Dave Bradley

Nothing

by Dave Bradley

Monday 20th July 2009 11:06 am

Nothing is beautiful

No space

No time

No thing

I will seek Nothing

Nothing is old speaks

of origin

Nothing is original new, original

Nothing

Nothing is beautiful

Emptiness exquisite, infinitely full

Exploding with colour, with

nothing to see

Nothing to hear in Nothing, silence

serene and supreme

full of song and laughter

Let us seek Nothing

Nothing is beautiful

Nothing is death, all life

is in Nothing

Nothing is holy

Beyond Nothing is Sacred

Behind Nothing is no thing

Beyond Nothing is the Face

This isn’t what it at first seems. Not sure how much to say about that if anything. A friend who is a contemplative nun likes it, but that probably won’t be universal (-;

◄ Just be

Looking for more ►

Comments

Cate Greenlees

Tue 21st Jul 2009 11:36

Very mystical Dave, I enjoyed reading this,and agree with all of the comments already up. I think we all will reach a slightly different take on the meaning, but leaving it open to interpretation is good.
Cate xx

Dave Bradley

Tue 21st Jul 2009 09:31

Thanks all. Family invasion this week so can't reply individually and may not be on WOL much. I don't think humans are a cosmic joke, tempting as it is to believe that (Hitchiker's Guide etc)
The nun is one of the loveliest people I know, full of life. An advert for a life of prayer & celibacy! She was my mother's bridesmaid.
The Face - People who know me well know who that is, but I'm not going to push it, and am aware that readers will have their own take. Email for more, if curious. But there is a dotted line from this poem to the The Cloud of Unknowing (not that I'm an expert on mediaeval mysticism, quite the reverse). In haste, grandchild alert .....

winston plowes

Mon 20th Jul 2009 23:03

Liked this one Dave
Ran in rhythmic circles... winston

Cynthia Buell Thomas

Mon 20th Jul 2009 20:03

Nirvana, I presume?

It's great to have you tackle the spiritual theme head on, and so innovatively.I have several poems too. I can, and do, think myself into NOTHING, but not often. I find my experiences not so much enlightening or scary, as ludicrous. Looking in or down or up or through ? becomes actually funny - like creation is a cosmic joke, and we humans are the funniest of all, with our brilliant brains etc. etc. I am quite puzzled that this is so, but there you have it - the truth.

Jon

Mon 20th Jul 2009 18:16

Hi Dave,
Strangely spiritual and thought-provoking! Like it!

Isobel

Mon 20th Jul 2009 18:08

I'm guessing that the face is God/Christ... In the bible didn't the face appear to a lady in a well - or was that the artistic interpretation of a meeting between Christ and a sinner and of her conversion - remember seeing a picture of it.
Yes this is a serene poem - one full of not in your face belief.

Steve Regan

Mon 20th Jul 2009 17:41

First of all, David, well done for having a contemplative nun as a friend. I hope all your other pals are hip young gunslingers to keep things balanced.

It's philosphical as well as poetical to explore "nothing" as you have done serenely here, fittingly perhaps as the word "serene" features in the poem.

Still not sure how to take the last line though! As a whole, I like it.

Francine

Mon 20th Jul 2009 11:28

Well, I love it Dave... no surprise there ; )
When you read through and think about it...
it says a lot... reminds me a lot of the teachings in Taoism and Buddhism : )

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