Post No. 134: For My 44th Birthday in Apt. No. 404

(Image by Paul Whiting)

My 44th Birthday in Apt. No. 404

I feel like a kid
in Apartment 404...
"44th Birthday!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: I am glad that I moved to my new studio apartment! It is wonderful to have a place to myself, where I can let it all hang out, and also have to not answer to a single soul but my own! Anyway, I thought that it was so funny that I was having "My 44th in Apartment No. 404," that I decided to get some numbered birthday candles and do a 'visual play' on them! So, I placed the numbers over the plastic covering to my birthday cake, and that is how the pic "My 44th Birthday in Apartment No. 404" was taken!

And this poem was only published on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog.

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 134 was edited on September 19th, 2023.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 133: For Luna — The Goddess In Winter Light!

(Image by Paul Whiting)

The Goddess In Winter Light

The Goddess Luna
In The Winter Light Is Such
A Wonderful Sight!

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: This poem is an homage to The Goddess Luna (The Moon).

By the way, the image illustrating this poem is what inspired this poem! And I took this photograph of the moon, as seen through a tree decorated with miniature lights, on February 19th, 2011, which is the same day that I originally published this poem on my "Small All White in the Forest" blog.

However, when I republished this poem on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, I did not utilize the original publishing date. You see, I was trying to keep all of the republished posts from my various blogs in as chronological of an order as I could manage—while still grouping relevant blog posts together—and that is why I republished this poem on March 6th, 2022 on my new "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog, which I created in order to have "a place to place all of my best writing in one place!"

Thus, early March is still considered to be "winter," because the first day of spring is not officially until March 19th, or 20th, or 21st, of each year; but I consider February as the last month of winter and I also consider March as the beginning of "spring" with the Spring Equinox, or "The First Day of Spring," being the 'official first day' of spring, rather than the literal first day of spring!

And this poem was also published on my "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blog (please see the hyperlink below for the blog), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message that I am trying to convey through "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer."

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 133 was edited on April 7th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

My poems that are Haiku in their style—within which one stanza is composed of three lines, where each line has words containing five syllables, seven syllables and five syllables, respectively—are a lot more like Senryū poems in that the topic of these poems is typically about people, rather than the topic of these poems being about nature, as is usually the case in classic Haiku poems. And that is why I call these types of poems "Haiku-style." –Paul Whiting [September 19th, 2023]

Post No. 132: For the Newest Upgrade of "Footprints in the Sand"

(Image from Quiet Earth)

Footprints in the Sand 3.0
[A "Footprints in the Sand" poem poetic adaptation]

One night, The Devil dreamt he was
watching the beach of life unfold before
A Child Of God and many scenes from This
Child's life flashed across the sky. In each
scene, The Devil noticed sets of footprints
in the sand. Sometimes, there were two
sets of footprints. And other times, there
was simply one set of footprints.

This bothered The Devil because he noticed
that during the lowest periods of his life,
whenever This Child Of God was suffering
from any anguish, sorrow, or defeat, The
Devil could see just one set of footprints.

So, The Devil said to This Child Of God,
"I told you, boy, that you must follow my
example and 'Accept The Devil As Your
Saviour'—so that you will choose my lying,
cheating, stealing and blaming ways—but
I have noticed that during the most trying
periods of your life there has been just
one set of footprints in the sand!"

"Why, why, why when you needed to be like
The Devil the most, have you not been lying
at every turn, cheating in order to get your
way, being totally selfish, showing no regard
for your fellow human beings and childishly
victim blaming as I would have done?"

And This Child Of God replied to The
Devil, "The times, boy, when you have
seen one set of footprints in the sand,
during the most trying periods of my
life, whenever I was suffering from any
anguish, sorrow, or defeat, is when
I was being carried by The Love Of God."

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to it's sun the light and I are as one!"

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: Someday, I hope to be the next Walt Whitman, or Robert Frost, or Mary Stevenson! And I hope that my name will synonymous with some of my poems or, even, aspects of my poetic phrases...

...For example, the way the title "Footprints in the Sand" is associated with that poem, along with the stanza, "The Lord replied, 'The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.'"

And that is why I decided to write this poetic adaptation, or this "upgrade," so to speak, of the famous poem by Mary Stevenson in order to talk about the importance of looking to The Love Of God during troubled times in our lives!

So, that is why I poetically adapted that famous poem to talk about relying on The Love Of God during troubled times:

"And This Child Of God replied to The Devil, 'The times, boy, when you have seen one set of footprints in the sand, during the most trying periods of my life, whenever I was suffering from any anguish, sorrow, or defeat, is when I was being carried by The Love Of God.'"

And this poem was also published on my "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 132 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 131: To Gaia The Goddess On Valentine's Day: "Are You Going My Way?"

(Image from ScienceBlogs)

"Are You Going My Way?"

Oh, Holy Mother Earth,
Are You Going My Way?
Will You Travel With Me
Down My Karmic Highway?

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this poem can be summed up with the following statement: What I am trying to convey in this poem about my great love for Gaia The Goddess is a loving message about totally respecting Mother Earth totally and completely.

In other words, totally and completely respect "Holy Mother Earth!" And love Mother Earth—and all of life—unconditionally by loving Mother Earth—and all of life—conditionally.

Therefore, love Mother Earth unconditionally (with all of your heart and mind, body and soul) because She is Your Goddess Mother. In other words, you were born on Planet Earth (Gaia The Goddess) and you are reincarnating through Your Karma Lifetimes with Gaia, because She gave birth to Your Karmic Body (the body in which you were born based upon Your Karma). Also, love Mother Earth conditionally (with respect to all of the various conditions of life) for the simple reason that Gaia gave birth to Your Karmic Body.

In other words, love Your Mother Earth conditionally (with respect to the various conditions of life) and unconditionally (with all of your heart and mind, body and soul) by always—and in all ways—taking the time, energy and resources to:

1. Hydrate, feed, cloth, shelter, educate and respect every single human being. (For, "You And Your Brother Are Both Keepers," because "We Are All A Part Of God!" Therefore, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You," because "You And The Other Are One!")

2. Create worldwide human systems (that is, social, educational, business, economic, infrastructure and government systems, etc.) that are "green and clean" (that is, environmentally-friendly utilizing clean energy), organic, sustainable, fair trade and as locally oriented as possible in order to create as small of a "human footprint" as possible for each human in each lifetime. And always—and in all ways—respect all of life. (For, "We Are All A Part Of God!" Therefore, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You," because "You And The Other Are One!")

3. Treat all living beings with total respect, including microbes, plants, insects, animals and, of course, people. In fact, treat all living beings with the very same respect that you would treat your very own soul until the end of time. (Therefore, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You," because "You And The Other Are One!" For, "God Loves All Of Us, Because God Is All Of Us!")

4. Treat all "non-living" beings with total respect, because "Inanimate Objects" have souls too. For, every thing that exists is alive—that is, 'each thing' that exists lives—because everything has consciousness—that is, 'all things' have consciousness. In fact, treat all "non-living beings" with the very same respect that you would treat your very own soul until the end of time. (Therefore, "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You," because "You And The Other Are One!" For, "God Loves All Of Us, Because God Is All Of Us!")

5. And treat yourself with total respect. In fact, treat yourself with the very same respect that you would treat God until the end of time. (For, "You And God Are One," because "You Are The Part Of God That God Created Just For You!" And "God Loves All Of Us, Because God Is All Of Us!" Therefore, "Simply Love Yourself The Way That God Simply Loves You!")

By the way, this poem is what partly what inspired to me to think about developing my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice. You see, I was trying to create a spiritual practice that encompassed the idea that "We Are One With God" and, thus, "We Are One Each Other." And, therefore, the Golden Rule, or "Do Unto Others As You Would Have Done Unto You," is the one of the most important spiritual principle that exists!

And this poem was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher," "Three Dark Horses" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this poem applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This poem was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://threedarkhorses.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 131 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Poetry is using the fewest words possible in order to describe all that is possible to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]

Post No. 130: I Love the Month of February for Three Reasons

(Image by Paul Whiting)

I Love February
for Three Reasons:
(Or, "You And Your Brother Are Both Keepers!")

1. February is, of course, the month for Valentine's Day (February 14th), which is "a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and ... has become a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world"; it is the month for "Singles Awareness Day," or "Singles Appreciation Day" (February 15th), which is "an unofficial holiday celebrated by single people"; plus, it is the month for "Galentine's Day" (February 13th), which is a "day for women to celebrate their friendships with their lady friends." In addition to that, February is the start of the Lunar New Year; it is the month of Groundhog Day; it is the month of the Super Bowl; and it is the month of "One Billion Rising," which is "the biggest mass action to end violence against women in human history"; plus, it is the month-long observation of the following, which are listed in alphabetical order (by the way, I culled these from different websites, so this is not an all-inclusive list by any stretch of the imagination): American Heart Month (also known as National Heart Month, or National Heart Healthy Month), Black History Month (also known as African-American History Month), Body Awareness Month, Creative Romance Month, Date Your Mate Month, National Condom Month, National Mend a Broken Heart Month, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, National Weddings Month, and a lot more...

2. February is also the birth month for the two greatest Presidents in American history: George Washington (February 22, 1732) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809), which is why it is the month for Presidents' Day (which is observed on the third Monday of February) in the United States of America!

3. February is, additionally, the shortest month of the year! Plus, it is also my birth month. And that is very fitting, because I've always felt like an "underdog." So, having the shortest month as my birth month seems fitting because, as a "Pisces on The Aquarian Cusp," I'll just come from out of nowhere, with nothing in hand, and create a thought that brings about World Peace:

"You And Your Brother Are Both Keepers!"

God Does Not Throw Anyone Away...Ever! God—Literally—Cannot "Throw Us Away." And That Is Because We Are—Literally—All A Part Of God's Physical And Spiritual Body!

Thusly, We Are—Literally—All A Spiritual ("Energy") And Physical ("Matter") Part Of God. Therefore, God Loves All Of Us Because "God Is All of Us!"

And So, "We Are All A Part of God!"

-Paul Whiting
(a.k.a., Small All White in the Forest)
"I am no barrier to its sun; the light and I are as one!"

My Poetic Notes:

The reason that I wrote this prose can be summed up with the following statement: "You And Your Brother Are Both Keepers!"

By the way, this was the first post which started my new "The Oneness Of God" Spiritual Practice.

And this prose was also published on my "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer" blogs (please see the hyperlinks below for the blogs), since I feel that the message in this prose applies to the message I am trying to convey through "Poet, Artist and Philosopher" and "Paul Whiting — A Creative Writer." Plus, I feel that the message in this prose applies to the message I am trying to convey through my new "The Oneness Of God" spiritual practice!

This prose was written in Portland, Oregon.

-Paulee

https://poetartistandphilosopher.blogspot.com

https://paulwhitingwriting.blogspot.com

This "Small All White in the Forest" Post No. 130 was edited on May 6th, 2024.

"Prose is using all of the words that are necessary in order to describe all that is necessary to describe." –Paul Whiting [June 1st, 2022]