Thoughts sound good

If sometimes

They’re nicely cast

In old-style rhymes

 

PRELUDE

 

Words, words, I love all words.

They open for me whole new worlds.

Words can sound or just be silent,

Make us vicious, and even violent.

They can shock, and be daring,

They can soothe, and be inspiring.

They can be lofty, they can be lovely,

They can be uttered clearly and coolly.

Spoken with anger, stated as rules

By people wise, and even fools.

They can be rich and be readable

They can be powerful, and be punnable,

Words are interesting, informative,

Imaginative, instigative.

Words can be crude or be colorful,

They can be big and be beautiful,

Long and separable,

Short or laughable.

Lots of fun from words I reap.

They're really, really, really cheap.

For dollars few one can hook

Thousands of words in a big fat book.

I while away lots of time

Constructing lines that simply  rhyme.

 

In the pages to follow, see what I've done,

Read them, recite them, you may have fun!

 


 

 

 

I. BELIEF SYSTEMS

 

1. FAITH

 

1. Faith is an anchor: it keeps you on shore;

  Doubt is a sail: it helps you explore.           

 

2.Those who swear that faith is true

  Have their own faith in view.            

 

3.If a person's heart you wish to break

  Try that person's faith to shake.                

 

4.Wreck not a faith that is deep,

  If you can't offer ought else to keep.                   

 

5.They’re targets oft of peoples' hate

  Who a people’s faith do desecrate.              

 

6.When pain and sorrow afflict the mind

  In faith can one solace find.             

 

7.Faith can't cure all physical ills;

  But other needs it amply fills.           

 

8.Gods above can't subsist

  If faith below doesn’t exist.             

 

9.Faith isn’t belief with no proof for it;

  It’s belief with proof for the opposite.

 

10.Faith accepts without asking for reason,

  As one eats one's meal without thought of poison.

 

2. MYTHS

 

1.Not facts, but values are what one finds

  In the myths and tales of ancient minds.      

 

2.Science's proofs and obscure theories        

  Aren't as soothing as age-old stories.          

 

3.Devils and spirits are called by us          

  Bacteria, germs and viruses.                       

 

4.Myths and spooks of ancient folks

  Perhaps were their dreams and jokes.

 

5.Myths were stories serious

  To explain the world that's around us.         

 

6.Who take mythologies as really true,

  Can get wild and combative too.        

 

7.Myths are often tales delightful:

  Deep-felt visions, oft insightful.       

 

8.The most ancient gods in human history

  Are filled with magic, myth and mystery.     

 

9.We accept the God of our kin and kith;

What others worship, we call a myth.   

 

10.Myths see the world in terms too stark:

  As good and bad, as light and dark.             

 

 

3. GOD CONCEPTS

 

1.Whether God is or not a hypothesis,

  God is joy and love and source of bliss.

         

2.The world has but a single Boss

  Who sets our life and gain and loss.                                

 

 3. God is not a spy in the sky,

  Watching thoughts and deeds from up on high.                 

 

4.Music is one, but tunes are countless.

  Icons are many, but God is formless.

                            

 5.Fear not the God Who is above:

  For God is only mercy and love.

 

6.Rain and thunder, sun and sky

  May be the only gods on high.           

 

7.If a God there be, He must embrace

  Saints and sinners of every race.                         

 

8.God said, "Let a Big Bang Blast!"

  That's how the world, it came at last.

 

9.God thought, “Let there be sound!”

  Then said, “Let e.m. waves be all around.”    

 

10.Is God a He or is God a She?

  Some think they know, but don’t ask me!      

 

 

 

I. BELIEF SYSTEMS

 

1. FAITH

 

1.Faith is an anchor: it keeps you on shore;

Doubt is a sail: it helps you explore.              

 

2.Those who swear that faith is true

Have their own faith in view.               

 

3.If a person's heart you wish to break

Try that person's faith to shake.                  

 

4.Wreck not a faith that is deep,

If you can't offer ought else to keep.                     

 

5.They’re targets oft of peoples' hate

Who a people’s faith do desecrate.                

 

6.When pain and sorrow afflict the mind

In faith can one solace find.                

 

7.Faith can't cure all physical ills;

But other needs it amply fills.             

 

8.Gods above can't subsist

If faith below doesn’t exist.                

 

9.Faith isn’t belief with no proof for it;

It’s belief with proof for the opposite.

 

10.Faith accepts without asking for reason,

As one eats one's food without checking for poison.

 

2. MYTHS

 

1.Not facts, but values are what one finds

In the myths and tales of ancient minds.        

 

2.Science's proofs and obscure theories        

Aren't as soothing as age-old stories.            

 

3.Devils and spirits are called by us          

Bacteria, germs and viruses.                          

 

4.Myths and spooks of ancient folks

Perhaps were their dreams and jokes.   

 

5.Myths were stories serious

To explain the world that's around us. 

 

6.Who take mythologies as really true,

Can get crazy and combative too.        

 

7.Myths are often tales delightful:

Deep-felt visions, oft insightful.

 

8.The most ancient gods in human history

Are filled with magic, myth and mystery.       

 

9.True God belongs to our kin and kith;

          What others pray to, we call a myth.   

 

10.Myths see the world in terms too stark:

As good and bad, as light and dark.               

         

 

3. GOD CONCEPTS

 

1.Whether God is or not a hypothesis,

God is joy and love and source of bliss.

         

2.The world has but a single Boss

Who sets our life and gain and loss.                                  

 

 3.God is not a spy in the sky,

Watching thoughts and deeds from up on high.         

 

4.Music is one, but tunes are countless.

Icons are many, but God is formless.

                            

 5.Fear not the God Who is above:

For God is only mercy and love.

 

6.Rain and thunder, sun and sky

May be the only gods on high.              

 

7.If a God there be, He must embrace

Saints and sinners of every race.                            

 

8.God said, "Let a Big Bang Blast!"

That's how the world, it came at last.

 

9.God said, “Let the world shine in many ways

With matter, energy in time and space!,”        

 

10.God said, "E.M. waves, let there be,

Of which a part humans can see!"

 

II. RELIGION

 

1. HISTORICAL

 

1.       Religions talk of heaven and hell

          As where in future we all will dwell.                       

 

 2.      No prophet's words are widely read

          That warm admirers haven't spread.

 

3.       Religions begin to degenerate

          When all they do is God venerate.                 

 

4.       Jesus, Buddha, Mohammed, Moses

          Ate and slept like the rest of us.                   

 

5.       When they hunted and lived in caves

          They had no priests or rites, or even graves.

 

6.       Pure truth in religion, if you wish to find

          Keep all  history out of mind.

 

7.       Of gods and scriptures we find no trace

          'Mong the early hunters of the human race.    

 

8.       Reject not religions of the past.

          Change and expand to make them last.            

 

9.       Who authored sacred scriptures’ pages

          Were scientific theorists of bygone ages.

 

10.     There’s not a single faith indeed

          That fought not with another sacred creed.

 

2. NARROW 

 

1.       Fanatics can be dangerous

          If  power they secure over us.   

                                     

 2.      Religious groups are good, you'll find;

          When not close to others of a different kind.

 

3.       For the true believer, this is the test:

          He is sure his belief is the best.          

 

4.       If some religious folks have power indeed,

          They’ll dictate what one must and must not read.               

 

5.       "God is great!" some loud exclaim;

          Then fight and kill and also maim.                  

         

6.       Self-righteous fervor is a force indeed

          That provokes wars as much as greed.  

         

7.       Religious bigots are arrogant

          And of history they're ignorant.                   

 

8.       Of modern science, they know not aught,        

          Who cling for ever to ancient thought. 

 

9.       Religions have a role to play,

          But on everything, should they have a say?     

 

10.     Religion is narrow if it doesn't care

          For the poor and the hungry who're out there.

 

3. PRAYER

 

1.       How can  asses that can only bray

          Know the joys of those who pray?        

                            

2.       Scriptures must only be read.

          Dissect them, and they will be dead.

 

3.       Prayer in truth is an effort to find

          A cosmic link for soul and mind.           

 

4.       The joys and thrills of God's embrace

          Are beyond those who have no grace.   

 

5.       Prayer isn't to solve problems fast,

          But to merge oneself with the cosmos vast.              

 

6.       When all is well, and there's nothing to fear,

          Not many pray for God to be near.               

 

7.       When it's hard for one with life to cope,

          Who prays to God gets some hope.                 

 

8.       When we’re alone with danger around,

          Then can the value of prayer be found.

 

9.       Prayer to God needn't always be

          A meek, beseeching, helpless plea.                 

 

10.     Prayer is a one-way mode to converse

          With the substratum of the universe.   

 

4. MYSTICISM

         

1.       From molecules came life and love:

          This, wondrous more than Heaven above!

 

2.       Knowledge of a star’s essence

          Robs us not of a mystic sense.

         

3.       Ecstasy is the orgasmic joy

          That mystics get with the cosmic toy.

 

4.       Reason brings to mind some light,

          Mystic merger brings delight.

 

5.       Not all mystics are just fakes,

          Though muddled minds may make  mistakes.

 

6.       Science’s truths can all be bared;

          Mystic's joy can't be shared.

 

7.       Mystics do some truths proclaim;

          But not all mystics say the same.

 

8.       Science without a mystic feeling

          Is like medicine without too much healing.

 

9.       Mystic feeling is like passing greeting:

          Deep-felt, but it's all too fleeting.

 

10.     Mystic joy without God or creed

          Is like morality without laws, indeed.

 

 

5. SPECIFIC RELIGIONS

 

1.Hindus say there's many a way

To search for God, and to pray.           

 

2.The Judaic faith has this to say:

They're true to God who His laws obey!         

 

3.The message of Christ is short indeed:

Be kind and helpful to those in need.              

 

4.They call themselves devout Jains

Whose religion feels for creatures’ pains.      

 

5.The Buddha's wisdom may be seen

In his simple rule of the Golden Mean.           

 

6.God is great, Islam has said;

His sole messenger: Prophet Mohammed.         

 

7.The Sikhs say inner peace to find

We must follow the Master, keep God in mind.

 

8.Respect land and trees, rain and dew:

This is religion enough in Amerindian's view.

 

9.Chinese wisdom, it would seem

Is to be with Nature, follow the stream.

         

10.Be good and kind, take rational ways:

This is all that matters, the humanist says.     

 

 

 

III. CULTURE

 

1. ART

 

1.      Art is statement of a deep-felt truth,

        That also happens to please and soothe.

 

2.      It's humans who make and evaluate

        A work of art as bad or great.

 

3.     Music isn't just note and beat;

        But sound that's soothing and also sweet.

 

4.      Stories that are widely read

        Are harmless lies, all nicely said.

 

5.     A beautiful face is a thing of joy:

        Of man or woman, of girl or boy.

 

6.     People enjoy plays cause they partake

        Of dialogues they can't themselves make.

 

7.     The power of words is what is seen

        In a poet's painting of a scene.

 

8.     No art, no science, no dance, no song,

        If one hasn't has food for way too long.

 

9.     By oneself one makes a work of art

        A scientist's work, of the whole is part.

 

10.   Meaning behind truth by art is shown;

        Truth behind facts by science is known.

 

2. BOOKS

 

1.       Speech and actions fade away;

          But written words for long will stay.             

 

2.       Books that gather dust in dark

          May also light a sudden spark.             

 

3.       Books and logic, we do not need.

          The poor and hungry to clothe and feed.                  

 

4.       A stranger is like a book unread.

          Dull or lively, it can't be said.   

                                     

5.       Humans are the only creatures

          That write and read literatures.

                            

6.       Deeds  of saints through books and sounds     

          Grow in time by leaps and bounds.       

 

7.       Repeating just what books have said

          Is like paying homage to people dead.

 

8.       Some books belong to every nation:

          They’ve changed the face of civilization.                 

         

9.       Humans are more than atoms the way

          A book is more than words, I'll say.              

 

10.     To know the thoughts of a brilliant mind,

Read a book it wrote, if you can find.

 

 

3. MORALITY

 

1.       Moral codes aren't meant to find                                     

          Knowledge to light up the mind.            

 

2.       Comfort, control, come from wealth.

          But wealth unshared is but stealth.      

 

3.       One can’t with logic justify

          How love and kindness sanctify.

                  

4.       Ought in excess, even of laughter

          Brings pain or gloom not long after.     

 

5.       An extremist stand, on whatever cause,                

          Will likely cause some pain or loss.                

 

6.       Conscious hurting of another life

          Is an evil sharp as any knife.               

 

7.       Sex and love are not the same;

          With love goes never blame or shame.  

 

8.       Pleasures are for only you;

          Joys, for sharing with others too.                 

 

9.       Those who deal in deadly drugs

          Are viler than the vilest thugs.            

 

10.     The simplest moral rule is one:

          Willful harm must ever be done.

 

 

5.  WORDS AND LANGUAGE

 

1.       Play on sounds, if you can afford;

          The pun is mightier than the word.

         

2.       The Chinese tongue is hard for you?

Yet millions speak it, and children too.

 

3.       Another language beyond your own

Opens the mind to worlds unknown.                

 

4.       People holding different views,

Don’t mean the same by the words they use.

 

5.       What to Romans it was simply sex,

          To the Greeks the same was in fact hex.

 

6.       The fiery word can arouse a mob

To peace or war, to save or rob.

 

7.       Though to the bard we’re much beholden,

          Yes speech is silver, eloquence golden.

 

8.       Vibrations in air, when ought we say,

          Thoughts and meanings do convey.

 

9.       Sounds from the mouth have of course

          Could even change history’s course.

 

10.     Like beauty from the sculptor's stone

          The poet makes beauty from words alone.

 

IV. GROUPS

 

1. CRIME AND PUNSHMENT

 

1.       Pity the man who once had fame;

          Which, having lost, now lives in shame.           

 

 2.      Punishment follows not the crime;

Save when one is caught in time.          

 

3.       Some say it’s murder weird and wild

          When a woman wants to abort her child.                  

 

4.       Lawyers’ wits are what decide

          The outcome when a case is tried.

 

5.       Equal justice for must be done:

          Not penalty same for everyone.

 

6.       If no one  steals and no one robs,

          Police and lawyers will be out of jobs. 

 

7.       Crimes are caused no doubt by roots,

          As much as roots lead to rotten fruits. 

 

8.       The lawyer who can better argue

          Shows the Truth, in a jury’s view.