*
Submit
Login
Links
Contests
Featured Poems
Fun & Games
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Poem Types
Books
Resources
Blogs
Syllable Counter
Articles
Forum
POTD
New Poems
Anthology
Classifieds
Quotes
*
Contests
Featured Poems
Fun & Games
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Fun & Games
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Books
Resources
Blogs
Syllable Counter
Articles
Forum
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Anthology
Classifieds
Quotes
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 104.23.243.100
From Email:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
St. John of the Cross wore dark glasses As he passed me on the street. St. Theresa of Avila, beautiful and grave, Turned her back on me. "Soulmate," they hissed. "It's high time." I was a blind child, a wind-up toy . . . I was one of death's juggling red balls On a certain street corner Where they peddle things out of suitcases. The city like a huge cinema With lights dimmed. The performance already started. So many blurred faces in a complicated plot. The great secret which kept eluding me: knowing who I am . . . The Redeemer and the Virgin, Their eyes wide open in the empty church Where the killer came to hide himself . . . The new snow on the sidewalk bore footprints That could have been made by bare feet. Some unknown penitent guiding me. In truth, I didn't know where I was going. My feet were frozen, My stomach growled. Four young hoods blocking my way. Three deadpan, one smiling crazily. I let them have my black raincoat. Thinking constantly of the Divine Love and the Absolute had disfigured me. People mistook me for someone else. I heard voices after me calling out unknown names. "I'm searching for someone to sell my soul to," The drunk who followed me whispered, While appraising me from head to foot. At the address I had been given. The building had large X's over its windows. I knocked but no one came to open. By and by a black girl joined me on the steps. She banged at the door till her fist hurt. Her name was Alma, a propitious sign. She knew someone who solved life's riddles In a voice of an ancient Sumerian queen. We had a long talk about that While shivering and stamping our wet feet. It was necessary to stay calm, I explained, Even with the earth trembling, And to continue to watch oneself As if one were a complete stranger. Once in Chicago, for instance, I caught sight of a man in a shaving mirror Who had my naked shoulders and face, But whose eyes terrified me! Two hard staring, all-knowing eyes! After we parted, the night, the cold, and the endless walking Brought on a kind of ecstasy. I went as if pursued, trying to warm myself. There was the East River; there was the Hudson. Their waters shone like oil in sanctuary lamps. Something supreme was occurring For which there will never be any words. The sky was full of racing clouds and tall buildings, Whirling and whirling silently. In that whole city you could hear a pin drop. Believe me. I thought I heard a pin drop and I went looking for it.
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required
Member Area
My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
My Poetry Duels
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Member Authors
Poetry Challenges
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Featured Poems of the Week
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Best New Poets
New Poets
Top 100 Poets with Most Poems
Top 100 Poets with Most Poems Recent
Top 100 Community Poets
Top 100 Contest Poets
In Memoriam
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - 100 Most Popular
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Greeting Card Maker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Short Stories
Spell Checker
Videos
Word Counter