ARTbop poetry May 2016

Sam the Poet, ARTbop’s Poetry Editor is a prolific poet.  He is currently organising the publication of a third volume of his work.    Here he shares one of his earlier poems.  Sam’s autobiographical contributor’s statement appears below.

The White Tiger

I begin, and make no excuse!

To kindle your imagination

and ignite a passion for expression.

I will set your soul on fire

then consume you with desire.

Do not cry into emptiness?

No one listens to your sadness,

the past I’ve ripped away

now your future is beginning,

one chance to take my hand

I’ll show you the magic of sin.

I’ve lit your candle of hope

there is no wind able to extinguish.

I’ll crush your fears in my hand

and take the darkness from your soul.

Now you must look, feel and believe

then offer me your wildest passions.

Test me with your open Heart

I offer you my sacred Love.

I’ll make arousal scream within

exotic demands will fill your mind.

Now you’re beginning to understand

you’ll never need my forgiveness

It’s far too late to change your mind

away you can fly I’ll let you go

I have locked myself close within.

No one can hold you like me

you know who I am, you can’t forget.

Live your life and race to its end

And Me!

Sam© 21/08/01

“Sam the poet

Sam is my pseudonym, a nickname I prefer to be called. It belongs to a romantic character in a love story I began writing a long time ago, before the Love poetry came into being.

It all started about 20 years ago, with the writing of a few poems for friends, this became a small collection of poems which I used to printout and give to others who liked what I’d penned. As I continued to write, it was to become a series of love poems, a Diary, written for a very special woman with whom I truly loved. We grew together in so many ways, and our spiritual paths joined and lead us on a journey of self discovery. I don’t fully understand to this day why we could not manage the events that pulled us apart, it’s incredibly sad, and is reflected in the last poems.

I was told later by a close friend that I should publish it. So after much contemplation I decided to self publish, and obtained the required ISBN number and sent two copies to the National Library. The Hocken Library purchased a copy which was a nice achievement.

I continued to write, all but infrequently, and some years passed as I completed my second book of poems. This second book I feel continues as the first, the love poems imagined, or about how I felt at the time of writing; what love is, and what it meant to me. It has not been published, and remains in PDF format.

Now, I have just completed my third book. It’s unexplainable; Inconceivable! is maybe a better word to use when it comes to try and understand, why my life’s journey had brought me here again, through an amazing loving experience to another tragedy. It contains I feel some of my best love poems, spiritual poems and several short stories, with an index of my thoughts about life as it is for me.

Dramatically at its end I came to a place of understanding the true meaning of unconditional love. Without exception, to accept others as they are and I wish to do with grace and wisdom.

This third book I have in PDF format and offer it for free to anyone interested for a limited period of time as I now plan to self-publish this collection too.

Since my twenties I have been interested in the teachings of Zen masters, and those still alive today, like Thich Nhat Hanh, a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist from Vietnam. Thich is respected throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. His key teaching is that, through mindfulness, we can learn to live happily in the present moment-the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’s self and in the world.

Since moving to Tauranga, I have found an extraordinary Buddhist teacher, Tarchin Hearn, and attend his group meditation and teachings

Now in faithfulness and with wisdom, I’m inclined to say, all I hope for, is for openness and everyone in this world to love each other, to forgive, and forgive with understanding… Sam Woodward, Love Poems by Sam”

ARTbop has previously published original poetry. If you would like to submit original poetry for publication, please email it to info@artbop.co.nz in docx format for the attention of Sam Woodward, ARTbop poetry editor. We also welcome a brief biographical statement to accompany published work and if possible a jpg photo image. Our WordPress website prefers restricted size images.

THE POETRY INCUBATOR

The second meeting of the poetry incubator group came together on the 26^th April at the Incubator in the Historic Village.

A meeting, well attended by a good number of poets that were at the last meeting, and with a few new faces, we gathered to enjoy the friendly atmosphere with our fellow poets and benefit from sharing our poems of numerous variations in theme, style and format. There is a strong feeling among the group it has now established itself a regular monthly event.

This evening was an opportunity to read to the group, and participate in an open discussion about the poems that were read, to give feedback of how the words painted pictures, and or brought feelings and emotions to the fore. Everyone took part reading; some their own, others the poems from selected poets. There was a further discussion about rendering a poem after other poets work, be it style or format.

The next meeting will be on the 31^st May 2016, and a small cost of $5 which includes tea and coffee. BYO beer, wine and nibbles…check out the poetry incubator facebook page.

For further information, please contact Hella; thewritngincubator@gmail.com

Sam the poet, ARTbop Poetry Editor.  Sam is a multi-talented creative with a diverse artistic and literary background.  One of Tauranga’s more recent arrivals, Sam has immediately entered into the cultural life of Tauranga.  Sam has a personal website dedicated to the publication of his own love poetry.