The Lion and the Sheep

Manatita is an esteemed author living in London, UK. He writes spiritual books, flash fiction and esoteric poetry, his favourite genre.

Wisdom from Sri Chinmoy

"Remain cheerful,
For nothing can pierce through
The solid wall of cheerfulness." -Sri Chinmoy

A Free Verse Sonnet

Born a Lion, I believed myself to be a sheep.

I roamed for millennia, in a desert of delusion,

Enjoying the ignorance of separation.

Bleating! Bleating! My fate seemingly sealed,

I made unusual noises … wandered in a jungle of despair.

Until one day, I heard a roar within a streak of Light,

Felt an inner energy, which broke my chains.

A great lioness chanted my glories,

Holding a magical mirror to my face.

I saw myself, like my fellow comrade,

In the blazing temple of supernal Love.

Re-discovering the voice of my ancestors,

I roared with the power of innumerable lions,

Dancing with the joy of a thousand prodigals.

-Manatita, The Lantern Carrier, 29^th March 2018

Fear, Cantata One And Two. A Free Verse Sonnet

Shadowy shapes hovered around my apprehension.

A black mist enveloped me,

Spinning my mind in the corridors of darkness.

A seizure of panic took hold, and I felt a mortality,

As helplessness gripped my fragility.

My heart raced like a Mercedes,

And I died one thousand deaths.

Sweet bosom friend, I may not welcome you,

As your uneasy discomfiture, drains my emotions.

Yet you sharpen and preen the Heart,

Erasing its timidity and lack of confidence.

Heightening the instinct and fortitude,

You shine as a beacon for reverential awe,

And I bow and pay homage, to the wonder of Love.

-Manatita, The Lantern Carrier, 29^th March 2018.

Wisdom From Sri Chinmoy

" The determination in your heroic effort,

Will permeate you mind and Heart,

Long after your success or failure has been forgotton." -Sri Chinmoy

The Lion and the Sheep

© 2018 manatita44

Comments

manatita44 (author) from london on April 07, 2018:

Good morning my Brother Cam.

Just after 6.30 a.m here in Nairobi Kenya. Gave my first spiritual seminar at a Hotel yesterday. Another today. Met some really nice people.

My brother Frank someimes say "Thank you for liking my Flash. I find that so cute! So thank you for liking my poetry with a difference. I think I'm back to Love in the later pieces, except the unpublished ones.

You made me chuckle. But showed a tremendous appreciation of my work. Well read I'm sure.

Chris Mills from Traverse City, MI on April 07, 2018:

After reading these two pieces, two questions comes to mind. Who am I? and, do I really want to know? It is an inconvenience to be disturbed in one's comfortable delusions. But if the rousting works, the discovery will be like a new birth.

Brilliant insights wrapped in masterful wording.

manatita44 (author) from london on April 04, 2018:

Lost the best bit Nikki.

To tired to do it again. God's willing, I'll be in Kenya for three months from tomorrow and my time here may be restricted for a while. Om Shanti!

Nikki Khan from London on April 04, 2018:

The symbolism of lion and sheep is so powerful, and your writing style has divine touch in it.We all should stay like sheep but whenever difficulty comes, should attack like a lion.

Loved reading it, I was wondering how come I didn’t comment before?

I came on this page before but I think got stuck with something as my kids are home these days, so lots to do.

God bless you and your family.

Ann Carr from SW England on April 03, 2018:

Yes thanks, all fine here. Catching up yet again!

Ann

manatita44 (author) from london on April 03, 2018:

Thank you, Ann.

We are all Lions. The delusion of Ignorance makes us believe that we are sheep. That is the essence of the poem. We are made in the image of Spirit and are all candles of Love, meaning the Absolute Light, the perennial Entity of which we came, live and have our being. We are all sons and daughters of the Divine.

Good to see you. Hope that all is well and God bless you with serenity on this peaceful day.

Ann Carr from SW England on April 03, 2018:

I enjoyed these two verses, especially the sheep and the lion. The latter has such power and hope. We should all be lions!

Ann

manatita44 (author) from london on April 01, 2018:

Ha ha,

You like my images, Bro. Nice! I re-awakened to my true Self ... to the fact that I was a Lion and not a sheep ... that I was made in the image of Her Majesty and not an isolated box. Cool, eh? Gratitude

Ioannis Arvanitis from Greece, Almyros on April 01, 2018:

"I saw myself, like my fellow comrade,

In the blazing temple of supernal Love."

What can I say that it wouldn't be lacking!

So many powerful messages for one who has the eyes to see!

May God of Love keep you healthy to giving us gems!

Om Shanti!!

Sean

manatita44 (author) from london on April 01, 2018:

Thank you, Blogger Mou. Appreciated.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 31, 2018:

Thank you, Alicia.

Yes. This one seems popular.

I'm actually saying the same thing in both poems but in different ways. A bit like going to Rome with a ship and airplane. Happy Easter!

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on March 31, 2018:

I like both poems, as always, but I love the symbolism of the lion and the sheep in the first one. I hope you have a very happy Easter, Manatita.

Blogger Mou from Bangladesh on March 31, 2018:

Great Poetry.Love it.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 31, 2018:

Thank you Gypsy.

Hope your weekend is indeed peaceful. Happy Easter!

Gypsy Rose Lee from Daytona Beach, Florida on March 31, 2018:

Wonderful poetry and blessings to you. Happy Easter weekend to you and yours.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Yes, Shanmarie,

You think too much. The mind has always been a barrier to receptivity. When there are a great many things running around in there like scorpions or monkeys, then meditation or even prayer becomes impossible.

That is why each spiritual master prescribes discipline: Selfless service, mantras, practising loving kindness, singing and so forth. They are designed to break down the ego and expand the Heart. Company is good as you are bound to see things in your own way, sooner or later.

This will create suffering, which ultimately helps the soul. Just one good friend talking to another and since you brought it up, then I speak of it. Actually running helps also, but bear in mind that nothing can happen without longing. You must feel the need to want what you seek. Many of us don't. Sri Chinmoy teaches that Light is wanted least. people are generally afraid of it.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Lol. Funny Dee.

You appreciate the woman now, right? Yeh, I like the connectedness. Happy Easter!!

Tim,

you show a real understanding of my work. God continue to bless your noble and discerning soul.

I trust that your family are well. Happy Easter to all at home.

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on March 30, 2018:

Do not underestimate the power of connectedness. In the first poem, the roar of the female does wonders. Enjoyed both pieces.

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on March 30, 2018:

Blessings, dear Manatita44,

We are mere cubs without the lion inside our hearts, and through Him, we can enjoy being sheep under the loving eye of the Shepherd.

You are able to say and express concepts that would take volumes to fill for some.

God bless you.

Thank you for beautiful poetry with resonating meaning and peace,

Sincerely,

Your brother,

Tim

Shannon Henry from Texas on March 30, 2018:

Hi,

I meant exclusively, not elusively. But I guess you figured out what I meant. Auto-correct drives me nuts. Sometimes it's fine when I proof read and then it changes when I hit send.

I'm fine. Thanks for asking. Moods of the soul. I like that. Perhaps I've drifted, I don't know. I think and feel too much sometimes. Time has been my subject of contemplation lately.

Hope you're doing well.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Yes, my Dear Paula.

Shanmarie said as much. Both roles are fulfilling.

There is a third way. The Lion is God who reminds me that I am made in His own image ... that I have gone astray. His roar is Grace which shatters my chains so I can be free. Thank you so much!! HAPPY Easter!

Suzie from Carson City on March 30, 2018:

Manatita.....Fascinating verses. We humans are of multiple creatures, demeanor & attitudes. I believe it is preferable to be "gentle as a lamb," with babies & small children, the majority of the time. When dealing in life with the human adult, it may be wise to be a lion of strength, confidence & protectiveness. It's important to remember that the Lion does much more than r o a r....as they fulfill their role of defender & provider.

Appreciate your gift of food for the soul. Peace, Paula

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

YesYes, Elijah. Good grasp and wisdom here. I also like your last three lines. It is a kind of re-birth, of being born again. In Yoga we think of it as the descent of Grace. The Buddhists call this enlightenment, meaning an 'aha' moment. Not Enlightenment with the capital E as in Realisation.

But it does make things a lot clearer. Thank you so much!! Happy Easter!

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

And to you, Linda.

More tomorrow. God bless your loving Heart.

Linda Lum from Washington State, USA on March 30, 2018:

The lion and the lamb. Beautiful imagery. Blessings to you on this holy weekend.

Elijah A Alexander Jr from Washington DC on March 30, 2018:

The Lion and the Sheep, Manatita, is a prefect metaphor of our being human and woman rather than man. Sheep, except the bighorn, are so separated from their own inner being that they require man to direct and protect them. They are so lost that they will not even drink from moving water.

"Until one day, I heard a roar within a streak of Light, Felt an inner energy, which broke my chains."

That statement is what I call "new conception" in light of Christian's "born again" requiring another conception, gestation, trivial and then the birth.

Very well said.

Aloha

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Thank you, Peggy.

I guess it has an interesting title. I grew up with a story like that, but I heard a song a couple of days ago which made me think this way. Ever the creative, I just had to put it on paper. Thank you so much!1

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on March 30, 2018:

Really enjoyed your verses especially the Lion and the Sheep. Happy Easter to you!

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Thank you, Bill. Respect and equally to the family.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on March 30, 2018:

Terribly late on this one. So sorry. I just wanted to stop by and wish you a very Happy Easter, with blessings sprinkled on your from above.

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Me too, Bro. Eric,

Otherwise will be Saints and Seers. A Loving Easter to you and family. Gratitude.

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on March 30, 2018:

Well done. I think I fluxuate

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Yeh! Send me a copy, Frank, I'll dance to it.

Cool! You are using the words of the esoteric now. (smile) Soaring like a eagle, the song-bird of the soul. Gratitude. Happy Easter!!

Frank Atanacio from Shelton on March 30, 2018:

love your sonnets.. Me... I wanna walk with the lions, Soar with the Eagles... hey isn't this a song? LOL go job my friend

manatita44 (author) from london on March 30, 2018:

Thank you, Shanmarie.

You seem to have drifted from those of longing to those expressing other moods of the soul. Same message and same difference, I suppose, and you have dealt with the poll very well. My poem supports you..

How are you? keep on keeping on, my dear. Never give up! Life can be so beautiful!!

Hi John,

You like that style too, I see. Glad you understood how I conveyed the varying moods of the soul in its dealings here with life. Thank you so much!!

Indeed Tom, indeed! Welcome here and thank you so much!

Shannon Henry from Texas on March 29, 2018:

Interesting poll question. I'm not sure I'd want to be elusively either one... Like the lion lying with the lamb. There's a time to be one or the other and a time to be both.

Nice contrast of emotions between the two poems. I really enjoyed this hub.

John Hansen from Queensland Australia on March 29, 2018:

Nice work, Manatita. I enjoyed both poems and the wisdom contained within the words.

Tom Cornett from Ohio on March 29, 2018:

A great poem with spiritual images and deep emotions.