Devotional Poetry

Flowers of Faith

1
Nine White Carnations

Nine white carnations in a crystal vase,
Reflect lights spectrum back into space,
Blind to the differences which cause separation,
They see the various religions as progressive revelation.

2
The Scent of Roses

Rose petals scattered
on the table of His faith
we release our love into the air.

3
Baha'is of Iran

Flowers
torn from the rich black soil
by their roots
are replanted in paradise.

4
Roses

Burgundy roses
sip word by word faith's vintage.

5
Garden of Mercy

In the garden of mercy
black-eyed Susan's and sunflowers grow
perfuming the air with love.

6
The Aroma of Faith

Flowers in a garden bloom,
Open petal by petal,
Releasing their scents
And perfuming the day
With the aroma of love.

Flowers in a vase,
Consume the Water of Life,
Releasing their scent,
And perfuming the room
With the aroma of faith.

7
Nine Yellow Daisies

Nine yellow daisies in a crystal vase,
Reflect part of light's spectrum back into sp ace,
Blind to the differences that cause segregation,
They see the planet as a single nation.

8
Flower of One Garden

Out of the soil of humanity,
Sprouts the Garden of God;
From the hues of the rainbow,
Is derived the spectrum of love

9
Nine Multicolored Flowers

Nine multicolored flowers in a crystal vase,
Absorb part of light's spectrum out of deep space,
Blind to the differences that cause isolation,
They see Earth as a single nation.

10
Hanging Plants

Green vines entwine
Embrace woven brown baskets
Suspended by matter's handle.

11
Nine Brown Orchids

Nine brown orchids in a crystal vase,
Absorb part of light's spectrum out of deep space,
Blind to the differences that cause discrimination,
They make no class distinctions.

12
Planting Roses

"O Friend! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love..."
Baha'u'llah

I am planting roses!
Planting the thorn adorned roses of test,
in the garden of my soul.

As they grow from the soil of faith,
They perfume of my spirit spirit with the aroma of God's love.

13
Patience

A century plant blossoms
every hundred years
after the first bloom.

Only once does its gardener
see the bloom,
afterwards
the flower nourishes the souls
of the gardener's descendants.

14
Wind Flowers

Only in the winds of tests
can the flowers of faith bloom
perfuming the air.

15
The heart of the Rose

Love is the heart of the rose,
that bleeds in the early dawn
shedding certitude.

Sweet is faith's scarlet wine
that wafts from the heart of the rose
on the winds of love.

16
Cactus Flowers

Its ruby blossoms--
surrounded by sharp thorns--
glisten with the morning dew.

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Poet's Note: ▼

This poem was written over several years. The inspiration for these were encounters with other Baha'is.