Devotion Poem, the Black Dahlias

Devotion Poem, The Black Dahlias This morning, for a time, you seemed To have disappeared. I called out to you From my bed, but the words Must have been consumed into mute syllables, For any answering voice, if there was one, was not yours. I asked the angels to go search for you And soon they found the traces of your footsteps Entering into the valley of the black dahlias, where those Flowers in that valley loom thick, and overlong in season. You must have entered the black dahlias valley With some fear, for I am certain you felt unsure About the consequences of treading On beauty — wouldn’t some measure of suffering Follow such an act? And who, But perhaps the Lord himself Defines the scope of beauty and Could mark any count of its maiming? Did you soon regret your stepping away And your quick journey into that valley? Did you then pull up to a questioning halt — having as yet Sacrificed nothing — and spun around Wondering how to safely retreat? The uncountable burgundy/black petals of the dahlias So closely pack the valley, all their growing Overlaps, eliminating any sight of the earth. The black dahlias impressed their image over centuries as Symbolic of beauty and betrayal, much as Humanity has done in overseeing its charge of our planet... And we set our eyes to scan for viable paths To green, fertile plains anywhere surrounding. We try to gently reverse and re-claim, to Over-cross the further striking of beauty. But, this requires acts of going forth — beyond Just dreaming or wishing: in the work for now and New generations of new seeing and clear actions. Your own return from the valley of the black dahlias, Struck both our souls. The peace of returning And the acts of new creation are As reconcilable as heaven’s full plan for all life here. While for us, there is no parting, no leaving. Our love Travels the full labyrinths of the imbued Patterns of the cosmic kingdom. **********. ***********. ************* (C) sally Young eslinger10/15/2020 Thanks be to God!