Category: Poems

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The Present Is A Present

Steve Rowe

The Present Is A Present You cannot get into the future. You cannot get into the past. You cannot get out of the present. Therefore time as we know it doesn’t really exist. There is only the present. The present does not pass through time; Time passes through the present. It’s important to understand this; Guilt from what you think is the past, taints the present; Worrying about what you think is the future also taints the present; There is only the present. It is all one. It’s called the ‘present’ because that is what it is; A gift for … Continue reading The Present Is A Present

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Liar, Liar Your Pants Are On Fire

Steve Rowe

Liar, Liar Your Pants Are On Fire I’m looking for truth; I hate being manipulated; When I meditate, I discover who I am, And what I really think. Everything around me is a lie; Every lie wants to be a part of me; And take over my soul; Each one manipulates me; And tries to determine how I think. Religion is a lie. Nationality is lie. They don’t exist; They are made up by people; And yet we are expected to fight to the death over them. Money is not real; Only numbers on a spreadsheet; Yet because of it … Continue reading Liar, Liar Your Pants Are On Fire

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Old Man On A Bench

Steve Rowe

Old Man On A Bench Made me jump. I thought he was a statue; Just sitting there staring into time; People reach that age where they become invisible; Not fitting into social norms…. He was bolt upright. Neck firmly against his collar; Back ramrod straight; Breathing imperceptibly; No wonder I thought he was made of stone.. I was transfixed. I wondered what his life had been; What had he done? What had bought him to here, now? What could he teach us? We used to revere age and experience; Now we worship youth and stupidity; Dignity is sadly a thing … Continue reading Old Man On A Bench

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Like Waves On The Sea

Steve Rowe

You’re born out of this world – not into it; An important difference, Like waves are born out of the sea, They are still the sea, Made up from it, Still joined to it, And return to it. So we are born out of this world, Are still a part of it, Made up from it, Nourished by it, Still joined to it, And return to it. We are truly ‘at one with the universe’; Whether we know it or not; When we ‘know’ it – life is easier, We are like we are, Because everything is as it is; … Continue reading Like Waves On The Sea

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I Can Beat The Buddha In A Fight!

Steve Rowe

Coming round here with all your bloody wisdom, what good’s that gonna do you in a fight eh? The 4 Noble Truths…. ain’t gonna help you in the pavement arena – when I’m banging your head on it! And as for you Jesus with all your parables, I’ll just kick you in ’em and even if you do come back from the dead I’ll bloody well do it again! There is only one type of martial arts and I’m it! I’m tougher and harder that all of you! If you don’t let me beat you up in class to show … Continue reading I Can Beat The Buddha In A Fight!

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If I die tonight

Steve Rowe

Dedicated to my good friend the late Graham Wednes. If I die tonight will the universe stop? If I return to the Tao it will be like a wave returning to the sea; No more ‘being human’ and only ‘sensing’ the infinite; From whence I came, I will return and be it once more. My ‘place of refuge’ becomes my home again. In the infinite, all time exists all of the time, the theatre of life exists because the pot is stirred; When stirred, one plays off against the other in a binary fashion, simple appears complicated as the picture … Continue reading If I die tonight

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Letting Go..

Steve Rowe

Pick up a stone and hold it in a clenched fist; There are 2 ways to let it go; You can turn your fist palm down and let it go so it drops to the ground; Or you can turn your fist palm upwards and unclench letting it rest in the palm of your hand. People that have been hurt emotionally, Sometimes say they are going to be Buddhist; And practice ‘non-attachment’ so they don’t get hurt again; This is not the Buddhist approach; In fact this is aversion and will bring the same pain as desire. To develop an … Continue reading Letting Go..

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Mass Slaughter

Steve Rowe

I have been kept in prison; Forced to take drugs, Forced to have sex; And my children were slaughtered. When I become useless to my captors; I too will be killed. The terrorists have no compassion, They say everything is for the ‘greater good’. Their leaders manipulate them, They are constantly taught to have no compassion for me; If they want to be fed, They must torture and kill me and my babies. The mass slaughter should end; One day compassion and kindness should rule, Respect and equality for all should be normal; But I fear that day is a … Continue reading Mass Slaughter

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Inside Out

Steve Rowe

How do you want people to treat you? Then treat them the same way. You want respect? Then give it and earn it. You want people to see you as a good martial artist? Then work hard and become one. You want respect as a martial arts coach? Then act like one. You want to be treated as an adult? Then behave like one. You want the coach to teach you well? Then be a good student. I study people and most can’t see the obvious. They complain about their treatment, That they’re not treated with respect, That they’re not … Continue reading Inside Out

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I See You

Steve Rowe

I see you…. Because I meditate and practice neigong, I see you, I see the savage beast when the mask slips, Maybe only for a second, But I see you. I also see the angel, When you have pure altruistic compassion, When you really care; When your caring is free from fear or pity, When there is no desire for an end result, That’s when your angel is looking through your eyes. My unfettered mind see’s how you wear your body; The tension borne from fear, The bowed head, the lazy slouch, The jutting chin and darting eyes; The deepest … Continue reading I See You