Notes About The Poem
More joyous imperfection.
Truth dictates: a slap in the face equals "Ow!"
What the mind makes of it is what the mind makes of it.
'The Initiate", is what my mind wove in its idle hours.
The Initiate
A bickering creak ran through
About it, thorny thickets grew
Over it, a bearded bridge gloomed
Ivies clung, Bleeding Hearts bloomed
On a weathered pole, a brazier's light
Its glow consumed by the dreary night
As the moon hung its shadows
From high over head
The stars trembled; a comet fled
From 'neath the bridge peered
A staring head
It mumbled noiseless; It sneered
It seemeth dead
Its red piercing eyes; a cruel agony
Bloodied scarred hands betrayed savagery
I bade my fear stand close behind me
As I hung before me sigils most holy
The symbols made it cringe and scowl
Its hiss, the flapping wings of a great horned owl
Bade me gather about me my cloak and cowl
With Inwoven; protections 'gainst most things foul
I Prithee the gods protect me
With fortified will, for the sun would rise soon
I held the symbols high to reflect the moon
Its skin smoked,
Still uttering words be spoke;
For which no sound broke;
It began to gag
It began to choke
Keeping in the clear, I encroached nearer
Holding up the whirling maelstrom mirror
It staggered forward as if pulled toward
Into the mirrors depths, its figure poured
Only clouds of a grimy mist remained
Wiping the sweat from my brow
The horror had been contained
The horned owl "hoo’d", from its dipping bough
Its hollow glare; mottled greys flecked its brow
Was it a thanks bestowed upon me?
In the moment, I well thought it may be
I draped the dark groaning mirror
And tucked it most safely away
Just as time came to dawn
The first lights of the coming day
As I turned toward the worn path
Grew murmurs behind me, echoing
Child like; no threat or wrath
They seemed as if reveling
Clutching my cloak, I turned
A gladness; so overwhelming
So intense it burned
Small figures, arms flailing
Ran from ‘neath the bridge
Spirits all hailing
From the above railing
Ghostly younglings toward yon ridge
In a flash and all too abruptly
Cold arms closed around me gently
A gleaming child looked up with a grin
I teared as even more swerve and thank me
Freed from the cold dark they languored in
They gather atop the ridge; shimmers of light
Their frayed tethers rebound
Like downy feathers wafting down
Down and down
The grassy slopes
Toward the sleeping town
In glows brighter than sunlight,
To their sleeping vessels bound;
Their parents longing hopes
The children's lethargy, of late, explained
Missing shards of shattered families regained
An unexpected effect so great
From such, my timely deed;
Seemed change many a family’s fate
It made me feel pretty proud, I must admit
Made my belief, in my abilities, pivot
Yesterday, a wand'ring shy initiate
Today, I feel a much, much better fit
Still, best not get carried away with it
Where would the wand’ring path take me next?
My brow furrowed
My mind vexed
The path wound through the high forest pavilions
Possibilities spun from mere few to millions
Where e'er I go
There seems sings the sparrow
Faeries guide the hunters’ arrows
A fawn sleeps in a meadow
Where no ill winds blows
And I, like the wind
Never knows
What may flurry within
Bare light or shadows
What the rain
May wash away
What pain
What pleasure
Remain
I seek to be empty
And of natures vein;
Hallowed
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