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Sweven - Part One

Once some travelers on the road
to a land of treasure, slowed,
halting in their journey’s pace
halfway to that distant place.

Scared that bandits might attack,
they decided to turn back,
too discouraged to proceed…
Hence the group began to plead
with the guide their fears to heed,
their concerns, and urgent need:

“The road is long; the going’s rough.
We think we’ve journeyed far enough.
That treasure’s too remote to seek.
We’re weary now and feeling weak.

“Illumination’s brilliant glow
is something we may never know.
We’ve lost the will to carry on.
Perhaps there is no brighter dawn.”

This guide was clever, sage, and wise.
He wanted them to reach the prize.
The leader thought he would devise
a scheme to make a town arise,
by mystic means, before their eyes.

From compassion, out of pity,
then he conjured up a city
from thin air, out of the blue,
though illusion, seeming true.

Next, the leader swiftly said:
“See that country up ahead…
there you may relax and rest
in this formidable quest.”

That walled city, stately, grand
seemed a strange and wondrous land
with parks, gardens, lakes galore,
mansions, gateways by the score,

mountains, valleys, plains, and trees.
Here the travelers felt at ease.
Each and every earthly pleasure
they enjoyed to fullest measure.

There were found the ways and means,
roundabouts and in-betweens,
all spelled out in doctrines, schools,
precepts, laws, and golden rules.

And in this city, heaven-sent,
they rested to their hearts’ content…

Their exhaustion passed; at length,
when they had regained their strength,
felt refreshed and of good cheer,
he made the city disappear.

Yes, when they’d had an ample stay,
the leader made it go away…

Then to the travelers he said:
“Now you must push on ahead,
apply yourselves with heart and soul.”
Thus, they continued to their goal.



[Continued in Part Two]


~  Harley White

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