[Oe List ...] Fwd: August 27 from Jaime

[Jaime R Vergara]

j'aime la vie


Yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today, participate. In all, Celebrate!



-----Original Message-----
From: Jaime Vergara <pinoypanda2031 at aol.com>
To: editor <editor at saipantribune.com>
Sent: Sat, Aug 24, 2013 5:33 pm
Subject: August 27


At the center
 
The poetry sings to the tune of Try to Remember, that famous Tom Jones song in the mid-60s that evengot the mellow voices of Nana Mouskouri, Andy Williams, Harry Belafonte, EdAmes, Roger Williams, the Brothers Four, the Kingston Trio, and the lively beatof Gladys Knight and the Pips on vinyl.   Jerry Orbach originally sang it onBroadway’s Fantastiks. 
 
When youencounter 
the light at thecenter, 
the final dawn 
of worldsconverging.
When life'sillumined 
by light at thecenter, 
assured bywisdom's 
swift emerging.
When knowing'sended 
in light at thecenter, 
and life's sacredmeaning 
is in yousurging. 
Then at the center,
in blindingencounter 
you be it.
 
What does it mean to “be it” at the center?  
 
As it is in our Oral English in China, “encounter” is our primary pedagogicalmode. Now, encounter is not just saying “hello” to friends we meet, or wave at folkson encounters in the street.  Encounterhas more of the quality of a forceful bump that may occasion a radical shift inconsciousness, a reformulating of images, which, in science, is called aparadigm shift.
 
The lyrics of our song were penned by kindred spirits in the70s.  As we unwind into our exit out ofthis page, we realize that sometimes, prose will have to give way to poetry soreaders can hear us sing.
 
There are five directions in the Chinese language: east, west, north,south, and center.  Wu fang, the center, qualitatively different from being in themiddle, Zhong in Zhongguo (country) and Zhongguoren(people), is more akin to the stillness at the center of being that is ourfocus this week.  It is from thisposition that one dares take the transcendent lucidity from the heights ofOlympus, to the immanent intensity of the depth and profound core of being onthis earth.  It is the courage to care atthe center of the mystery of life itself.
 
As you can tell, we wax poetic on the subject.  Now, back to our song.
 
When youencounter 
the peace at thecenter 
where earthlyhopes 
are alltranscended.
When life'sunburdened 
with peace at thecenter 
where worldlycares 
are allsuspended.
When you'redelivered 
to peace at thecenter  
for mortal foes 
your hatred'sended.
Then at thecenter, 
where no problemsenter 
you be it.
 
There’s a lagoon shore bench not too far from the Oleai Center wherethe FHB is located, and a ledge where planters are placed at Garapan Square,where I spent late afternoons or early evenings humming my song.  At the center is in the midst of ordinaryexistence. 
 
When youencounter 
the joy at thecenter, 
your tinglingdeeps 
in animation.
When you'repossessed 
by the joy at thecenter, 
all thingsreceived 
withaffirmation.
When you arespeechless 
in joy at thecenter, 
all moments brim 
with wildvibration, 
Then at thecenter, 
in wonder filledrapture 
you be it.
 
At the center, we encounter awe, we become awe-filled, and theexperience is awe-some.
 
When youencounter 
the life at thecenter, 
condemned to be 
a dead manwaking,
When you areboundless 
with life at thecenter, 
compelled to live
on waterwaltzing,
When you are risen
to life at thecenter, 
a man who isageless 
with historywalking,
Then at thecenter, 
while dancingforever 
you be it.
 
No need to wonder.  We are notdying; we are being our encounter, and we are dancing!


Jaime Vergara
pinoypanda2031 at aol.com

yesterday, appreciate; tomorrow, anticipate; today. participate. In all, celebrate!

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.wedgeblade.net/pipermail/oe-wedgeblade.net/attachments/20130825/ee6bda09/attachment-0001.htm>