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Heaven and Hell

Beneath a shroud in mystery was built a monument sublime, where flowed a river endlessly, her flow kissed the periphery, ignored the grasp of time. So great the span of her intent she circled mound and battlement, where roses sprang in every glorious hue, and other vibrant flowers showed their worth, as ancient trees spired mightily in view, and full proclaimed the grandeur of the earth. Behold the caves where lovers kept their tryst, close hidden where the mountain swooped and shaded, well guarded by the shadows and the mist, a devil's place where dissidents and traitors kissed in heated passion, and their love degraded. Within the gloom a roiling and a bursting, a waterspout came thrusting, thunder blasting, and spat huge molten rocks like tiny pebbles, the torrent coursing down, not merely dribbles, the raging maelstrom flinging high and over, revealed beneath the streaming sacred river. She ran through dale and covert full continuous, a journey never ending, until she reached the sea. And then was heard a cry, a call to arms, that neither bliss nor solitude becalms. Yet music from the edifice and caves o'ercame the sound of warring and of strife, reverberations and the crashing of the waves a mighty symphony in tune with all of life. the sun-bleached monument regaled in gold, the savage caves, calamitous and cold. A dream of perfect grace I once beheld, a lady with a voice as clear as spring, a vision of my destiny she sang of sweet eternity, such joyful notes didst bring! Would that I might recover the beauty of her song, the passion of a secret lover, I might labour hard and long to recreate this sacrament, its sunny climes, its frozen spa, a two-edged sword its testament, a blessing and a curse both spent, to dwell within that twin entombment, a two-tongued threat beneath Abora. For whosoever breaks these grounds, and recreates conflicting sounds, has tasted direst dark and Shangri-la!

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012




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Date: 6/16/2012 2:22:00 PM
Oh Keith, more often than not you bang me on the head with these amazing creations. I am jolted into awareness of places and experiences I would love to partake of. You weave so many emotions through this beauty and I never go away hungry when I'm reading you! Love, Elizabeth
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Date: 5/9/2012 2:19:00 PM
Brilliant, Keith! You described beautifully the earth which with we are blessed, but also the affect of war. Indeed, it is a poem of high and lows -- direst dark vs Shangri-la. I know you are staying on the right path, Keith. In my novel a couple didn't know their country had gone to war as they were honeymooning in a cave with an underground spring. Your poem made me think of this moment. Very good work, Keith! Love, Carolyn
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Date: 5/9/2012 1:56:00 PM
Well written Keith - Like it. - oxox Anne-Lise
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Book: Reflection on the Important Things