Duane Herrmann 

poetry, U.S.A.

Duane L. Herrmann is a fifth generation Kansan and Bahá'í since age 17. His poetry has been published internationally, including in the U.S., Canada, Wales, the Netherlands and Israel. Duane has also published articles and booklets on various aspects of Bahá'í history, particularly that of Kansas, in Australia, India, New Zealand and Kansas. He has also written children's stories for the National Bahá'í Assembly of the U.S.

Lightly Treading

To be respectful of The Mother
we must step lightly
when walking on her.

Our treading must not be
a cause of sorrow or disruption;
for others must pass too.

Behind us we must leave
a trail of Beauty-
in faces, places, and planets.

A trail of Beauty will resound
in Glory dancing on the waves
of human tracing.

Arts Dialogue, June 1993, Page 13

Golden Alchemy

Crucibles of pain
            transmute
     the clay
into purst gold.

The fire cries:
      "Change, change;
      Melt the imperfection,
      Vaporize the mist.
Luster gleaming
      shall
      be thy reward."

Searing soul experience:
      I’m dying...
      I’m...
      Gone.

The pieces don’t remain.
      They now BE
      something new:

Newly created ones
who speak
      new words,
      new forms,
      new vision.
A new song
      fills new hearts
with new worlds.

Arts Dialogue, June 2001, Page 20.

Steadfastness

Toward the building of a world
that no one knows
and cannot see,
not even you or me.

A world beyond our farthest dreams -
but dreams can clash,
and so do we.

A world beyond description -
but still our goal and aim;
we falter on

One step at a time
and we tumble and spill
yet we try
against all odds -

Toward the building of a world
that no one knows
and cannot see
not even you, or me.

Arts Dialogue, March 1999, Page 15.