Dare To Be Alone and Together

Sitting atop a large flat stone in an open field Brushing aside his long silver locks Bringing to his lips a long clay pipe Steadying for a light, his gnarled knuckles make this a fight His sandals dusty, brow wrinkled and damp His eyes, an odd milky hue of liquid blue A group of younger men sit to his front Some on a stone, several on a log The moon crescent The breeze light, the dusk hot The earthy smell of horses dancing across the night Rising from the burgeoning rye fields wafts a hopeful promise A younger man stands to be recognized He is tall, lean, well muscled Wavy brown locks cascade across broad shoulders A leather band binds hair to head A strong hand resting atop the pommel of sword in scabbard Tell us wise stranger We know great success The fruits of our labor are bountiful Behold endless fertile fields of rye and stores of meat Our stomach’s are full, our trade is rich Our enemies at bay There are none better Yet we are unfulfilled We have not mastered the most important art of all One final achievement and we will be truly rich Yet the road ahead is dark and unknown Love – what is the secret of enduring love Why are we cursed to know only hollow carnal pleasures Slowly rising to his feet, leaning upon his walking staff A scowl overtakes his ancient face, pointing while chanting I have learned many things in my time But what you ask is the most sought after secret of life The very grail of love I have spoken of this with many wise men, kings, queens, warrior’s and merchants alike And I have learned this my sons I have learned this A life together flourishes only as well as lives apart Yes you confide secrets that bind as one Yes you share danger, thrilling and chilling Yes this forms bonds of trust, in which you must Yes you share pleasures of flesh yet this alone doesn’t endure Certain to leave your love vacant and poor To this, I know there is more You seek everlasting intimacy, so listen to my prophecy You must allow her to grow To realize her full self Do not attempt to control her way Enable her to blossom separate from your union If you fail you will pay Unless you dare to be alone and together There is more my sons Hear this and make it tribal lore Never stop learning and trust her for the same Share your fears, your self doubt, your failures Reveal your weaknesses and you will know love everlasting Celebrate your individual successes as one Help her to achieve what is hers and ask the same When she speaks succumb to attentive silence Fix your gaze upon her eyes Listen to the rhythmic song of her breath If you can, your love will know no death The young man strides forward Could it be so simple wise father, is this the grail of love What I describe is far from simple, he declares with a glare His voice booming thunder, a new wind kicks up dust The dusk turns crimson red filling hearts with dread There is one last commandment I must share and I do so with great care This golden rule is your precious jewel And if you choose, your love, you will never lose In a hoarse, hushed whisper he imparts It is laughter my sons Together you must laugh Laughter is the elixir for which you search Laughter is the highest perch from which may will see heavens dove Foreboding the arrival of endless love Laughter is to love as blood to body, as air to life, as tree to air, as hope to humanity Laugh together and you will find what you seek But I lament, most of you will leave me in torment Destined to plant your bastard seeds through lifelong meaningless deeds Write these words so they are preserved You must choose love eternal Laugh alone and together and you shall both live forever