Spiritual poetry - Barbara Payman. Meditation, mindfulness & compassion. Lotus flower and reflection.

Spiritual poetry with Barbara Payman. Poetry, meditation and ceremony. Compassionate candle.

My spiritual poems

For me, the term 'spiritual poetry' describes the essence of my writing, focusing on the experience of being human and the connection with the universe beyond us. My poems are inspired by something that is moving me in my life... … awe of the beauty of nature, compassion for suffering, a yearning for peace, emotions of love and grief…and other expressions of being human. They sometimes take the form of prayer-poems or conversations with 'God'. My poems have been an integral part of my spiritual journey; I hope that this selection of my spiritual poetry may offer something to you.

Poetry selections

Below is a selection of my spiritual poetry. All the poems here are published in my book trilogy, 'Poems from the Heart and Soul'. The details of these three books can be found on the 'Books' page.

Poems from the Heart and Soul, Volume 1: In Honour of Mairi excerpts

About This Book

For my Moses

I give thanks today

For she has led me from

Slavery to freedom

For she has led me from

Tears to joy

For she has led me from

Fear to love

For my Moses

I give thanks today

From the bottom of my heart

To my Moses

I pay tribute today

I honour her

Warm heart and soul

I honour her

Generous spirit

I honour her

Loving hand

For my Moses

I give thanks today

From the bottom of my heart.

Cliff top

Today I send you

The flight of a seagull

A cliff top glide

On fast silver wings

Its freedom expressed

In each tilt and turn

An effortless journey

Between land and sea

Today I send you

The song of a skylark

Sweet melody

From the sky above

Transcending notes

To lift the spirit

Up and beyond

The green fields below

Today I send you

The white capped waves

Glistening crowns

In the noon-day sun

With each incoming move

Bending and curving

Shaking up stones

In loud display

Today I send you

A misty horizon

Hewn with pale shades

Of grey, blue and white

A hilly vista

Of cloud upon cloud

Their stately poise

Above dark moody sea

Today I send you

My seaside treasures

The feel of the breeze

The warmth of the sun

A fossil strewn beach

Holding ancient wisdoms

All here today

I send to you.

I am right by your side

So if you should tire a little

Just rest your arm on mine

So I may help take your weight

I am right by your side

So if you should scare a little

Just put your hand in mine

That I may walk with you

I am right by your side

So if you should want for anything

Just whisper in my ear

And I shall help find what you need

I am right by your side

So should you be struggling a little

Just give me a glance

For I am here with you

I am right by your side

On this day

And all days

I am right by your side

My Love always

With you

I am right by your side.

How would I?

If I were to have to say 'Goodbye'

How would I let your hand go

How would I let your eyes go

How would I leave your side

How would I take a step

If I have to say 'Goodbye'

How will I turn away

How will my feet carry me

Away from you

When I have to say 'Goodbye'

Just how...

When I love you so.

November winds

Are blowing now

Showers of leaves

Dance and curl

Making their way

Between bough and earth

Nature's call

So strong now

'Let go'

She says

'Let go'

And trust

The wind

'Let go'

And trust

The sky

'Let go'

And trust

The earth

'Let go'

And trust

November winds

Are blowing now

And I too

Must make

A farewell...

I too

Must let go

And trust...

Poems from the Heart and Soul, Volume 2: In Honour of Peace excerpts

About This Book

Born to be

Who were you

Born to Be…?

Who is it

That lives

At the very core

Of you…?

What is it

That makes

Your heart open

Your soul dance

Your body tingle

Your mind thrill…

What unique expression

Of life

On this Earth

Are you…?

What is it

That awakes

The essence

Of you…?

What calls you

To come close

And embrace it…?

What song

Lies on the page

For you to sing…?

What message

Do you have

For us…?

Who do you want

To be

In this world...

Who were you

Born to Be…?

When lost in thought

I can walk past

A hundred

Miracles of Nature…

And be blind

And deaf

To them all...

When lost in thought

I can miss

The wonder…and awe

Of a ewe giving birth

To her lamb...

Of a rainbow

Blessing

The sky...

Of a butterfly

Alighting

On a flower...

When lost in thought

I can walk past

The elixir

Of life itself...

And not taste

A drop...

Trapped

In the cobwebs

Of the past...

Swept along

With the imaginations

Of the future...

When lost in thought

I can see nothing

But my longings

For this moment

To be different...

My judgements

Of it not being enough...

My criticisms

Of myself

Or another...

So now

I ask...

How much of my life

Has been lost in thought?

How much disturbance

Have I caused myself?

How much

Do we all miss

Through

Life-long habits

Of absence

From our lives?

So friends

It is time now…

Time to find our way

Beyond the distractions…

Time to emerge

From the mists

Of our wandering minds...

Time to

Claim our presence

In the moment…

Time to

Come home

To the very pulse

Of life itself…

The place

Where love resides

And compassion flows.

Night of protest

Quiet now…

The protests

Of the night

Are quiet now...

The angry wind

Of yesternight

Who buffeted

And admonished

Raged

And blew wild

Is quiet now...

But yesternight

He screamed

His grief

With all

His might...

He yelled

His pain

Into the

Darkness...

He broke

His heart

And burst

His lungs

As he writhed

And wailed

And bellowed

Into the

Blackness

Of another night...

Another night...

So quiet now...

Cradled

In the arms

Of daylight

He rests

His bruised body...

He rests

His cracked voice...

Quiet now.

Candle of peace

I have lit a candle of peace

My candle of peace is burning now

The candle flame

Flickering in the air

Bending and curling

Brightening and softening

The candle flame

Flickering in the air

And what is this candle flame?

The flickers and dances are my full heart

The heat is my power and protection

The warm glow is my love

The dripping wax is my grief

The essence of the flame is my very spirit

The light coming forth is my blessing…

I have lit a candle of peace

A candle of peace is burning now.

Bird of Peace

This poem is newly published as a contribution to the event, Poems for Peace: Ukraine 2022

Find out More

Bird of Peace

I am

Your

Bird of Peace...

Behold

Your

Bird of Peace...

See!

See how high

I can soar...

See!

See how far

I can fly...

Limitless

Boundless

Flight...

With the clouds

By day...

With the stars

By night...

Can

Fly

The World

In...Peace...

Can

Fly

The

World...

Let me

Carry your heart

Around

The world...

Let me

Carry your longing

Around

The world...

Let us

Together

Make...peace...

Let us make Peace...

We can be

The Alchemy

Of...

Peace...

Let our cauldron

Take all the wounds...

Let our cauldron

Take all the brokenness...

Let our cauldron

Take all

That gets in the way

Of...Peace...

Pour it in!

Let us say to the world

Pour your hurts and wounds and brokenness

Into the Alchemy...

Invite the healing...

Emerge

As new

In Peace...

Emerge

As new

In Peace...

In...Peace.

Poems from the Heart and Soul, Volume 3: In Honour of God excerpts

About This Book

God eyes

You are

The key

To peace...

For Your gaze

Is...respect...

Your gaze

Is….acceptance

Your gaze

Is…love...

Respect, acceptance, love

These three...

How powerful…

If I could wish

Right now

It would be

That each and every being

Could have your eyes...

Imagine!

Imagine our world!

Each human

With God eyes...

Seeing

All others

With Love...

'How naive'

The voices say...

'How ridiculous'

The voices say...

'How stupid'

The voices say...

But I stand solid

And I will pray

For the world

To start seeing

Through

...God eyes...

Lord of the Living Peace

I want to know

How to live peace...

I want to know

How to breathe it in...

And breathe it out...

Through my lungs...

Through my skin...

I want to know

How to be

Your peace...

I want to know

How to bring

Your peace

To others...

So let me not

Close out

The pain...

Of violence

And conflict

And unrest

Inside and out...

Let me not

Close out

The outrage and agony

Of annihilation...

Let me know

All that is

'Un-peace'

Within and without

For only then...

Can I know peace

And serve You

Lord of the Living Peace.

Love flows

Love flows...

As softly

As the gentlest breeze

Love flows...

As warmly

As the sun itself

Love flows...

As sensuously

As the dancing waves

Love flows...

As firmly

As the strongest roots

Love flows...

Unfettered

Unbounded

Unlimited

Throughout

Our Universe

Love flows...

New moon

Poised

In twilight sky

Which still holds

The colours

Of the setting sun...

Your crescent

Shines

So bright...

Your form

Divinely

Beautiful...

And

Look now!

For your glow

Spreads out…

Your delicate crescent

Within

A halo

Of softest orange

Against indigo sky...

And there

By your side

So close

Shines Venus...

New moon

You take

My breath away!

“What Goddess

Are you

To us…?

How can we

Look upon

Your beauty…?

What wisdom

Have you

For us...?”

"Know yourselves...

Let yourselves feel

The Divine in you...

Let yourselves feel

Me in you...

For all my beauty

And light

Is yours...

Let yourselves shine

Your moonlight...

Let yourselves shine

Your love...

Let yourselves find

The braveness

Of your souls...

Let yourselves be

Who you truly are…

And in this way

Serve

Your world...

Let me help

Each month

Renew

The Divine

In…you."

If you would like to commission your own bespoke poetry from me, Barbara Payman, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me.

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