Before the peaks
The hills
Before the hills
The valley
Before the valley
I must leave
This place of numbing
Before I die
Still…
That is enough
To stave the pain
In this hollow I’ve carved out
From tendrils of deepest sorrow
I find resolve to carry on
I remind myself
The world of distress and fear
Is also a creation of mine
The cloak only gives it power
The palace of true warmth
Is the light of my own heart
Which cannot be sundered
Though wide the sea
Destination obscured
Departure long overdue
From specious sanctuary
Where murk grows ever deeper
Even as hopeful light diminishes
Beyond the narrow passage
Start the engine
Provisioned stores and buttressed heart
Set rudder’s course through narrow passage
Bound for hopeful light beyond
Laden with history
And regrets
Lofted by hope
And purpose
Levied by love
And compassion
Most days I carry the weight
Lightly, aloft
Some days I cannot leave the berth
Tethered, grounded
So I touch the Earth
Am grateful for its stability
That I always have a place to land
Rest, and free myself of burdens
Then breathe deeply
Filled and empty
I take to the skies again
The azure sky
Suspended upon its downy bed
Of purest white
Extremes of a year’s journeys
Found in a single switchback descent
Just ahead of a desert sunset
Somehow, I find
All of it
Beautiful
Take a breath, my son
Take a breath
Sit with the present
What you fear
Is already past
Or has not come
That is all your dour spelunking
Will ever find
So long as you believe
The depths are darkness
Be not your mind
But mindful
Open your heart
For in its depths
Is always light
I leave the depths unplumbed
Take a breath
Quiet my mind
And from the depths rises
The light that is love
Beaten
Vulnerable
I rose, vowing not to be struck again
Opting for the only defense remaining
Offense
Pix to Words 