by 
“I’m looking for a second reformation. The first reformation of the church 500 years ago was about beliefs. This one is going to be about behavior. The first one was about creeds. This one is going to be about deeds. It is not going to be about what does the church believe, but about what is the church doing.” Rick Warren
some inkling of unity beyond division
of mystical, not mythical
of cup, not sword
lost in a strange search
found on the angel wings
of compassion and wisdom
the sacred in ordinary time*
the simple me and thee of
the anointed, appointed, awakened before myths and dogma
something sweet in orthopraxy, not orthodoxy
in ontology, not theology
the clear light of universal wonder
funding a commonwealth of saints
* meant in a secular sense
©2016, poem and photograph, Jamie Dedes, All right reserved
WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT
What are the virtues of orthopraxy in our religions? Why is orthopraxy important, especially in our own time given the events and challenges of the day? Share your poem/s on theme or a link to it/them in the comments section below.
All poems on theme will be published next Tuesday. Please do NOT email your poem to me or leave it on Facebook. If you do it’s likely I’ll miss it or not see it in time.
IF this is your first time joining us for The Poet by Day, Wednesday Writing Prompt, please send a brief bio and photo to me at thepoetbyday@gmail.com in order to introduce yourself to the community … and to me :-). These will be partnered with your poem/s on first publication.
PLEASE send the bio ONLY if you are with us on this for the first time AND only if you have posted a poem (or a link to one of yours) on theme in the comments section below.
Deadline: Monday, August 13 at 8 p.m. Pacific.
Anyone may take part Wednesday Writing Prompt, no matter the status of your career: novice, emerging or pro. It’s about exercising the poetic muscle, sharing your work, and getting to know other poets who might be new to you. This is a discerning nonjudgemental place to connect.
ABOUT
Poet and writer, I was once columnist and associate editor of a regional employment publication. Currently I run this site, The Poet by Day, an information hub for poets and writers. I am the managing editor of The BeZine published by The Bardo Group Beguines (originally The Bardo Group), a virtual arts collective I founded. I am a weekly contributor to Beguine Again, a site showcasing spiritual writers.
My work is featured in a variety of publications and on sites, including: Levure littéraure, Ramingo’s Porch, Vita Brevis Literature,Compass Rose, Connotation Press, The Bar None Group, Salamander Cove, Second Light, I Am Not a Silent Poet, Meta / Phor(e) /Play, and California Woman.
Jamie Dedes' THE POET BY DAY Webzine 
Hi Jamie,
Here’s my second response:
So Grave
As she stands in the queue
she sees his down turned mouth,
his face buried in his chest,
Along with her order she buys
an extra cup of coffee.
The stranger smiles at her smile as she gives
him the drink. “You look so sad.”
“My wife’s grave has been vandalised,
love. It’ll cost a thousand pounds to repair.”
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Hi Jamie,
Here is my first response:
That Yes
of your breath as it lets go into the fresher air opportunity offers with open hands,
an apology for pain given from the giver heals the sores and blemishes, some self inflicted, hands
over a cup of tea, coffee or glass of fresh greeting
A wholesome kiss and gleam gladdened eyes
without expectation of return or reparation,
sip down electricity that sparkles your bones.
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.sarah’s bible.
there is lavender
in the fire, someone
is tapping
on the window, patterned
with cracked kings and
predecessors.
sarah’s bible, hand held,
open via perspex
and blue velvet
at ecclesiastes
chapter three.
to everything
there is a
feafon, etc,
in italics.
sbm.
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Thanks Jamie. A first response.
.notes for anna.
back to the cathedral where the book says it is all for nothing anyway talk about giving hope away. a spiritual reduction, a sad deduction from some who should know better .
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nervy anna
we won’t incur nirvana’s wrath
if we don’t stroll the eightfold path.
for lucid lurid sharp or dense
nirvana has indifference.
and karma is as karma does
but karma will not be nor was
nor heretic nor missionary
is a beneficiary.
it is never headline news
when one retains one’s unright views.
the crunch point is what satisfaction
derives from someone’s unright action.
a range from peace to dissolution
is found in retro retribution.
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