Great Expectations from the United States of America

"I see black and white, Lord
I see black eyes in a white face
I see white teeth in a black face
help me to see people, Lord
not black people or white people
red people or yellow people
but human people"

This little prayer is hanging on the wall over my bed back in Italy, it was given to me as a gift from the great trombetist, Dizzie Gillespie, when I was still in my mother's womb... it was winter 1980 when he came in Calabria, south Italy, for a tournee... few months later I was born... I've always regarded at the deep meaning of this prayer with the hope that I will raise my children in a world where naturally people are regarded as human being... regarding to every individual's talent and potential, not to what each represents, but to what each person is.... a mine rich of inestimable value, a receptacle of attributes and names.

"Know thou that all men have
been created in the nature made by God, the
Guardian, the Self-Subsisting.

Unto each one hath been prescribed a pre-ordained measure,
as decreed in God's mighty and guarded Tablets.

All that which ye potentially
possess can, however, be manifested only as a result of your own volition.

Your
own acts testify to this truth."

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 148)

The statement that Obama is spreading across all the continets (as all the eyes of the world are looking at the USA) "Yes, We Can"... is enshrining the concept that we are our own hope through the way we decide to conduct our own lives and furthermore we make this hope of a better world become true when we act in harmony, in unity!

I'm looking at Obama not for what he represents ( the merge of two worlds, cultures, a rich background that has made him the man is now) because this is something we materially all represents in a way or another... what I'm looking at is the potentials he enshrines to lead and act in accordance with God's Will!

However is not in me to judge him, it's up to me to be, as a citizen of this world, an instrument for the uplifting of this new world, working "shoulder to shlouder" with all the men and women of good will!

back on writing...

I love writing and poetry... I write since I was 14 years old. What I too pompously call poems... are just thoughts and me capturing intense moments trying to express them in words.

Of course I usually write in my native language... Italian... but have some attempt in English too... and the latest were such!

01.10.2008

*

I've planted a tree
which has grown overnight
the morning light teases it
all around, kissing its leaves
hiding for whiles
all the clouds eagerly
admire it floating by




My tree dances on a melody
of its own
played by the northernwind
the same you've played
in a secret chamber
sweet as the one
your hands weeped on a bedrock friendship
softer than the one
you used to sing
under the window
clinging to the keys
with your voice and your eyes.

10.10.2008

*

I think

You've created

a sky

fitted for me to fly

And now

all the things

have gone

there's You

the only One I love

I think

everytime I go far

there's no reason I'm done

'cause You

You are there with Your Love

I feel It growing stronger than evermore

and I'm Yours.

Why on earth did I change the name of the blog???

Well, I changed it as people kept asking if it was really me writing....

But let's go back and explain why I chose "The Bee Charmer" at first as name for the blog.... is the name given to me from a dear friend of mine... he is the only one calling me this way after the character in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes (at the whistle stop cafe)", Idgie Threadgoode, played by M.S. Masterson, with Kathy Bathes, ML Parker and Jessica Tandy.... I love that movie, we saw it at least 5 times together (and 5 each on our own).... the movie is one of my favourite as it talks about friendship, women gaining their indipendence, abolishing of prejudices and being open minded, discover oneself's talents and potentialities!

I think what I love the most in the movie is Idgie's freedom from societies' bigoted expectations of how a girl should behave and live her life... I'm not feminist, but I truly believe that Men and Women have been created equal in front of God and therefore they have to be considered in their equal rights and recognized in front of society!

That doesn't mean a girl has to become a man and a boy be like a woman.... each one has been granted certain qualities and should strive to attain perfections and other skills and talents they posses as latent.

Just to be clearer, I'd share this quotation of 'Abdu'l-Bahà in "Promulgation of Universal Peace" p.135

"It has been objected by some that woman is not equally capable with man and that she is deficient by creation. THIS IS PURE IMAGINATION. The difference in capability between man and woman is due entirely to opportunity and education."

'Abdu'l-Bahà also states:

"Know thou that women are accounted the same as men, and God hath created all humankind in His own image, and after His own likeness. That is, men and women alike are revealers of His names and attributes, and from the spiritual viewpoint there is no difference between them."

All my life I've tried to gain indipendence and be a strong woman, overcoming fears and fragilities, to show myself I can make it on my own... sometimes I wished I wasen't that strong and that good in hiding my frailty, 'cause at the end you feel very lonely and all we want is to have someone close that shares the difficulties and put an arm on our shoulders making us feeling safe and more confident... though everyone can make it on his/her own... somehow the fun and joy that could come by facing hard times having a friend at hand is lost!

I think I would leave you here... with the taste of sweet thoughts, like those of having your friends around sharing unforgettable moments....

I am changing.... still standing

Feeling blessed is being aware of God's bounties, life's precious gift!

I've seen it in the sunset, in a smile, in the sky.

I've tasted it in the rain, in a gentle touch.

I've heard it in a whisper, in His Words.

I've smelled it in a rose, in the stormy sea.

And grew stronger and become aflame!

T&J

I wished I could have expressed it this way:

Shadowfeet

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet

Toward home,

a land that I've never seen

I am changing

Less and less asleep

Made of different stuff than when I began

And I have sensed it all along

Fast approaching is the day

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

There's distraction buzzing in my head

Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay

But I've heard rumours of true reality

Whispers of a well-lit way

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

You make all things new

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in You, still standing

Every fear and accusation under my feet

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

When time and space are through

I'll be found in You

Brooke Fraser

Intensity

This is a story of something inexplicable in word... therefore bear me for such pointless attempt!!

I have songs for every moment in my life and songs for places, even for pleople... I just hear to a song and it reminds me of a place where I've been, or a situation, or some friends....

Well, the point is that I don't have a song for my relatives... I don't need one to remember me of my dad or mom or my sister or brothers... I never had the need of one... before!

I was on the bus with the kids and the group leaders and one of the memebers of my team, my friend. It's wasen't sunset yet... which is usually the time I think about the people I love the most and say a prayer for all of them... I was listening to the radio and suddenly a song (wich wasen't something I would relate to my brothers & sister for any special reason... so, well, I think it was the song, but am not sure 100%) made me think about them... the feeling was so intense, so strong that tears urged to my eyes... have you ever experinced something like that?? I can't explain... it was harrowing... something like the feeling I would never see them again, or have the good time I used to have with them back again, or like our lives were about to take very different and opposite faraway path... only I wasen't thinking at such things, nor I believe it possible... though, it was painfull and sweet... I can't help explaining better...

I miss my brothers and my sister!

I love my NSA.... it rocks!!

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai's of Italy has been elected this week-end.

I am grateful and happy for this news!! Knowing the meaning of this event everyone would be!

Baha'is delegates from every corner of the nation (except Sicily, where few days before was elected the National Spiritual Assembly of Sicily) met and in depeening sessions, meditation on the characteristics that the memebers serving in this istitution must own, in a spiritual and prayerful attitude they choose nine members among the members of the community to serve in this field.
Both women and men, age 21 and over are eligible for election to the Baha'i national institution. They are elected for their qualities and capacities to serve the community, for their being involved and active in the growth of the community.... there is no political campaign for being elected, no blood bonds that matters!!
What's amazing in this process is the fact that during this week-end the delegates brought with them the ideas, requests, needs and love of the baha'is of their local communities and consulted, answer and share about during the week-end!

This process of having someone that works for the well-fare of all, someone that is there not for his/her own good, but to serve all... from children to old, men and women, not just bahai's but every single individual living on this planet, is not mere idealism or society's need, is a gift to humanity, is a Divine Plan!! A New World Order brought from Baha'u'llah!
From the local to the national and international level this administration of the baha'i community is an example for the whole world on how in a totally respectful, spiritual and harmonic way the voice of every single individual could be, not just heard, but actually taken in consideration and consult about for the improvement of the society!
So whenever I attend to the 19th Day Feast in my community and wish to propose something during the administration part of the Feast, I CAN!! And this becomes part of the consultation, which is the extraordinary tool we can use for every single thing, in our family, with friends at school, colleagues at work, etc... Amazing uh??

Ok, I didn't want to go in details... but my head just follows the implication that this event brings with it... a National Spiritual Assembly is like a mama: takes care, guides, encourages and love the community-child... moreover, its an example and joy for its community.
This 9 memebrs will work all through the year, sacrificing themeself with happiness.... attending at the directives that comes from the Baha'i World Center will humbly work for the betterment of our society... seems a parallel world.... indeed, is ours!

One Art

One Art

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was
you meant to travel. None of these will bring disaster.

I lost my mother's watch. And look! my last, or
next-to-last, of three loved houses went.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

I lost two cities, lovely ones. And, vaster,
some realms I owned, two rivers, a continent.
I miss them, but it wasn't a disaster.

---Even losing you (the joking voice, a gesture
I love) I shan't have lied. It's evident
the art of losing's not too hard to master
though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster.

Elizabeth Bishop

I discovered this poem through a movie... it was so touching that I went searching for it in the web. To me it express the action of detachment... from things, situations, people. Detachment is a virtue to be practice as much as patience...

Becoming detached from the things of this world is often a painful process and involves sacrifice. But when the believer gives up something dear to him for the sake of the Cause of God, mysterious forces will be released which will cause the Faith to grow.
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, p. 23)

just to be clear, it doesn't mean one has NOT to care... on the contrary, detachment has the power to tail off 3 barriers that prevents us from draw nearer to God and humanity.

Such barriers are:

- our own ego

"...genuine detachment from earthly things is achieved when the individual makes the Cause of God the pivot of his life, so that all his personal and material interests may revolve around his Faith. In this case, he can benefit from his material possessions without being attached to them. And since the Cause of God is the prime motivating influence in his life, he will never act against the teachings of his Faith. Every step he takes in his daily activities will be in harmony with the commandments of God. When a person reaches this exalted position, the interests of the Faith take precedence over his personal interests. And when he arises to serve the Cause of God, he will be ready to meet the challenge whatever the cost. Such a person has reached the summit of detachment."
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, p. 23)

- names (this is interesting as we believe that having A NAME, makes us automatically better... untrue.. as Juliet says: "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." ---> what matters is the fragrance, the quality!)

"The soul of man needs to be adorned with the virtues of humility and self-effacement so that it may become detached from the Kingdom of Names."
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, p. 24)

- reward

"If a man's actions are motivated by the thought that he may reap a reward for himself in the next world, then this is attachment, and a barrier between himself and God. To be detached means to do everything for the sake of God and to seek no recompense."
(Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, p. 24)

Trying to develop detachment would offer this prayer:

"Suffer me, O my God, to draw nigh unto Thee, and to abide within the precincts of Thy court, for remoteness from Thee hath well-nigh consumed me. Cause me to rest under the shadow of the wings of Thy grace, for the flame of my separation from Thee hath melted my heart within me. Draw me nearer unto the river that is life indeed, for my soul burneth with thirst in its ceaseless search after Thee. My sighs, O my God, proclaim the bitterness of mine anguish, and the tears I shed attest my love for Thee.
I beseech Thee, by the praise wherewith Thou praisest Thyself and the glory wherewith Thou glorifiest Thine own Essence, to grant that we may be numbered among them that have recognized Thee and acknowledged Thy sovereignty in Thy days. Help us then to quaff, O my God, from the fingers of mercy the living waters of Thy loving-kindness, that we may utterly forget all else except Thee, and be occupied only with Thy Self. Powerful art Thou to do what Thou willest. No God is there beside Thee, the Mighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
Glorified be Thy name, O Thou Who art the King of all Kings!
- Bahá'u'lláh

a tribute to Cat's Eyes!

This section is dedicated to arts & artists who have influenced (or will) my perception of this beautiful world!

Would like to start with the one that came along with me all through my adolescence...

Cat Steven, today known as Yusuf Islam.

His name changed, but his essence is the same... it's that of a great artist, whose connection with the Most Greater is pure and inesplicable unless you listen to his creations.

Can't say I have a favourite album, as everyone is special and dear to me, but the one that introduced me to Cat's beautiful voice & soul is "Tea for te Tillerman"... 1971 definitely his more productive year!

Why a tribute to his eyes? I believe the eyes are the window to one's soul and you can understand if someone is on the search for God, looking into his eyes.. they shine of a sweet light... i never had the chance to look into Cat's eyes...(wish i had!!) but saw him on tv-youtube, and recognize that sparkling light.

Well, wont make it too long telling you what i know about him (no much indeed) and what his music means in my life... just wanted to thank him for the good time i had dancing, singing, humming with him... and if you want to know more, have an indipendent and free search, i'll give you a hint: click on the title or on words...

I've mentioned Cat as he is for me an example of how a man, at the top of the world (materially successful) could still live in it and "leave it all behind" for AN INDIPENDENT SEARCH OF THE TRUTH... he did it, and found the Religion of Mohammad....

I really believe that "Religion should be the cause of love and unity." --as Bahá'u'lláh says.

In the Baha'i Faith this principle ( Independent investigation of truth. ) is among the most important.. coming right after:

THE ONENESS OF GOD

THE ONENESS OF MANKIND

THE ONENESS OF RELIGION ( which is eternal, progressive and relative )

..... aha... you wont have me on this either... go and find it out for yourself!! :-)

www.bahai.org

ps: and if you need help, you know where you can find me!!