sophia transmutes into
an encircling ethica
where intellectual and moral virtues
meld with ideal human excellence
to lure the harrowed psyche
into transformation
light years away celestial bodies spin
awe grips creativity
and art claims its home
raw, unhindered by the pettiness
of the projected self-image
encompassing vulnerability connecting
reinforces openness to experience
she refuses to feed their unmitigated desires
flourishing arête arrives
startling long held resistance
honoring that knowledge
creates a place in the world
a dwelling in sacred space
the fluttering self stills, quiets
through a stable structure of ideals
meaning shapes identity
provides the catalyst for growth
adventure and chaos spiral out renewing
interdependence arises out of
a matrix of intimate love
she binds the beings equidistant
freed from the imprisoning deontology,
its logical sequential march of language
flowing like the river to the sea
immutable and relentless,
release is obtained
wanderlust becomes a virtue
the authentic self, in all its multiplicity,
is liberated from the veil
a poisoned gown that sickens the soul
bloodied eyes bound in muslin
ablutions now wash clean the interstices
purification is not judgment, ritual is not dogma
a global self emerges
through dialogue in the liminal spaces
ecology of being blooms
the phoenix reminds us that
she who abides in fire is bliss
the only one living
without fear of consumption
ethics are forged with courage and character
Aeternitas in her magnanimity
charts the arc of eudaimonia
Chromapoetica 
um…maybe on one of those wraps for the car…haha…pettiness in projected self image…nice…seriously you took bumper stickers to an all new depth with your tale…my fav verse…
the authentic self, in all its multiplicity
is liberated from the veil
a poisoned gown that sickens the soul
bloodied eyes bound in muslin
ablutions now wash clean the interstices
as much for its content as how it feels to read aloud…
Thanks Brian and for letting me go off in metaphorical directions with the prompt!
I’ve often wondered how many layers we have to peel off before we do reach our true authentic self. We wear so many different faces for so many different reasons and, we all do it no matter if we think we don’t.
Very deep thinking here, very nice.
Thank you, I always appreciate your visits!
Hi Anna, I have to confess that a fair amount of this is on a plane that is higher than my brain’s comfort level. That said, there is also a great deal that even I (who specialize in children’s books) can appreciate. Ecology of being blooms, the self quieting, the matrix of intimate love–very interesting.
Thank you for engaging and commenting!
to me, this is the crux…you don’t have to follow the rules, if you have your own ideals that define yourself, as you grow.
through a stable structure of ideals
meaning shapes identity
provides the catalyst for growth
True, I believe in virtue ethics over deontology! Part of individuation and growth arises from sorting out ideals for ourselves. In the stages of moral development we have opportunities to arrive at our own conclusions and determine what will best define our ethics and bring us the flourishing of eudaimonia.
Holy hell, this is good!
Mama Zen, you always make me smile!
Jungian! Self-Individuation!
this poem is heavy into this (self actualization -which is Aristotelian)
wow this is a deep poem…will require some close reading.
it’s good, rich, replete with archetypal meaning (even the mandala is nice).
I like your comparison of the self with the Phoenix, and the usage of courage (arete) and the other ancient roman motifs too.
Your are quiet adept in you level of awareness and the ability to paint it into poetry, I ADMIRE.
thank you for your poem.
Thank you for the close reading and insightful comment. I studied Continental Philosophy in college and had several great professors (however, my degree is in Biology).
I love this:
“to lure the harrowed psyche
into transformation”
Thanks Shawna, I appreciated your poem.
Anna, I think I’m in love:) Amazing direction, well wow, that really is an understatement. But yeah, I love the direction you took with the prompt. Philosophy is one of my all-time loves and love the angles you delved into with your write. Your ending is about as perfect for the piece as could be thought of. Brilliant job:) Thanks again
Aw, you’ve made my day :). Philosophy is also one of my passions; I tend to write a lot of philosophical poems. This one is my own blend of virtue ethics, psychology, mythology, and art – my recipe for living; I’m thrilled you love it.
“purification is not judgment ritual is not dogma…” I loved that, and of course the verse above, and especially the phoenix stanza below; one who is eternally burning, indeed is born through burning, is unafraid of fire. How this came from a prompt about bumper stickers I have no idea, but it proves my long held opinion that prompts force us to write things we don’t even know we have and otherwise might never look for in that box in our heads where the poems live.
Also, “my karma ran over your dogma” is an old bumper sticker that might apply here. ;_)
So I was thinking about bumper stickers as maxims/aphorisms and how my philosophy doesn’t tend to fit into these types of statements. Also, I don’t think rules of conduct are very useful; ethics, for me, are about character. That said, I wanted to share some of my philosophy (in a clearly non-bumper sticker manner). Thanks for the laugh on ‘my karma ran over your dogma’.
rich and deep as always anna – your poems always lead me different paths and i think about this…then go on to the next…wait…but..go back..yes… you can also look at it this way…many fav lines in this but the line that hit me like a rocket and sticks with me is…
..art claims its home.. it does…daily…in so many different ways..thanks for another gorgeous poem
Thank you Claudia, it warms my heart to hear you enjoy the time you spend here. I think art is a gift we give the world that deeply needs and wants it (though sometimes it feels otherwise). I appreciate the gift you share with us through your poetry.
a beautiful dream of survival
navigation of happy distance
a dislocated inner landscape
expressed, earthed, returned
embodied with muddy hands
planting seeds, soothing ritual
Janet, it’s wonderful to hear from you. I thought this poem would resonate with you :). Thank you for the gift of your poem.
How you use language here creates an almost dreamlike picutre – I read this aloud and it’s even more so. Well done.
Thank you Glynn, I do try to set a mood for each poem.
Anna,
I love reading works that force me to the dictionary!! What a wonderful treatise. Kudos for taking on something, shall we say, out of the ordinary and different from what most would use as subject matter. “purification is not judgment, ritual is not dogma” What an interesting interjection. I’m glad you wrote this piece.
Well then Steve, you’re going to love your visits here ;)! Thank you for your thoughtful reading, your comprehension, and cognition. I do endeavor to provide ‘out of the ordinary’ themes that challenge readers (also because I love to explore).
Awesome, as always.
In attempt to link to prompt: Bumper stickers and banner slogans are an attempt to spread an idea or ideal deemed good for humanity, maybe they are kinda like arrows pointing at what people want. Our ideas are ahead of what we are capable of achieving. I think this poem sort of hints that such things as ethics and that ideal behavior that people want is not simply something that is just because it is said. There more to it than hoping a message sinks in, there’s a process, and a transformation.
I really enjoyed reading this poem.
Thank you Ravenblack, you always bring fresh insights when you visit for which I am immeasurably grateful. Yes, a process and transformation is required for something to travel from our awareness into our being, that’s exactly it.
I really enjoyed reading this…even though it sent me to the dictionary 😉 I did get the gist and felt the flow & passion in it. This verse spoke to me and carried me through the rest of the poem:
‘where intellectual and moral virtues
meld with ideal human excellence
to lure the harrowed psyche
into transformation
light years away celestial bodies spin
awe grips creativity
and art claims its home
raw, unhindered by the pettiness
of the projected self-image
encompassing vulnerability connecting
reinforces openness to experience’
How I’d have loved to study psychology & philosophy. How much I would have understood more of what I went through….Your poems makes me think, as always. Thank you, Anna 🙂
Thank you! Yes, you’ve hit on the emotional core of it and I’m thrilled it was thought-provoking for you. I deeply appreciate your continuing visits.
Very well written. Such imagery! It’s quite amazing really. I loved it.
Thank you that’s very kind of you to say.
Anna, this is so strong! To me, the single lines are especially powerful. From out of the mud and pavement cracks, a great bird of a poem!
Thanks Fireblossom, always lovely to see you here.
Very ekphrastic. Okay, I love my minimalism. I’m a fan of the spastic and/or essential in writing but you did a very good job of carrying my attention through the poem and keeping me thinking. (And also of taking me back to my philosophy and classics classes.)
Great poem!
Thanks, I’m glad it held your attention.
wow– I’m drowning in all of those complex nouns and ideas. j
I’m throwing you a life preserver.
Anna– don’t mistake my teasing– you are quite the prodigy and I am captivated by each and every poem you post. I love it that you do whatever you please and have such a powerful language and sense, an absolute arsenal. Your star will ascend. xxxJenne’
Thank you, that’s very kind of you to say Jenne’. I find it difficult to gauge intent when I don’t have body language and tone of voice as cues.
anna, when I am too lazy to consult the dictionary, I find myself reading the comments to understand all that goes over my wee little brain after digesting your poetry. a strong piece here. thanks.
Too funny. Thanks Sheila.
Excellent as always. I feel humbled when I read your thoughts and verse as though my degree is of the dime-store version that is a wannabe of yours. Believe it or not, that is a compliment. I always learn a great deal through your verse. Wonderful poetry.
Beth
Thanks Beth though I’m sure you have an excellent degree. I hope I have not offended.
Right and wrong and human flourishing, had to look those two up.
Excellent presentation of many petty things in world. It is not so
much the consumption I see, it is the consuming of the weakest
and least that I find contemptible. Excellent Expression of
your voice and your diversity of knowledge has always been
an inspiration, I have read you before under other names.
I’m not quite sure what you mean there at the end about reading me under other names – as in you’ve read other authors with a similar voice or you think I write other poetry sites (I do not).
powerful,
There are many layers on it.
smiles.
Smiles back, Morning.
Well, this is definitely the deepest bumper sticker poem I’ve read, lol… Love how your mind works. I can only imagine how the words swirl around in your head before they form into these cerebral works of art 🙂
Thanks Lori, I, like everyone, is stuck with the mind inside my skull. It has its processes and I can’t imagine any others. Thank you for your kindness and continued reading :)!
You went deep into the bumper sticker trenches. Mine was completely on one side and yours was on the other. Really making one think, love the imagery you convey and such great word play. Guess you blew that blonde bumper sticker away huh?..hahaha
No worries, here it is, maybe WordPress regurgitated your comment, ew. Yes, but yours was more fun. Thanks for the read and seeing beyond the blonde.
Great bumper sticker piece, you truly went into the depths. Left another comment but I think blogger ate it up.
deep and thought provoking, love your ability in painting vivid imagery with your brilliant words.
Oh, thought provoking is always music to my ears, thank you!
Expansive, internal, external, reflective, transformative..wonderful..greatly enjoyed…
Yes, I’m so grateful for your visits!
Amazing energy, sound usage (tension, release, strong rhythms) and very meaningful content.
Does one have to embrace and totally understand ethics to rise above? The trap is some abandon the responsbility towards others for convenience instead of moving to a level above.
In this case, it seems it seems Sophia’s transformation is transcendental, moving into a higher plane. This make this a very positive poem for me! With the amazing delivery, this becomes a truly wonderful work!
Zumpoems, it is great to see you here again. Thank you for your careful reading and compliment. As we come to terms with our psychological needs, gain wisdom about our responsibilities toward others, release fear, strive toward an ideal that embraces our multiplicity (one that doesn’t dominate our inner life through a central bullying ego), and resolve our issues around mortality, I do think it is possible to experience eudaimonia, to abide in it. That’s what makes this a very positive poem for me too.
Totally agree — we must first come to terms — be able to handle responsiblity at which point we need never have to be obsessively reponsible. 🙂