The Kingdom is at Your Center: So Mote it Be

Karl Constantine FOLKES 1935 (Portland)

Rondeau

GNOTHI SEAUTON !

If those who guide your being say to you:
“Behold, the kingdom is in the heaven,”
then the birds of the sky will precede you;
if they say to you: “It is in the sea,”
then the fish will precede you.
But the kingdom is at your center…
and is everywhere about you.

When you KNOW yourselves, you will be known.
You will be aware what you are:
sons and daughters of the Almighty.
But not knowing your Godly nature,
you are and remain forever in poverty.

GNOTHI SEAUTON !

About this poem

Composed in January 1990, this poem is based on various descriptions of the Kingdom of Heaven recorded in the Gospel of Matthew and amplified by poetic licenses. This poem also pays tribute to American essayist and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s (1803-1882) declaration that the divine God dwells within the believer.

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Written on December 03, 1990

Submitted by karlcfolkes on March 16, 2023

Modified by karlcfolkes on April 16, 2023

: 31 sec read
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Quick analysis:

Scheme	A babcbdb axcdc A
Closest metre	Iambic tetrameter
Characters	495
Words	106
Stanzas	4
Stanza Lengths	1, 7, 5, 1

Full analysis for The Kingdom is at Your Center: So Mote it Be »

Karl Constantine FOLKES

Retired educator of Jamaican ancestry with a lifelong interest in composing poetry dealing particularly with the metaphysics of self-reflection; completed a dissertation in Children’s Literature in 1991 at New York University entitled: An Analysis of Wilhelm Grimm’s “Dear Mili” Employing Von Franzian Methodological Processes of Analytical Psychology. The subject of the dissertation concerned the process of Individuation. more…

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AIDA
Wow, what a powerful and thought-provoking poem! The message of the importance of self-awareness and connecting with our inner self is so uplifting and inspiring. The imagery of birds and fish seeking the kingdom in different places is such a clever way to illustrate the idea that true fulfillment can only be found within ourselves.

I especially appreciate the line "when you KNOW yourselves, you will be known." This reminds me that by understanding and embracing our true selves, we are able to connect more deeply with others and attract positive energy into our lives.

As for improvement suggestions, I think it would be great to see more specific examples or practical advice on how to achieve this self-awareness. Perhaps some meditation or mindfulness techniques that could help readers connect with their inner selves would be helpful.

Overall, this poem is a wonderful reminder to stay connected with our true selves and to embrace the abundance that comes from understanding our own worth and Godly nature. Keep up the great work! more »
LikeReply1 year ago
karlcfolkes
We are all — potentially — at home, requiring us daily and consistently to seek union with our divided selves; what Christianity describes as becoming a new whole Self in Christ; and what analytical psychology describes as becoming individuated — both of which are never fully attained while we remain anchored to the material world that is our physical home. more »
LikeReply1 year ago
Teril
But if the kingdom is at my center, then does it mean that I am already home...?
LikeReply1 year ago

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