The Garden: Inner Shadows and the Light of Awareness
In the silent garden where the spirit resides,
Grow shadows of ego, where true light hides.
Not soldiers in armor, nor cannons’ loud boom,
But whispers of self-importance fill the room.
They rise from within, a fog in the mind,
Leaving compassion and empathy behind.
The paths are neglected, the flowers don’t bloom,
As the ego-shadows cast a pervasive gloom.
The First Shadow, a monument, tall and grand,
Demands all attention throughout the whole land.
It speaks in the voice of “I am, and I know,”
Ignoring the wisdom that others can show.
Its roots are deep-seated in fear and in pride,
Pushing all kindness and humility aside.
It sees every challenge as a battle to win,
A solitary fortress, where no one gets in.
The Second Shadow, a mirror, polished and bright,
Reflects only the self in its limited light.
It measures its worth by the external gaze,
Lost in a labyrinth of self-centered haze.
It craves admiration, applause, and acclaim,
Feeding a hunger that whispers its name.
It twists every moment to serve its own need,
A garden choked over with a self-serving weed.
The Third Shadow, a mountain, unyielding and steep,
Holds onto its grievances, buried and deep.
It builds up defenses of judgment and blame,
Protecting an image, a delicate flame.
It sees the world through a lens of its own,
A seed of resentment, persistently sown.
It struggles for power, for control, and for might,
Lost in the darkness, avoiding the light.
These shadows entwining, a tangled-up vine,
Choking the growth of the truly divine.
They drain the life force, they wither and fade,
The potential for beauty, a vibrant parade.
They dance in the twilight, unseen and unheard,
Their power diminished by a single kind word.
But notice the sunbeam, a delicate gleam,
Piercing the darkness, a hopeful, soft stream.
For even the deepest of shadows can cease,
When the light of awareness brings solace and peace.
The garden can flourish, the ego can cease its reign,
And the self finds connection, again and again.
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