In this paper, the author presents a poem entitled “Plenitude.” The poem, originally written by
the author’s father (José Antonio Noguera Gimenez) in Spanish, is offered by the author as a vehicle
for the exploration of self, life, spirit, and nature. Both the Spanish and English versions of the
poem are provided

Ferrer, Jorge N.

English

California Institute of Integral Studies libraries

International Journal ofTranspersonal StudiesVolume 23 | Issue 1 Article 101-1-2004A Secret Poem for YouJorge N. FerrerCalifornia Institute of Integral StudiesFollow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudiesPart of the Philosophy Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Religion CommonsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusionin International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contactdigitalcommons@ciis.edu.Recommended CitationFerrer, J. N. (2004). Ferrer, J. N. (2004). A secret poem for you. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 23(1), 91–93..International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 23 (1). http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2004.23.1.91Iwant to share a secret poem with you today. I callthis poem “secret” not because of its hermetic oresoteric meaning, but simply because it secretlyheld me for years, giving me strength and hope intimes of crisis and difficulty. My father, its author,1was born and raised in the orchards of Murcia, thatfertile region of the south of Spain that prides itself—in that charmingly exaggerated way so defining of theMurcian spirit—on providing fruits and vegetables forthe rest of the European continent. As my fathermoved to the culturally vibrant but highly industrial-ized city of Barcelona to work and start his new mar-ried life, essential seeds of his soul apparently decidedto stay at the orchards. And, as so often happens with-in the poet’s heart, versed beauty began to sprout fromthe pain and isolation of a dismembered soul. This is why the poem you are about to read wasoriginally called “Solitude.” Some years ago, with theauthor’s consent, I changed its title from “Solitude” to“Plenitude,” for a poem—as is true of anything thatcarries meaning for what matters—is never an indiffer-ent or static object, but rather a living presence whoseinner nature metamorphoses as it encounters a recep-tive heart. As I rescued those essential seeds that myfather’s soul left in Murcian soil, it became obviousthat a change of title was not only justified, but actu-ally called for by the poem itself. In these times of ram-pant uprootedness from ancestry and tradition, weoften forget that it is in the unfulfilled dreams of ourparents where we can many times find the pearls thatoffer our souls the guidance they are longing for. Andwhat a magnificent miracle it is to discover that as wewalk that path, not only the dreams but also thedreamer can at a deep level begin to be realized. Although containing many layers of meaning, thisis a very simple poem. My father, as Charles Bukowskionce said of himself, does not have grandiosethoughts, or thoughts of a philosophical nature, and sowhen he writes poems, they tell us about very ordinarythings. As do many visionary texts, however, this poemlures us into a journey. But this is not an invitation tothe hero’s journey, where a masculinized self leaves itsmotherland, encounters pitfalls and battles monsters,and triumphantly returns with a renewed sense ofempowered solar identity. I believe that this poem tellsus about a much lesser known kind of initiation,where the soul leaves her social, psychological, andeven spiritual routines to delve anew and withoutstruggle into the deeper sources of life, of spirit, and ofnature, so that we can return “in peace, with the flavorof the winds, between our hands….” But before I leave you to enjoy the poem, let metell you another secret. For its magical power to beconjured, this poem needs to be read out loud, andwith both tenderness and passion. So I invite you totake a deep breath, drop deep into your heart, andallow these words to perhaps narrow the gap betweenyou and your own boundless potential.A Secret Poem 91A Secret Poem for YouJorge N. Ferrer, Ph.D.California Institute of Integral StudiesIn this paper, the author presents a poem entitled “Plenitude.” The poem, originally written bythe author’s father (José Antonio Noguera Gimenez) in Spanish, is offered by the author as a vehi-cle for the exploration of self, life, spirit, and nature. Both the Spanish and English versions of thepoem are provided.  Si un día no me encuentrasno pienses que me he vuelto locosino cuerdo.Búscame lejos…donde los hombres vuelan como pajarossobre los valles inmensos,donde los tristes escarabajosbañan su cuerpo de rocíoy se visten de terciopelo negro.Búscame lejos…donce las vacas dan leche a cantarosy lánguidas ovejas se agrupancomo nubes blancas,donce los bueyes te miran con ternuray los caballos de cola pacificasienten la caricia del viento,donde mi frente descansesin reloj que mida el tiempo— montaña arriba —hacia la luz y el silencio.Allí me encontrarás…tendido en la yerbacon la flor de tomillo entre labios,mirando al condory a las aguilas reales volar…y volar…Allí me encontrarás…aprendiendo a vivir de los insectosy de las aves silvestres,de los animales domésticos,aprendiendo de los pajaros…(¡No me da vergüenza…!)Y puede que hasta aprendael cuelo de las abejas,a dormir con las gallinasy a conversar con lagartos…y respiraré libre, al viento,por los picos mas altos.Oiré la voz que viene de lejosdel campesino que cantacoplas de amor a su amada,y las campanas de bronceque suenan en el lejano pueblo,oiré la voz de los árboles,de la brisa y del agua…Estrenaré ojos nuevospara mirar a mis anchasdonde cantan los grillos,donde duermen las cigarras……Y cuando tú me encuentres,besaré tu alientocon más calor humano,y te contaré lo que me ha enseñado,el viento, el día, la noche,la luz y las estrellas…,y aprenderemos juntos de una vez para siemprea vivir en pazcon el sabor de los airesentre nuestras manos…92 The International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 2004, Volume 23Plenitud If one day you cannot find medo not think that I have gone crazy,but sane.Look for me far away…where men fly like birdsover immense valleys,where the sad beetlesbathe their bodies in dewand clothe themselves in black velvet.Look for me far away…where the cows give milk in abundanceand the languid sheep gatherlike white clouds,where the oxen gaze with gentleness,and the horses with peaceful tailsfeel the caressing of the wind,where I lay my head downwithout a watch measuring the time— up the mountain —towards the light, and the silence.There you will find me…lying in the grasswith thyme blossoms between my lips,gazing at the condorand at the royal eagles flying…and flying…There you will find me…learning to live from the insectsand from the wild birds,from the domestic animals,learning from the birds…(I do not feel ashamed…!)And it may be that I even learnto fly like the bees,to sleep with the hensand to converse with the lizards…and I will breathe freely, against the wind,through the highest peaks.I will listen for the voice from afarof the countryman who singslove songs to his beloved,and the bronze bellssounding in the far village,I will listen to the voice of the trees,of the breeze, and of the water.I will use my new eyes for the first timeto look as far as my gaze roamswhere the crickets sing,where the cicadas sleep……And when you find me,I will kiss your breathwith human warmth,and I will tell you what they have taught me,the wind, the day, the night,the light, and the stars…,and we will learn together for all timeto live in peacewith the flavor of the windsbetween our hands…End NoteThe poem’s author, José Antonio Noguera Gimenez, isa retired Spanish artist and poet based in Torrevieja,Spain.  Correspondence regarding this article should bedirected to the author at JorgeNF@aol.com.A Secret Poem 93Plenitude 

A Secret Poem for You

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A Secret Poem for You

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