The Poetry of R.E. Slater

"Autobiographies of great nations are written in three manuscripts – a book of deeds, a book of words, and a book of art. Of the three, I would choose the latter as truest testimony." - Sir Kenneth Smith, Great Civilisations

"I must write each day without fail, not so much for the success of the work, as in order not to get out of my routine." - Leo Tolstoy

I have never believed that one should wait until one is inspired because I think the pleasures of not writing are so great that if you ever start indulging them you will never write again. - John Updike

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations." - Lawrence Ferlinghetti

[Note - If any article requires updating or correction please notate this in the comment section. Thank you. - res]

Monday, July 22, 2019

R.E. Slater - Proverbs

Proverbs

by R.E. Slater

"The wise seek not fellowship for consent's approval

but release from myriad burdens weighing the soul."

"Today's burden is no less than yesterday's

at obtuse comment, studied audacity, or

soulless pronouncement, each confirming

prideful hearts both vile and repugnant."

III

"To live freed from service to others must be hell itself,
but unknown to the one bound to their own deportment."

"Living indifferent to the pain of those oppressed is

but the wine of song and dance to those oppressing."

"Fools gather with fools from dawn to dusk;

the wise hear and consider no such company."

"As proverbs are to the ear of the wise, so they are

mocked and despised by the fool in their hearts."

VII

"Sin gathers to sin as the arrogant to wealth and power, but

true wealth is a freed heart caring for the welfare of the stranger."

VIII

"Each waking day we have as the next man,

but time binds all men to its daily watch

to do good or ill before death comes."

"Each morning is never like the last, yet

the unrighteous think it so and redeems not the day."

"As one man calls out to the other

even so does day call out to day

on the hand of the God who weighs all."

Mockers are an insult to all men,

their words poison the heart;

but sweet balm goes from the mouths

of those who offer hope and healing.

XII

Those who listen with their hearts see all;

Those without hearts see nothing.

R.E. Slater

Friday, July 19, 2019

R.E. Slater - The Winter of Our Discontent

The Winter of Our Discontent
by R.E. Slater

Now is the winter of our discontent,

Where brother calls brother brother no more,
Where hand lifts 'gainst head by anger’s vent,
And smouldering ires lie murderous about.

Surely no woman, no man, denies family or friend,
Yet vile offenses seethe neglects and feuds,
Fueling lies of ill-will, refusing fellowships sweet,
Castrating lives like mown grasses of summer.

Low lay brooding spirits inflamed siren’s hymns,
Fell darkness descending on remorseless charms,
Imagined illusions guiding misguided spirits,
Hearing no seasons but hell's hateful dark maw.

Winter or summer, springtime or harvest,
All be the same moved intent's dark climes,
Spewing madness’s flames lit burning moods,
Noxious marshes befouling most putrid fools.

R.E. Slater
July 17-19, 2019;
edited Aug 20, 2019;
May 5, 2020

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