The REDACTED Files – 5th February 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Written after seeing some disturbing images of REDACTED with REDACTED. I don’t know if they were part of the REDACTED files or if they were real but sadly, it seems likely.
Shared with W3 #197 – erasure poem – redacted

Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

Steady Your Impulses

Soaring highs and crushing lows
Impulses always keep on coming
Ask yourself: Who is in control here?
Get your steady engine humming

Axis Mundi – 4th February 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment
pagoda

Shared with What Do You See #326 picture prompt

A reliquary, stone and timber,
void, earth, water, wind, and fire,
A shinbashira pendulum
that sways to quell the quake’s desire.

A cosmic axis, a connection
from human to the divine,
A transcendental protection
in sacred mandala’s design.

Hear the peaceful water’s fall,
the way cannot be denied,
Shadows span the temple tall
in the mountain countryside.

Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

On Being Invincible

Able to parry any blow
without flinching or reaction
Our reasoned choice will know
the best course of action

Always – 2nd February 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

hall
ways to the vanishing
point me the way forward,
let me out!
trapped!
this nightmare never ends;
it starts over again.

A corridor poem about a corridor. A form invented by Lesley Scoble here, and a syllable count of 1,6,6,3,1,6,6.

Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

A Proper Frame Of Mind

Impulses no longer pull my strings
No longer having to argue all the things
That self-control, happiness brings
Independent, self-sufficiency sings

Not My Beach – 29th January 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 5 Comments

Pixels, faith, dust

Beaches I will never swim,
blue and bright;
Mock me with your gourmet food
under the moonlight.

You thrust a quiet knife in
with each sunset post;
As I eat my thinning stew
with old dry toast.

Share if you must

Shared with dVerse Quadrille #240 – trip. I didn’t use the word ‘trip’ in this, but ‘sunset’ could be easily replaced with ‘trip’s’. I prefer it this way, though. This poem is a reference to complaints about people posting their holiday photos online without regard for how that might affect others. I personally don’t know how I feel about this either way but that could be because I have been in a position to be able to experience beautiful beaches and gourmet food.

Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

Keep It Simple

Everything can be as simple as said
This problem may be your last
The complexities are all in your head
How soon it has all passed

“I Don’t Know” – 28th January 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

The poet does not look at the moon
but at its reflection upon the water.
The poet will borrow your eyes,

and you will borrow their words
and, as they move from understanding
into knowledge,
they become a lie

Reading of all the poets’ love
that you have never known;
a reflection upon reflection.

Do not be afraid to say,
‘I don’t know.’

Everyone has a place they need to go,
revealed without words.

More Osho-inspired writing.

Today’s Daily Stoic poem:

Watching The Wise

Are we models of inspiration?
Are others asking you to advise?
So when dealing with frustration,
Will anyone call us wise?

The Kindling – 27th January 2026

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

The conversation you didn’t have
inconsequential in isolation.

Just another one for the road
or as a quiet consolation.

The small resentments came
after contributions, half-hearted.

“What’s the worst that could happen?”
was the kindling where it started.

Inspired by another David Elikwu article from The Knowledge newsletter.

The Daily Stoic poem:

The Three Areas Of Training

Our judgment affects our desires
Desires affect our deeds
And a clear composure inspires
The energy to meet our needs