clinging to the light along
the brilliant edge of darkness
and you climb on the back of that beast
without hesitation
singing some song about how good
always conquers evil
and i admire your tenacity
wanting to sing along with you
but some days i see darkness
everywhere i look
and it’s not even hidden
sitting right out there in the open
like a mouse on the edge of the road
and the hawk, the hawk is not evil
only hungry
and the storm, the storm is not evil
only angry
and the fire, the fire is not evil
only out of control
and the sky, the sky keeps returning
holding me down, tethered
even as i threaten to fly off the handle
there are always three doors
and i can never choose
no light creeps in
beneath those cracks
but that’s never true, really
there is always light
there is always darkness
the yin and yang of sanity
are always intertwined
two lovers on a bed of redemption
clinging to the light that pulls
delivers
offers up
the sacrificial shadow
and then you are gone
white horse
red cape
floating melting drifting
into an almost
invisible
sunset
.
.
.
.
September 17th, 2013 at 8:59 am
the bed of redemption is where we all sleep….from time-to-time…thanks for the visual. always a joy to stop by.
September 17th, 2013 at 9:26 am
“and it’s not even hidden . . .”
by the time i reached this line, i was almost on my feet, cheering for the truth of this. and it only got better. yes, yes, yes, yes, YES! to the hawk, to the storm, to the fire, to the light that is always there somewhere, to the darkness that defines the light.
i am, as roux says in chocolat, undone.
September 17th, 2013 at 9:44 am
i agree…its hard….there is a delicate balance between good and evil which oft goes either way….there was a shift for me a few years ago in this and the way i write, acknowledging the darkness and that evil does sometimes win…
September 17th, 2013 at 10:05 am
Brilliant and beautiful.
September 17th, 2013 at 11:05 am
Love how you describe the mouse, hawk, storm and fire . . . and a bed of redemption, oh yes!
September 17th, 2013 at 11:57 am
Whew,girl you are good …
September 17th, 2013 at 12:36 pm
I love this, Kelly… especially:
the yin and yang of sanity
are always intertwined
September 17th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
and the hawk, the hawk is not evil
only hungry
and the storm, the storm is not evil
only angry
and the fire, the fire is not evil
only out of control…. loved that part esp… and the close with the almost invisible sunset…great
September 17th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
A terrific poem, Mrs. M, and I love the word positioning that you seem to favor. Love the lines /there’s always three doors/and I can never choose/ and def dig the insights into the complexities we face; that most of life can not be rendered down to a sound bite, or something clearly B&W, or BorW, that those glorious shades of gray, those revelations regarding the true nature of adversaries is/are instructive, honest, & stinging; thanks.
September 17th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
Really strong images in this poem. I especially like the stanza about the hawk, the storm, and the fire!
September 17th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
this, to me, such a graceful trope:
“the yin and yang of sanity
are always intertwined
two lovers on a bed of redemption”
September 17th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Without the darkness how would we value the light? Without good and evil how else would we realize that life can be neither one nor the other and remain in balance? I think you’ve said it exquisitely here. >KB
September 17th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
I am saying the first thing that comes to mind today and zooming through comments so it is all metaphor please..
It is like sex the push the pull all leads to the greatest of all..
September 17th, 2013 at 3:44 pm
I love this. My favorite lines
“the yin and yang of sanity
are always intertwined”
These words spoke to me on a very deep level because with depth comes intensity and I think “sanity” is associated with logical and almost a shallow misunderstanding of where we stand.
I really enjoyed all of this. Very nicely written
September 17th, 2013 at 3:48 pm
Just as darkness and light balance out our behaviors, There must needs be sadness in life, to insure happiness, each in different measure.
Thanks for pointing this out poetically, or I might not have these thought.
Is “mediocrity” something like “Just another bozo on the bus”? grin!
September 17th, 2013 at 4:15 pm
this is sending shivers down my spine, so much that touches on feelings I’ve had lately…
there are always three doors
and i can never choose
love the mantra-like repetition in:
and the hawk, the hawk is not evil
only hungry
and the storm, the storm is not evil
only angry
and the fire, the fire is not evil
only out of control
September 17th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
The image captures me as well as the hawk, storm, and fire section “are not evil’. This is a powerful poem – a truth of nature that we humans find hard to accept.
September 17th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
Rendered in rich colors you acknowledge the role of the underpainting, the shadows of which sometimes come to the forefront. Masterful and engaging work.
September 17th, 2013 at 5:21 pm
“and the hawk, the hawk is not evil
only hungry”
wow!!! You are a brilliant writer! I like this poem a lot. Even the title. 🙂
September 17th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
Darkness is more comforting, even if it is evil. Just saying…
I liked your verses. That balance between good and evil is a slippery ground. So well-written. A wonderful read!
September 17th, 2013 at 6:04 pm
I enjoyed this – wondering where it was going – fascinated by the journey…
September 17th, 2013 at 6:42 pm
A fine balance , it’s a dance of good and evil. A great write, Kelly .
September 17th, 2013 at 7:36 pm
In the case of Light vs. Dark it’s the middle part, the in between, that drives this follower to distraction. Appreciate the way your poem, “clinging to the light along the brilliant edge of darkness”, calls attention to the ‘middle parts’…
September 17th, 2013 at 7:50 pm
This just took my breath away – wow!
September 17th, 2013 at 9:44 pm
What a fabulous texture and movement you have created here with your words!
September 17th, 2013 at 9:52 pm
Astonishing. Beautiful. Captivating. A bit sensual there at the end… Would love to know what your three doors are, though…
September 18th, 2013 at 10:05 am
Those three doors touched me especially. Really wonderful poem.. and that hawk, storm and fire..