Saturday, June 4, 2016

The Ascetic--By James Rasmusson--United States

The Ascetic

Between the stillness and the calm
lay the hair-thin crevice that led him
to the Music of the Silence.

His tears were the blood of a fallen tree
his voice
the ripples of a morning pond.

Across the freshly fallen snow he walked
his bare feet
leaving no imprint.

James Rasmusson began writing in the 1960’s and immediately showed a love for seasonal, humorous, and philosophical poetry. In the late 70’s, he became an ardent photographer and soon found that the two artistic mediums cross pollinated each other. West Michigan is an art Mecca with over 100 galleries and art camps with Jim residing in the lovely coastal town of Holland, Michigan. A practitioner of Surat Shabd Yoga since 1972, his art is an expression of his lifetime love affair with nature and his quest for truth. James is the winner of many awards in both photography and poetry including the 2005 Shadow Poetry 5th biannual chapbook competition. The artist says he likes to underscore the abstract and tease the mind and be ever alert for juxtapositions that express irony, absurdity, and poignancy, desiring for people to feel both tension and resolution in his compositions.

4 comments:

  1. have sent you an illustrated version of your lovely poem via Karen
    angelee

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  2. OMG is this wonderful James! You must share this with PFT members. It is elegant and beautifully written! I love it! Blessings, Connie

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  3. Nice work, James. A joy to read and meditate upon. Thank you for sharing and continued blessings!

    -MJ (www.tgbtgpublictions.com)

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  4. Thank you, Isha, for the following--

    This poem, to me, makes me fall into love. How I do like the abstract concepts more particularly when I read the poet is a follower of Surat Shabd Yoga which I too was attracted to on my visits to India, I feel I understand this poem, the love generated between each word, This poet has written a superb piece and I send heartfelt congratulations to him.

    Yours sincerely
    Isha Wagner

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