Tag Archives: faith

Hatred and Violence

I sleep confident I’ve done my best,

Only to wake uncertain.

Insecure in myself,

Insecure in the craziness of this world,

The later feeds ravenously on the other;

Draining optimism as if water from a pond,

Leaving it dry, cracked — until it turns to dust.

Periodic lulls slowly renew my faith in man,

Spirits rise, the pond of optimism refills

Then in one spectacular moment it is gone,

Evaporating into the heavens,

By one stroke of ignorance or violence.

The reasons mystify;

Inexplicable to all but the perpetrators.

What’s to be gained?

Frivolous violence and hatred achieve nothing,

But to instill fear and hate in others otherwise uninclined.

This is not an accomplishment!

It is the perpetuation of discontent.

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

A Thirst Consumes

A thirst consumes me

One which water cannot quench

Is there a Heaven

Is there a hell, I don’t know

God knows…if he exists

This question of faith

To believe or disbelieve

I struggle alone

For no one can know my mind

Or the spirit within me

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Glean What Truth – A Tanka

Glean what truth you can

From this haggard earthly soul

Worn by life’s torment

For mortal time is finite

By natures perfect design

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Optimism – A Haiku

Image Credit: my.englishclub.com

Image Credit: my.englishclub.com

I bask in sunlight

Seeing hope where others fail

Timeless optimist

~

~~ Dominic R  DiFrancesco ~~

Foster Only Truth – A Tanka

Foster only truth

As you travel this lifetime

Like the gift of love

It is free for the giving

To those who venture the search

~

~~ Dominic R. DiFrancesco ~~

Trapped

Trapped,

Caught between the here and the hereafter,

Struggling for balance,

One that never comes,

Placating beings unseen,

In hopes of eternity,

Uncertain of belief or disbelief,

Wanting to live for today,

Distressed over what’s after tomorrow,

Something out of grasp,

Held back, but from what,

Myth, legend, some grand fairy tale,

Trapped between faith and science,

Trapped until I reach tomorrow.

 

~~ D. R. DiFrancesco ~~

Cherish the Time

By D. R. DiFrancesco

~~~

Treasure the time had with those you have lost

For we can never know when it will end

Will we be here tomorrow

Will we see the sunrise

Will we see the sunset

Only God in Heaven knows our fate

Draw close, those you hold so dear

Hug them and kiss them and tell them that you love them

For regrets are most damaging to the soul

The past is in the past

Time gone, is gone never to return

Let good memories be of comfort to you

We pray that sadness will not be your constant companion

Live on for them

Thrive for them

Keep their spirit alive through you

Know that they are with you, watching over you

Smiling upon you in everything that you do

Take solace in knowing that they love you

For one day your spirits will reunite in the heavens

The Optimist – Haiku

Glass half full

~~

In trust we find peace,

Rushing in optimism,

So to bathe in joy.

 ~~

A song in the heart,

Shared with those longing for love,

Betters our world.

~~

Be not critical,

For it suites the pessimist,

Leaving them sour.

*image from ctya.org

Making of a Man

By D. R. DiFrancesco

 ~

You embody courage,

Something I never truly had,

Setting foot into uncharted waters,

Leaving the familiar behind,

Jumping headlong into another world.

 ~

You embody honor,

Something that I couldn’t teach you,

Living by a code,

One that must have been etched in your soul,

Immortalizing those that came before you,

 ~

You embody faith,

Something I should have instilled in you,

But I was not strong enough,

Yet you epitomize it in spite of me,

By entrusting your life to those around you.

 ~

You embody integrity,

Something I never knew how to give,

Still it was born into you,

A birthright gifted to those most deserving,

To be shared with those most in need.

 ~

You embody love,

Something I was never good at showing,

Your compassion and sensitivity,

Given freely to those in want,

From a heart that’s kind.

 ~

You embody all of these things,

Something I could never do,

Courage, honor, faith, integrity and love,

They made you the man you are,

And readies you for the man you will become.

A Question of God

On my hands and knees I’ve prayed,

Prayed for the strength to see the truth,

Hoping against hope for an answer,

One that has never come.

 

Is there more to this life than just living,

More than just breathing and being,

It is said, that if you believe there is,

Life eternal.

 

Words written by man,

Inspired by God,

Say there is life eternal,

If only you believe.

 

I have tried,

I have read the books,

So many books claiming to have the answers,

Yet logic dictates these are simply fables.

 

To see the damage done,

The hate ingrained in those claiming piety,

The intolerance toward our fellow man,

Surely this can’t be what the almighty had planned.

 

We are our brother’s keeper,

Only if our brother believes what we believe,

Lives by the same code,

As we interpret God to will.

 

The Ten Commandments hold no meaning here,

We keep the Sabbath for sport,

Money has become our false idol,

The Lord’s name is taken in vain,

Adultery glorified in celluloid,

This can not be what God intended for those claiming to be chosen.

 

Is not living a good life Godly,

Is not loving our brother Godly,

Is not caring for those less fortunate Godly,

Would not God look favorably upon these.

 

Does our fellow man’s race make him unworthy,

His creed or color make him unworthy,

Does his God given orientation make them somehow less worthy,

It think not!

 

Hypocrisy, hate and prejudice are plagues on this world,

Perpetuated by those claiming to be born again,

Claiming to be following God’s infallible words,

Simply to belong.

 

Instead I choose to live a good life free of dogma,

Loving my fellow man without condition,

Honoring God, by my thoughts and actions,

And not by the edicts of man and his institutions.