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littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

0 posted 2004-01-23 08:34 PM

Inspired by Kahlil Gibran, "The Prophet"
http://www.columbia.edu/~gm84/gibtable.html
-------------------------------------------------

Isaiah

I.

Thought
as a beetle,
Burrows deep within these sockets

now a skull, hallowed.

My body, porcelain
a mask of lone spirit,
Rose and fumbled
from this innate . . . twitching

then I saw her there . . .

Beneath my line of sight
glinting from a crest
sparking the corner of my eye,
Electric surreal
concentric pools.

I bathed in her beauty
cleansed by my breath.
Inhaling her own,
an exchange
of Man and Earth.

Three souls bound to one

The brine,
it called to me  . . .

II.

Naked and bestial
I stood before her
eyes, downcast
in shame of my . . . misgivings.

Lavender and clover, minted
lifted my chin,
As butterscotch
fell from her eyes
melting to the floor
outlining curve of breast and thigh.

Melding my feet
to my heart.

Entwined within her arms,

I cried  . . .

III.

I awoke
third day of my journey

To myself . . .

An acrid aftertaste left
imprints of last eve
upon pillow.

I reached with my hand, trembling,

She was a dream . . .

I wiped salt from my eyes just then
perspiring brow, dripping
with the scent of us both.

In flight
dancing
defying gravity

I recalled then
scoffing at her freedom
and the frown, molded
replacing her smile.

Oh, what a fool
this early on.
I have crushed
that which I love
With my selfish want
of her everything.

And to me
she gave so freely . . .

IV.


As I stumbled
to regain composure,
Split second flight
of hummingbird
resounded

a thousand fold

Hence, the garden from which it came,
like song of angelic choir.

Kneeling in fresh sod
rescuing blooms
from strangling weeds

she appeared . . .

cheeks, blushed bright
as the roses she tended.

I knew then . . .

We had become three.

V.

My heart gladdened
as I gazed . . .

Her beauty, permeated
the air I now breathed
radiating,
As the sun
to light my day.

Her hands, worn
yet tender to touch,
Held my face
as I knelt beside her.

And she lay with me,
there
Naked in our unity
her arms held high
thanking the skies
for breath.

VI.

Again, I awoke
yet this time
rejoicing my good fortune.

The constant rumblings below
led me to my hunt.

Taking arrow and bow,
I looked back over my shoulder
at my future,
and smiled.

She waved to me then
smiling herself.
While each sole imprinted
this sacred forest bed.

It was there, I hunched
heart beating, rapid.
Drawing back in fear
and also, in awe
of this beast before me.

And with slow agonizing draw of cord
eyes narrowing,
I withdrew.

Together we feasted
on this precious beast.
And with each mouthful
of bounty,
I thanked the Heavens
for the blessings of the Earth.

VII.

She beckoned to me then
hands resting, protective
upon her soft, slow rise of belly
and motioned
with finger
hushed to lips.

To the fields, yonder

Wheat towered above fields of laurel
preceding vineyards,  vast and silent.
With rows of neatly planted corn
as a backdrop to this canvas.

I looked down then
upon my own hands
and looked again at the men,
slaving
in the dying sun.

And my heart burst
with the echoes in that valley

of their songs of freedom.

VIII.

She held my palms
within her own.
Now torn
by brush, thorn and bramble.

Stale breath of the midday sun
darkened her vibrant pallor.

Or has it been days, I wondered . . .

Have I been blinded
by the infernal eye of Heaven?

She looked to me, with love
and I,
returned this gift
upon lips of berry, kissed.

And it was then,
the shine within her eye
drew dim.

A lone tear fell
from pools of granite,
dropping to my palm,
cupped;
salt stinging fresh workday wounds.

I held her to me
and this time

she cried

I pretended as if
I didn't notice
the weight of child, lost.
Instead I held her frail frame to my own

And held my agony
hidden,
deep within my throat.

IX.

We then fell before
a knarled twist of fate
locked within
each ancient limb
long begotten,
tales of man
spoke  to me.

My love sought solace
spreading tapestry beneath,
to lie her troubled brow.
And I joined her then,
holding her hand in mine.

The dense sky, darkened
as I peered towards the Heavens,
only to be distracted
by the intricate design
of each branch, as a spiderweb
a maze of arms and legs
entangled
reaching to me in embrace.

With great sorrow,
I held axe in hand
and began to build our home
upon the birthplace
of the Joshua Tree.

X.

Resilient raiment,
a sackcloth, draped my bottom half
allowing my chest, barren
each breast, rising as hills.

My ribcage

A wishbone of youth.
Outlined ripples, prominent
as the raging river before me.

My skin, sullied and olive,
darkened by the dying sun
has gifted me with masculinity.

I am pure in my birth

I knelt on bent knee
crushing rubble as I did.
Feeling the sharp, stinging pain
of the blinded eyes of man, this creation
embedded in my soul
now bleeding sin,
for the failures
of those before me.

I then heaved a sigh
gazing upon my new creation,
our home
a dwelling for my love and I.

and I smiled

As we disrobed, in our purity.

XI.

It was then that she spoke to me:

"Tarry not, the soil needs tending.
Bring to me water, travel the fields
and gather the seed, fallen.

So I may begin to sow
our riches."

XII.

I found myself meandering,
enveloped
within rows of stalks, luscious
and turned to a basket
weaved of flax and wicker.

It was full of seed, unborn

Fruit and vegetable
of weed and worry,
strewn hapless within their berth,
this basket.

And without any rational thought,
intact,
My hands, large and lumber
dove into this luxurious sea.

Filling my satchel, I sifted
good seed from the bad.

XIII.

A smallish hand, then delicate
took hold of my shoulder,
startling me from my fury.

It was the woman,
I, being man.

She looked to me, not with shame
but confusion.
Pointing northward,
towards the farmhouse.

I understood

I must repay this gift, a penance,
for one raw bounty became my beast.

XIIII.

The journey back to our shelter
startled that beetle,
twitching yet again.
And I saw this woman ahead of me,
within her own pain
she has given to me
a most precious gift.

Within her freedom, I have found myself
and within my eyes,
she sees the woman she has been
as well as the one she has grown to be.

Together, we climbed the vines.

XV.

Only to be awakened
by innate, driving passion . . .

I found her
at the foot of our bed

Her body, pristine
a fine meal.
And I took of it
and ate.

And she fed,
as that of a woman, starved.

XVI.

Upon opening my eyes
at break of day
a weight, laden,
lay beside me.

A single ray smiled
through harried crevice of roof,
to shine upon letters, embossed
in golden script.

Sitting up, I looked for my love
and heard nothing.
No clatter of dish nor cup,
No feet , barefoot,
slapping upon floor of sod.

I was alone

I blinked just then
and took of this book
as a cup to my lips
of fine wine,
aged and sacred.

I awaited creak of binding,
yet heard nothing.

The corners, worn
naked to my sight,
as the words written within.

bloodink

I sensed her footfalls,
and retreated to my slumber.

XVII.

She came to me then
perhaps in a dream.
A tress of wild raven's wings
brushed my cheek
and she turned to me
pointing a finger,
onward.

There lie a forest
lush with pine and oak.

Three paths before me

The first of twig and moss, to the right,
bending to the East.
The third, of fallen leaves and holly,
straining to the West.
And the second, in front of me,
littered with bone
of last eve's meal,
and dried carcass
of long dead creatures.

I cannot describe to you now
why I forged ahead.
It was as a magnet, pulling me southward

My heart does not lie
and my feet carried me to my destiny.

XVIII.

I then was caught
between that time of day,

The dreadful hour

Where light sleeps
and darkness invades.
And within this new sight,
my vision was altered.

Limbs became arms
and grass became sea.
My feet, awash
in the forest ocean.

I swam to a rock, for safety,
Although I felt no fright.

For in the bend of this path,
I caught a glimpse
of the flowing dark beauty,
which led me here.

XVIIII.

Looking behind me, I was stricken
to see her, my one true love.

Fallen by bedside
on knees, red and bruised.
Hands upon my brow, weeping.

The book within my hand, now limp
and beside the bed, a table
on which lie a cup,
I had fashioned from maple

With my own hand, I had crafted my demise

Once filled with love,
when I drank of my mate,
Now filled with hemlock and nightshade.

When I drank of her words
I drank of my death.

XX.

With each step of twig
I was snapped back,
by my blackened beauty.

She held her finger to my lips:

Sssshhh, my son . . . .
Come . . . .

And I spoke not.
For my thoughts
were behind me,
streaming upon the face of my love.

I looked ahead, dazed
and parted lips to speak,
but had nothing of sense
to lend to this "diversion."

I tasted salt upon my lips
and held my hand to my chest.
Wishing to rid myself of the stone
which had replaced my heart.

XXI.

I then came upon a river.

To the South of me,
seething rapids
spiked and danced,
each razor sharp tooth
as that of a shark,
begging to bite of my skin.

And to the North,
it was serene.
Small ripples formed pools
as damsel flies
graced its surface.

It had darkened and I had not noticed.

She stood between the two,
a divider of time,
arms outstretched
pointing in each direction.

The tips of her wings
brushed down upon each.
and she spoke . . .

XXII.

"What has befallen your house?"

And my thoughts spun
as if whorled by wintry eddy.

I fell beneath the South end of the river,
gasping and choking
and opened my eyes
to the depths of my life.

There she was . . . my love

Sunlight streaming as an aura, her crown
sending spikes of purity and truth
from each knotted braid.

Stinging my eyes
this penetration so deep,
as a flurry of nails
drove into my skull
and then I was there . . .

Upon the ship,
looking to the sea
and took flight
to the garden where we lay
as three . . .

And my hands, once worn
now made pure,
touched her face,
and she smiled
holding hands to her belly.

Yet, her  tears
fell from thine eyes,
melting within this torrent realm
I now housed.

I tried to swim to her

" . . . a kiss . . . a kiss . . ."

She whispered beneath these waves of glass,

"I loved you then, yet I was not the one."

She swam from me then.
Blond locks trailing
as that of a mermaids trunk
and left me  . . .

floating, adrift . . .

only to spy, The Book.

XXIII.

I snatched it quickly
and held it to my chest
and my hands in prayer:

"Dear Father, I have been a foolish man.
I weep now for my faults, as a child to mother.
I hold within my possession,
A sacrifice to you.
All I ask, in this dark hour;
is that she be happy."

Her words, once penned from tip of feather
cried
muddied and mingling with the brine
splashing to my face
becoming one with my own tears
of horror.

I then felt myself
falling
This life matters not.
I tried to be a good man
and I have failed.

"My Lord, I beg of Thee forgiveness.
But most importantly, I beg Thee
to grant the woman
that which she has lost."

The water rushed in
and I welcomed its release.

XXIV.

Has it been days, months, years . . .
I did not know.

After I found him,
seconds turned into a lifetime.

I sit here now, profile outlined
by the burning of the midnight oil.

And I smell him upon my palms . . .

Oh, how I loved him and always shall . . .
My failures caused his death
and in my dreams, we meet.
As if it were that day,
beneath the tree.

I recall my eyes, shining
watching him wield
axe and saw.

I knew I loved him then
and love him still.

I retreated to sleep
and smiled upon this soul,
now sleeping sound
upon my breast.

XXV.

Sleep had left me, once again
and I paced the floor . . .
My thoughts began to wind,
counterclockwise.

Blue as the ocean deep
and hydrangea in bloom.
As fierce as fire
and soft as billowed summer sky . . .

I see them still
within the gaze of my mate.
I try not to, but my soul cries
in pain
each time his eyes meet mine.

I will not forget you, my love.
Even as I tread
upon floors of tiled stone
and light a fire
beneath hearth of ivory.

Each dance of flame
whispers your name.
And my hand reaches out to you,
only to be snapped back
by harsh burn of reality.

You will live on, my love.
I promise you this.
For the son we never bore
shall be proud
and I shall call him,

Isaiah.

XVI.

Time has spun its weary web
apparent in lines, traced fine
beside each eye.

I find myself
here again, my Lord.
Tending garden, hands deep to wrist
drenched with your body.
The rainfall, your blood.

And I am grateful for the gift of life.

You have seen me through the winter,
carrying my body through thicket and brush.
You have allowed me to love
and be loved,
yet again.

And my heart sings, as a lute
carried upon the breeze . . .

Yet, I am afraid Lord.

It is almost time . . .

XVII.

She held me then,
my black winged beauty.
And brushed locks of carbon
from my sight.

It was then, that I knew . . .

We stayed as so
seeming an eternity
suspended within
the embrace of the river.

It had ceased raging eons ago.

Yet, here she stood, consoling me.

I knew I had a choice.
And my heart was ready,
yet my mind hesitated,
thinking for me
denying me freedom.

She then placed her palms
upon each side of my face
and with eyes of hue, unseen

I felt her . . .

Her breath trailing within the deep,
as a bubble, wandering, aimlessly.
And I wanted to take hold of it,
I wanted to grab it.
I knew if I had
I would have to leave her then.

And when the bubble did burst,
Her voice echoed,
warbled and wetted,

"It is time . . ."

XVIII.

I embarked, yet again
upon floorboards, speaking.
Palms sweating
with every tap of boot,
heel to toe.

I did not know where I was going,
I only knew
that I was now
but dust and ash.

And no longer was I frightened.

No longer did I worry.
I felt weightless and free,
as that of the flight of the eagle,
swirling.

I was ablaze.

My dark beauty,
has led me through the forest,
past quicksand, into her arms.

And now, upon this ship,
my last remembrance
was looking back and seeing her.
Hair flowing, waving to me in the wind,
onshore.

I turned then
and gave myself to the sea.

XXVIX.

I lie here
writhing in agony.
My love holding my hand,
a midwife between my legs,
splayed to the Heavens.

Oh, it was time,
and I secretly swore to Eve
for the curse of the pain I now felt.

With each rush of fire beneath,
my back arched and I screeched.
Tears flowing
from each side of my face.
Wetting the cloth, pristine
beneath me.

I swore to the sky
with each gasp of breath
and wave of anguish.
And pushed forth from me,
Everything that lies beneath the ground
and flies within the sky.

I pushed forth the stars and with it, the Moon.

When I screamed, I was heard on high
and the angels joined me in choir.

A Song of Life

And when I had expelled all of my prejudices,
my disdain and my failures,
I then sat up and heaved forth
every needle pinch to skin
and each bleed of my heart.

When I opened my mouth,
with head held back,
as that of a woman, crazed,

I heard him wail . . .

And I then let out my breath
and fell back, destroyed.

And my love brought him to me,
My only son.

Wrapped in white cloth,
a tuft of midnight mane peeked out,
and I smiled.

I held my creation to my chest,
turning my head to the Heavens
and the thought
of my one true love
and how pleased he would be,
washed over me.

And he cried again, my son
and I held him in front of me.

And a lone tear escaped
from breath caught . . .

Isaiah, my only son, stare back at me
with eyes

Blue as the ocean deep,
alive as hydrangea in bloom,
fierce as fire
and soft as billowed summer sky.

I held him to my heart and cried.

For I knew . . .

And we then slept.

I,  as a woman,
content.

The End. (of the beginning)

[This message has been edited by littlewing (01-24-2004 07:10 PM).]

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

1 posted 2004-01-24 12:19 PM

littlewing -- what an extraordinarily lovely epic this is! It should be published!

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

2 posted 2004-01-24 01:01 PM

I was hoping you'd do this--thank you, (because you know how I am at losing stuff) so now I add this to my library for some rich indulgant reading.

love you Sue.

Thanks for sharing this with us.

This is magnificent.

inkedgoddess
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-11-19

Posts 7392
Ohio

3 posted 2004-01-24 09:43 PM

truly inspirational and asethically beautiful and what can i say? i must read and digest slowly to truly feel the heart and soul you lovingly put into this, and its so so good to see you here

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-25

Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...

4 posted 2004-01-25 03:00 AM

Sue?...you already know how I feel about this one...
but I'll say it again... smile...

This is truly an incredible piece of writing,
and I am in awe of it, and of your talent...
this is some of your best writing...and agreeing
with Karen...so glad you shared it here...

Love you, my sis...

"When the power of love overcomes the love
of power the world will know peace."
--Jimi Hendrix

Margherita
Member Seraphic

since 2003-02-08

Posts 22236
Eternity

5 posted 2004-01-25 10:39 AM

I am overwhelmed by your beauty and talent, dear Sue and ... of course this deserves deeper attention than just one read.
Thank you for sharing with us this wonderful work of yours.
Love and Light. Margherita

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

6 posted 2004-01-26 05:57 AM

I have "The Prophet"
and enjoy reading it, as I have
your inspired words.

Missing you in the Open~~
hugss, hoping you are well
Maureen

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

7 posted 2004-01-26 07:47 AM

Library...

thank you...

"sit on top of the world and tell me how you feel...'cause what you feel is what I feel for you.."
~Dido~

Enchantress
Member Empyrean

since 2001-08-14

Posts 35113
Canada eh.

8 posted 2004-01-26 03:55 PM

Amazing piece of work..
into my library it goes.
Missing you in Open Sue.
Hugs~

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

9 posted 2004-01-26 05:07 PM

Thank you everyone, this was a mission of mine . . . I was so touched by Kahlil . . .I really didnt expect anyone to read it, but so happy all of you have

I thank you so very much

Sue

Mistletoe Angel

Member Empyrean

since 2000-12-17

Posts 32816
Portland, Oregon

10 posted 2004-01-28 09:25 PM

(smiles) Oh Sue, I spent multiple days reading this in pieces and I am absolutely enthralled by your inspiration here, dearest friend, it is obvious how much "The Prophet" touched you as you spread such new colors and visions to us all! (big angel hugs) God Bless You, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiful heart, sweet Sue, thank you for sharing!

May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"You'll find something that's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around and come back home" MB20

vlraynes
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-07-25

Posts 8229
Somewhere... out there...

11 posted 2004-02-01 05:17 AM

This deserves another trip to the top... smile
"When the power of love overcomes the love
of power the world will know peace."
--Jimi Hendrix

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