
of this one perfect manscaping.

© 2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20160703.

A friend's circumstances prompted me to write “Your Being”.


Your Being

Beauty shone to the world
sadness bled from the wounds
staining perfection both in and out
with relationship purgatory.
The tears are no longer wet
yet they drown you happiness.
Why must the world betray
the grace of God most treasured?

Unappreciated by a single soul
loved by the much of the world
sadly this is not enough
for the heart seeking company.
History has made its mark
on your sense of worthiness.
The biography has been set
when the years are inspected.

Yet the future is not done
as the others move to the front
replacing those who came before
dim of sight to beauty born.
I wish I could hold you up
to show them the error of their ways.
Blindness must be their failing
when they don't see your being.

© 2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20160424.

The poem "God's Creativity" is a sideways look at the topic of obsession. Beauty invites unreasonable contemplations. Denying this only asks for damage due to suppressed thoughts and urges. The path forward is to honor the thought and then move it along. Another may replace it, such is the nature of predilections, but this is also the flow of God's creation. In the end the soul will be purer for the attempt to merely observe where appropriate.


God's Creativity

Obsession is the purest form of wanting something I'd adore
if it were available, feast for this mere mortal.
So pretty pretty to my eyes, so lurid are the lustful thoughts,
thankful that only God knows the depths of passion's plunge.

Divine seek to aid this one, through infatuation's urge.
Deny the compulsion of neurosis, foregoing the manic adoration.
Reality check on the aisle of life, price-check on that lusty thought,
what is the price I'd pay if life could turn out that way?

Loveliness will have its time, splendor in life's domain.
I am blessed to witness this, the extent of my accomplishments.
I'll thank the obsession for visiting, reminding me that I'm human still.
Inspiration follows these saucy thoughts, bid farewell as lines are wrought.

In their place there is a trace of the beauty I'm meant to see.
From the lust there is a love of divine's place in you and me.
Grace is the my balancing place, in between what could be beauty,
embraced by the harsh realities in the hands of God's creativity.

© 2016, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved, 20160222.

The poem “Mote of God” is about the small beauties in life, and how they are captured by those who work in the arts.


Mote of God
Poem for Day 344 – 20151211

A mote of God's blessing in hand,
beauty's potential for my fellow man.
How do I know I have touched
another soul distance yet close at hand?
Dancers glide across life's stage
bodily motion without any peer.
Musicians instruments alone
speak a language more perfect in refrain.
Poets frame the world they do see
motion and song revealed in the beauty.
Recognition is returned
with words stretched across the universe.
So mote it be they do exclaim,
the divine smiles back on a fellow man.

© 2015, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.

A friend wrote about the bane of makeup, and how it becomes too integral in the judgment of others. My poem “Beautiful Lady” contemplates her brave words.


Beautiful Lady
Poem for Day 293 – 20151021

Beautiful lady, free of paint,
I bear witness to your transparency,
your soul bare of cosmetics,
unburdened by worldly affects.
When I see you I know it's true,
the vision of God's true face.
No agenda is hidden here,
I celebrate at your true form.
The world disagrees with me,
their souls are broken by history.
I wonder if they can comprehend
the depth of their transparency.

Why does the world relegate
your fashion choice to be judged?
What has constructed this bold lie,
that you are dirty, ugly, or lazy?
The fanciful has spoiled the rest,
the bar set too high for the common.
There is more to life than being painted,
more to do than primping and preening.
Attention put elsewhere is condemned
instead of praise for the its wisdom.
There is more to life than looking good
when the welfare of all is concerned.

They say you are invisible,
the gaudy is required to catch the eye.
I say that this is far from the truth,
there is more at play than this.
The clowns may attract attention,
hiding frowns behind the painted smiles.
I'd never want this for you my friend,
fly free from the disguise of pain.
You'll not hide yourself behind
arcs of dark and brush of blush.
You're on display as imperfect human,
so much more than a perfect masque.

I've said my peace for all to hear,
an advocate for my natural friend.
How I wish you could believe
these words I've written for you to see.
Perhaps you do, and this is my hope,
and all that is left is to celebrate.
To speak our minds, to show our colors,
in ways natural to who we are.
In the endless is so much more,
the Lord's face showing as it is meant
on his daughter's visage free of shame
unburdened by worldly affects.

© 2015, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved.