Po-mz - A Wonderful Rumi Poem Collected And Shared By Tony Johansen

Pronounced "Poems" but in the whacky digital age we make up new words because someone already registered the real word.

These poems are collected and shared because they are special words, often very profound, often sensual, and always very beautiful and meaningful.

Here are words from the greatest poets who ever lived, some of them very famous, but there are also treasures from lesser known poets who perhaps deserve to be better known. I humbly offer some of my poems in amongst this illustrious company. Please forgive me for that, and I hope you enjoy this rich selection.

Po-mz is designed to allow serendipity a large role in your reading pleasure. Do not expect the poetry to be ordered according to subject or poet. Instead you have two choices. You can read in a linear fashion using the next and previous buttons at the bottom of each page, or you can use the archives link at the bottom of this sidebar to randomly hop from poem to poem. Enjoy.

GO MOBILE
Now Po-mz comes in a special edition designed for easy reading on any internet enabled mobile phone. The URL you will need is http://po-mz.tumblr.com/mobile
Those fortunate enough to have an iPhone should just use the regular URL for best results.

LINKS
Gatherr
Cultural items of interest gathered from the web. Updated daily with an intense focus on a different theme for each day.

TonyJohansen.com
The main web site about the work of artist Tony Johansen. Extensive galleries of artwork as well as selected writings and poetry.

Diary Of An Artist
Online diary of Tony Johansen. The trivia, traumas and triumphs of an artist struggling to survive in a new world.

PaintMaking.com
The webs premier site on pigments and making artist's paints in the studio.

Go Figure
An online extension of a painting by Tony Johansen.

Voice In My Head
The background and story of the painting of the portrait of Leo Sayer by Tony Johansen

Crypts And Cats
Interesting places (and cats) within walking distance of Kings Cross.

Hens Night Ideas
Arty Party's are the fun way to celebrate a Hens Night.

EROTIC ART LINKS
Femaylz
Artistic erotic images of the female form collected, edited, and created by Tony Johansen. WARNING: This site contains explicit imagery of nude or semi clad women. Do not enter if you are under 18 years of age or are offended by sexually graphic images.

Maylz
Artistic erotic images of the male form collected, edited, and created by Tony Johansen. WARNING: This site contains explicit imagery of nude or semi clad men and includes images of penises. Do not enter if you are under 18 years of age or are offended by sexually graphic images.

Intercorz
Artistic erotic images of the male and female form engaged in sexual activity. The images are intended to explore the beauty of the human form in all activities. The images are collected, edited, and created by Tony Johansen. WARNING: This site contains explicit imagery of nude or semi clad men and women engaged in sexual activity. Do not enter if you are under 18 years of age or are offended by sexually graphic images.

A Wonderful Rumi Poem Collected And Shared By Tony Johansen

HOW CLOSE ARE THESE IMMATERIAL THINGS

How close are these immaterial things - my soul to your soul!
Telepathy is the way we astonish each other in our paradise.
But we are even closer than that, come nearer so that the surface
Of our questing souls may co-mingle like wisps of sea-mist.
Come nearer, don’t jest and say with soft irony: “I am a dervish
In your midst.” Our conjunction is not so simply told as that.
I am the pillar which holds up the ceiling, I am the gutter collecting
Rainwater from the roof, I am your salty conscience on Judgement Day;
Don’t take me as the oil of passing acquaintences without history.
I am the wine at your banquet, the proud and terrible lance of your battles.
If like lightening I suddenly pierce the dark bulk of night then go out;
I am also the blinding electricity of your beauty, clean silent and lethal.
I am an ocean of joy, so drunk I take and give soul for soul without
Quibling pedantry between your heaven and my earth. You make
Blossom in my worlds as numerous as atoms, number on number.
Mine is the house of the dead which you properly occupy at your ease
Showing it off like a proud owner. A handful of atoms reminisce:
“We were a lock of hair once upon a time.” Others remember they
Are bone. You are breathless and confused, the ceiling grows soft
As cheese before your eyes, then, at once, you’re pierced with love
Which wordlessly says within your heartbeat: ” You’re mine, I’ll free
You from the cage of yourself, now!” Be silent Khusrau, be silent,
Savor this timeless moment, speak no more of longing. Oh my tongue,
Oh how this retiring tongue of mine is made exquisite with your sweetness!

- Rumi (Persia, 13th century)