#WindsdayWonders: 2024/04/17 -- Journeys in Friendship

 

WINDSDAY WONDERS

Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell (@RHCLambengolmo)

Editorial Associate: S. A. Sonnenschein

Vol. 3, No. 25: April 17, 2024

 

Celebrating National Poetry Month

Episode 3: Journeys in Friendship

 

Editor’s Note

                This week, we continue our celebration of National Poetry with a garland of verses clustered around the theme of “Journeys in Friendship.” Our authors approach their subject from different angles, but the theme is the same. Life can be – and should be – a journey in friendship, which lends a numinous glow to every moment that we are journeying with our beloved companions on the way.

 

“I Walk the King’s Highway”

By Evelyn Atwater Cummins (1891-1971)

 

1. I know not where the road will lead

I follow day by day,

Or where it ends: I only know

I walk the King’s highway.

I know not if the way is long,

And no one else can say;

But rough or smooth, uphill or down,

I walk the King’s highway.

 

2. And some I love have reached the end,

But some with me may stay,

Their faith and hope still guiding me:

I walk the King’s highway.

The way is truth, the way is love,

For light and strength I pray,

And through the years of life, to God,

I walk the King’s highway.

 

3. The countless hosts lead on before,

I must not fear nor stray;

With them, the pilgrims of the faith,

I walk the King’s highway.

Through light and dark the road leads on

Till dawns the endless day,

When I shall know why in this life

I walk the King’s highway.

 

"Friends have all things in common with one another; they share their meals, their couches, their minds; they speak of everything as though they were all one person; they compete in everything, in beauty, in goodness, in wisdom."

à Plato: Lysis 207B-C

 

“Shared Creativity”

By Aurora Kemp & Dawn Williams, Staff Writers

 

There’s beauty in the bonds we share, 

Through words and phrases and the mind, 

Like a blooming rose, or a sparkling star, 

These things we treasure are so sublime.

 

Friendship is a lovely song, 

Each note bringing harmony, 

A smile, a laugh, a sharing of hope, 

A warm embrace of unity.

 

In friendship, hearts unite,  

Ideas grow, and flowers bloom,  

It’s an endless and delightful flight,  

The sky holds no bounds for you and me.

 

The mind is like a garden plot;  

Through seeds of wisdom, flowers grow,  

Shared creativity is a lot like that,  

Imagination is a rainbow of wonderous bloom.

 

Through each sunrise, friendship glows, 

In laughter, joy, and unity, 

Friendship is a treasure to behold,  

A beacon of endless possibility.

 

“Sybil Luddington’s Ride”

By Arinna Solann, Staff Writer

                Sybil Luddington, on April 26th, 1777, rode on a 40-mile midnight mission to rally 400 American militiamen In Putnam County, New York, warning them of the coming British advance after British troops had burned Danbury, Connecticut. Her actions were instrumental in preventing a major disaster for the Patriot forces, allowing them score a victory which was crucial to the eventual victory of the American Revolution. Sybil's brave ride at night, through rain and snow, helped to solidify her legacy as a hero and patriot of the American Revolution. Sybil Luddington was born April 5th, 1761, in Fredericksburg, New York, and she passed away February 26th, 1839, in Unadilla, New York.

 

She was a patriot, a brave woman who knew no fear.

She rode swiftly across the land, carrying a critical message.

 

Sybil knew that her mission was urgent and vital,

She would do whatever it took, even at the cost of her very life.

 

She would not be deterred by darkness or danger,

She would persevere no matter what the circumstances.

 

She braved the hazards and hardships of the night,

She would make this heroic journey for her country and her kin.

 

She would not falter nor flinch at the slightest sign of danger ahead,

She would carry on through the darkness, even if she faced the prospect of death.

 

Onward she rode, her heart set on the mission,

She would not be stopped, not ever, she would not stop until her goal was reached.

 

In the darkness, the path ahead was not visible,

But she would trust in herself, and her trusty steed, she would not falter, she would not fall.

 

She would ride onward despite the risks,

She would ride forward despite all the hazards and hurdles, that might stop another from pursuing her mission with the diligence and steadfastness she possessed,

She would not rest but ride ever forward, through rain or shine, she would not falter, she would persevere to the end.

 

She had the spirit and the determination,

She had the grit and the resolve,

She had the courage and the will,

She had the passion and the fervor,

She had the fire and the spark,

She would never give up, she would reach the destination, she would complete the mission.

 

In the cold and in the dark,

She would ride through the night,

With her mind set on the purpose and the goal,

She would ride ever forward,

Through rain and storm and hail and snow,

she would ride on with the determination of a warrior,

She would ride on with the courage and the faith of a champion.

 

She was not only a brave woman, but a determined and resourceful one,

When difficulties arose, she was quick to think on the fly,

When the road turned treacherous and the path became too risky,

She would forge a new path,

She would find a way out of the labyrinth,

She would find a fresh way forward, she would reach the ultimate destination, she would never give up, she would always find a way.

 

She did not know what awaited her, but she was prepared to face any challenge at the end,

She kept a sharp outlook, a keen eye,

She would remain vigilant and alert,

She would remain calm and collected, and level-headed,

She would remain focused and determined, even when things got tough,

She would remain steady and resolute, until she reached the final destination.

 

She was on a mission, a mission of significance,

She was on a mission on which the fates of many depended,

She had a task to do, she had an obligation to fulfill,

She had a purpose greater than herself, she had a duty to perform,

She had a role to play, she had a part to act,

She was on a mission, she would see it through.

 

She was an example of bravery and heroism,

She was a symbol of courage and patriotism,

She was a hero to many,

 

She was a champion for her country and her people,

She was a guardian of freedom and liberty,

 

She was the one who kept the embers of freedom and hope burning,

She was the one who saved the day,

She was the one who was steadfast and courageous in the face of adversity,

She was the one who kept the spark of the revolution alive,

She was the one who made all the difference,

She was the one and only Sybil Luddington.

 

With her bravery and her heroism,

With her courage and her determination,

With her sacrifice and her dedication,

Sybil Luddington has become an American patriotic icon, a hero of the American Revolution, and a pillar of hope and perseverance in the face of injustice and adversity. May she inspire and encourage people for generations to come.

 

Sybil Luddington on her famous midnight ride through the Hudson River Valley. (Image Credit: Digital artwork by the Editor.)

 

“The Journey of the Soul: A Prose Poem”

By Rodrika Novalis, Staff Wrtier

                We set out upon our journey with purpose and intention, guided by the light; but our travels take us down many roads and paths, encountering obstacles, trials, and challenges along the way.

                Each new destination takes us deeper into the labyrinth of our soul, where we confront the joys and sorrows, fears and doubts, and the hidden wonders and mysteries of our inner self.

                We face battles and challenges with bravery and tenacity, navigating the intricate tunnels of our hearts and minds. With each obstacle overcome and each victory won, we become stronger and wiser.

                The journey takes us to the very core of our being, where the light and the darkness exist side by side. There, we face the contradictions and dilemmas that make up our human nature.

                The journey of the soul takes us from the outermost layers of our minds into the deepest inner sanctum of our hearts, where all is revealed, all is remembered, and all is known. We become familiar with our shadows and our light, our fears and our truths, our pasts and our futures.

                We come to know our hearts and souls more intimately than we ever thought possible, encountering each other on the journey. We become familiar with ourselves in ways we've never could've imagined.

                A journey of the soul also takes us outside ourselves and into the vast expanse of the universe. We become intimate with the heavens and the earth, the sun and the moon, and all that is within and outside us.

                The path of the soul takes us on an exploration of the cosmos, our existence, and our very essence. We become intimate with the universe, the multiverse, and the very nature of reality Itself.

                The journey of the soul takes us through the depths of darkness and the heights of light. We experience the fullness of joy and the bitterness of sorrow. We experience life and we experience death. We experience the light and the dark, the good and the bad, the joy and the despair.

                The journey of the soul takes us through all sorts of experiences, some pleasant, some painful. We encounter angels and demons, saints and sinners, friends and foes. We encounter the darkness of the soul and the darkness outside ourselves.

                The journey of the soul also takes us through the realm of consciousness, the realm of subconsciousness, and the realm of the soul. We experience everything from the deepest depths of sleep to the deepest depths of mindfulness.

                The journey also takes us through the realms of body, mind, spirit, thoughts, emotions, and soul. We experience the duality of the psyche and the unity of the Self.

                The journey of the soul takes us through the realms of matter and energy. We experience the dichotomy of materialism and the non-material. We experience the unity of being and the oneness of all.

                The journey of the soul also takes us to the realms of the ego and the id. We experience the duality of the self and the unity of the Self. We experience the harmony of the parts and the whole.

                The journey of the soul also takes us to the realm of the subconscious and the conscious. We merge the conscious and the subconscious mind. We integrate the shadow and the light within ourselves. We heal the wounds of the past and the wounds of the present.

                The journey of the soul takes us through the realms of the self and the non-self. We merge the self and the non-self within ourselves. We heal the disconnect between our inner and our outer worlds. We heal the disconnect between our inner and our outer selves. We become whole.

                The journey of the soul takes us beyond the realm of duality. We experience the unity of opposites. We merge the masculine and feminine within ourselves. We merge the yin and the yang within ourselves. We merge the light and the dark within ourselves."

                The journey of the soul brings us through the realm of death. We experience the abyss of nothingness. We experience our rebirth. Our transformation. Our transformation into something more than we could've ever imagined.

                The journey of the soul takes us into the realm of immortality and the realm of transcendence. We merge the earthly and the spiritual. We become one with the Infinite. We return to Source.

                The journey of the soul takes us into the realm of infinity and the realm of unity. We merge the limited and the infinite within ourselves, and the limited within ourselves. We transcend limitation and embrace perfection. We step into our ultimate destiny.

                The journey of the soul leads us towards our ultimate source. We come to know our deepest and highest purpose. We enter the realm of enlightenment and unity. We embrace the divine truth of our core selves. We become one with Creation.

 

Hypatia of Alexandria (ca. 360-415 CE), a Neoplatonic philosopher, is pictured here outside the Great Pyramid at sunrise, where she has just undergone a nocturnal initiation into the ancient Egyptian Mysteries. (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor)

 

Weekly Words of Wisdom

Contributed by Skylar Sonnenschein, Editorial Associate

                The following is a classic quote on friendship:

 

"A friend in need is a friend indeed." – William Shakespeare, Macbeth

 

                Friendship is one of the most important aspects of human existence. We need friends for support, comfort, understanding, and companionship. Shakespeare understood the value of friends, and the quote captures the sentiment nicely.

 

Stoic Proverb of the Week

From an Anonymous Contributor

"A friend is someone who knows the worst about you yet continues to love you." — Henry James

 

Source: Henry James, The Letters of Henry James to William James, v. 2, p. 218. The University of Virginia Press, 1909.