#instruth

[instruth]

Genesis: 1:26

To protect oneself

is to love oneself

To care for oneself is to

care better for the other

Caring carefully,

not caring carelessly

To love oneself

is to love God

To know oneself

is to know God

Thou art created

in the true image of God

(Gen: 1:26)

©Johnny J P Lee

10 February 2024

HAIBUN: Gogyoshiren Poem + Haiku

Photo Image: Unsplash Images

[unmondefou]

Thank you @alex-a-roman for the tag game. share 5 comfort movies:

- Le Roi des masques (Bian Lian)

- The Godfather

- Devdas

- The Light Between Oceans

- The Mask (1994 )

I'm tagging, @heartofmuse , @dg-fragments

@nikithathampy , @silent-winds-world , @instruth , @mikefrawley , @justafrogandherumbrella . No pressure of course 😊 .

[sarah-irura]

Pass the happy! 🌻🌈 When you receive this, list 5 things that make you happy and send this to 10 of the last people in your notifications!

Thank you @unmondefou for the tag.

Reading books, legal texts, articles, basically any written material that I find interesting.

Writing anything that comes to mind either from legal research or from self reflection and experience.

Texting and chatting virtually, human connection albeit online gives me a sense of belonging.

Being engaged in tasks that challenge my intellect or spurs on meaningful debate among like minded individuals.

Listening to music (or should I say Linkin Park and Imagine Dragons mostly).

I am tagging @praggya1993 @instruth @dg-fragments @internalearthquake @seventhskywords @dbaydenny @scatteredthoughts2 @scribblersobia @dolores-hazy @dancing-on-the-waves@kiramalibu @katrinnac @adamantseal @aubriestar

@teaspirationss @just-4-thought

If you so wish to join the happy.

[dancing-on-the-waves]

What I Do Not Understand

What I Do Not Understand 

There are things I do not understand about the feelings I have The things from where I stand often don’t make sense of what I have Am I angry or sad? How do I know what to feel? Should I be bitter or glad? Sometimes I just want to squeal

I look all around at the world Then I look inside I sit waiting for the afterworld Away from the chaos near and wide.

Sad eyes and tortured cries abound Can’t we just have peace? Loving sighs and joyful cries all around Will the noise ever cease?

Why should hate, and not love, abide? Why should greed and war thrive? Why are we so cruel inside? Can’t we see what it means to be alive?

Should I hate the haters, curse the worst? Should I love the annihilators?  I feel like I’m going to burst. Can I live for what’s greater and not be a traitor?

Do I look straight ahead Or to what’s above? Who is happier the living or the dead? Where do I find the love?

How can I reach out to help To those who are lost and hurting? Who do I call on for help When life is so disconcerting?

Can I be in comfort with others despondent? Should I live in comfort while so many live without? How can I enjoy ice cream, cake and fondant While outside people starve from disease or drought?

These things I do not understand What feelings should I have? Feeling helpless where I stand Often make me forget what I have.

K. C. Barry

[ginadope]

mars fly trap

Baltic amber doesn’t charm someone Whose feet have felt those cold waters I know smiles that trap Small gestures heavier than the world Thoughts so bewitching I hide them from myself Spare me all of that I’ll find my amber myself Or take the time to polish yours I miss my fingers uncut

[instruth]

You Are Your Dream

A dream is everything you want to be;

everything you can be.

If you ever dream, it is already in you.

It is your dream,

You are your dream.

©Johnny J P Lee

11 November 2022

Gogyoshi Poem

(5 Verses)

Photo: J. P. Lee

[instruth]

I Walk The Streets Of Narrow

I walk the streets of narrow

To while away my sorrow

Praying to tomorrow

For a yesterday to borrow

Stick out my head to burrow

Till tears fill a wheelbarrow

With bitterness hard to swallow

And I hear a whiff of arrows

My hairs rising row by row

Eerie sounds of cursed crows

Cut my bone to the marrow

Plow my soul with a harrow

To feed the littered farrow

My face sliced to the furrow

And I see a raining of arrows

Fear sprouting to rapidly grow

Paralyzing me as I never know

Heartbeats rise to a billow

My voice down to the hollow

Red cheeks turn pale and sallow

I try to hide, high and low

Just to fend off the gallows

In self pity I wallow

Never be called a yellow

My instinct now set aglow

Rest my head on a pillow

Sinking to my bed below

Nothing I can do, go slow

Senses calm to a mellow

To wear a crown of hallow

©Johnny J P Lee

06 December 2022

Gogyoshiren Poem (30)

Photos Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

All Diminish In Time

footprints of time

delicate tinkles

imprints sublime

intricate wrinkles

all diminish in time

by faintly talk

preserved vanity

of dainty walk

conserved beauty

dust off as chalk

brilliant grins

bring out a smile

a full life begins

ring out from miles

the source of sins

melodies sweet

from underneath

tomorrows greet

a home bequeath

as memories meet

©Johnny J P Lee

27 November 2022

Gogyoshiren Poem (20)

Photos: J. P. Lee

[instruth]

Night Wind Over The Telephone Wires

stories to tell our children

and grandchildren

over five generations

that the strangest things happen

around the midnight hour

back in the early twenties

when life is simple

and love will hold us forever

a twenty dollar wedding

with church organ music

and a full solemnization

rent a ring for sixty cents

or buy one for six dollars

and two for ten dollars

come out as husband and wife

for a memorable thirty dollars

a wedding without a honeymoon

running away from four parents

leaving town, and out of town

a fugitive couple so in love

hardly have a good night sleep

even the rattling of an old jalopy

outside the cheap motel’s window

sounds like a police patrol car

with a gunshot in the dark

fired from a rusty exhaust pipe

and fearfully cuddling in bed

for shared loving consolation

when every unusual sound

is a matrimonial duty

by an intimate embrace

for our future generations

even when the night wind blows

over the telephone wires

©Johnny J P Lee

25 November 2022

Photo: J. P. Lee

[instruth]

baldy buddy bud

ready for the fudge and pud

bold stallions for studs

©Johnny J P Lee

18 November 2022

Haiku 5-7-5

Photos Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

THE LEAVES ARE FALLING

Fallen leaves

splash over my soul

Sculpturing my life

Painting on canvas

O! Vulnerable twins

Let me lie with you

on shivering grass

Quilting carpet for

an approaching harshness

The cold cold stab of winter

Fueling colors

to hide my melancholy

The spreading patterns

dance on my icy despair

Oh! I really need a cuddle

Till the robins sing of love

to open the wonders of the

charming smile of spring

showering its hoarded tears

while we had been hibernating

©Johnny J. P. Lee

12 November 2022

Gogyoshiren poem

(20 Verses)

Photos Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

Enough Of The Talk

Enough of the talk

Let’s take a walk

The glimpse of you

Among the blues

It stirs my soul

Out of control

I am consoled

Let it be so

Love in full bloom

as bride and groom

©Johnny J P Lee

12 November 2022

Gogyoshiren Poem

(10 Verses)

Photos Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

YESTERDAY

Yesterday

when I was young

and gay

life was a song

for you were there

as we strolled along

hand in hand, where

we sat together, among

thorns and roses, dare

amidst sound of gongs,

freely, without a care

you were always there

we’re ever together

in love, come what may

And we’re still here today

©Johnny J P Lee

10 November 2022

Gogyoshiren Poem

(15 Verses)

Photos, Sanjogsonsand

[instruth]

For Now The Blind Can See

Lonely moments I recall

All by myself in the gloom

Silence roars as fears befall

Stillness spinning the loom

In my mind I play a symphony

Before the darkness consumes me

Agonizing words strike a melody

Trickling tears to show my misery

I see good friends in my mind

Staying by me without a word

Never leaving me behind

Caring company they afford

Humming tunes too well acquainted

Changing all my sadness into joy

Take me back to places I’ve frequented

Renewed hope for a rejected lover boy

Lonely moments take me home

For now I know where I belong

My lonely heart stops a roam

Returning with a brand new song

In my soul I hum the symphony

I see the darkness leaving me

Consoling words strike a melody

Tears of joy returning to me

For now the blind can see

©Johnny J P Lee

09 November 2022

Gogyoshiren Poem

Photo Credit J. P. Lee

[instruth]

Family Brunch

8 years ago.

Glorious food, and ambience very conducive for a loving FamiLEE gathering. A Memorial Day of soft reflection. No booking. No reservation. Free seating. Can even join in with other diners. Order, pay and eat without a care in the world. No hassle. Plain & simple. No dress code. Talk as loud or as soft as you want. Feel at home. Relax. Cool. I will go again and ... ... ... again.

And I did.

©Johnny J P Lee

10 November 2022

Photos: J. P. Lee

[instruth]

FLUCTUATIONS

Fluctuations, mind, heart and soul

Facts and truth always will console

Liberty of will paints the path I walk

Deeds reign supreme way above talk

Recalling passing thoughts I find

Still living in the confine of mind

Times pass, moments that I miss

Reminiscing on our sensuous kiss

Concede

only to accede

Angry,

yet often I agree

in denial to conceive

Deceived,

yet convinced to receive

©Johnny J P Lee

10 November 2022

Gogyoshiren Poem

(15 Verses)

Photo Credit J. P. Lee