Category: Poem

The Sins of Pascal.

This post is part of an ongoing series I created about a young French Captain named Pascal. To learn more check out these posts. 

https://zenhoff.blog/2018/05/22/the-awakening-of-pascal/

https://zenhoff.blog/2018/05/07/the-life-of-pascal/

 

Sins of the past now present.

Pascal’s mind like a school of fish pacing in the deep blue sea.

Many mistakes.

Many lessons learned.

 

Pascal can not change his past.

Only his perception of it.

 

Pascal is only human.

Folly as the rest.

 

There will be mistakes on this voyage.

Hearts broken.

Ships sunk.

 

Forgiveness will let Pascal enjoy this moment.

Compassion will set him free.

 

 

DNAncestors.

 

My ancestors walk with me.

They live on in my DNA.

 

An English sailor.

A German farmer.

An Italian factory worker.

A Spanish settler in Mexico.

An Aztec Warrior.

A West African slave.

 

How did you survive disease?

War-torn countries.

Blatant racism.

Food scarcity.

Unbearable suffering.

 

Because of your perseverance & strength.

I have this opportunity to live.

Thank you.

 

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The Awakening of Pascal.

A vicious storm has almost sunk Pascal’s ship. It was unexpected and disastrous. Will he recover? Or will he be damaged permanently?  

 

Pascal lays still on the main deck.

His breath shallow.

Nearly dead.

His first officer Pablo has taken over in these trying times.

 

In the coming weeks, Pascal slowly recovers.

Time seems to be in slow motion for Pascal.

All seems clearer after the storm.

Dark clouds clearing to an open sky.

 

Pascal has realized that his suffering is of his own doing.

Holding onto whats gone.

Going with fear based decisions.

Mis-judgments.

Limiting beliefs.

 

Pascal vows to do better.

 

Rock Bottom.

Lungs exhausted.

I’m barely breathing.

Pain deep in my bones.

Heart aching with loneliness.

Stomach twisted into origami.

 

It’s the coldest at the bottom.

Harsh winds.

Thunderous nights.

Misery in every moment.

 

All I want is to feel the cool breeze on a warm spring day.

 

To smile deeply.

To laugh.

Feel joy once more.

 

“Don’t worry!”  my mind tells me.

You have survived all that has come so far.

Darkness will become light.

Thanks to impermanence.

We will laugh, smile, and feel joy once more.

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Money, Followers, & Celebrity.

 

Money, followers, and celebrity.

The new American dream.

How many followers do you need to be content?

How many Tesla’s will bring long-lasting joy?

Once I get 100K followers and I’ll be content.

Ten million dollars a year would be perfect.

20 million.

50 million.

Naw 100 billion.

 

You’re hooked.

Addicted to more.

Never satisfied.

 

How will you ever be free?

 

No amount of money.

Materials or followers.

Will bring endless happiness.

 

 

Define enough.

And you’ll find that you already have plenty of it.

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Black Hole.

 

 

A black hole appears.

Gravity stronger than a billion suns.

Pulling me slowly into its endless abyss.

Will I be sucked into the darkness?

 

My mission.

My purpose.

My vision.

Is to alleviate suffering in this world.

Will I fulfill this life’s mission?

 

The black hole of distraction.

It’s gravity stronger than a billion stars.

Addicted to scrolling.

Scrolling through the darkness of social media.

 

There are no passions found in the black hole.

Only distraction.

No purpose or meaning.

Countless missions left incomplete.

 

 

Social media & distractions are not all meaningless blackholes. But we must be careful that we do not get sucked into their gravitational pull. Set boundaries. Know the signs of addiction. Use mindfully. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vow.

Where there is hatred, I will show love.

Where there is fear, I will show trust.

Where there is doubt, I will show faith.

Where there is apathy, I will show compassion.

Where there is violence, I will show peace.

 

I vow to show others another way.