The Journey – Part IV: Peace and Goodwill

I surge ahead on a path of clarity,

Form a relationship of fragile parity,

Between twin souls – darkness, light,

Peace and goodwill, the gifts of sight.

The Journey – Part III: Surrender

I surrender to the storm within,

A force of nature to reckon with,

I surrender while I’m alive still,

Lest I forget both reason and will.

The Journey – Part II: Inner Dream

I drift on cloudy thoughts and dreams,

On memories that shift at the seams,

I see a void – transient, deep,

Venture in through the fissures of sleep.

The Journey – Part I: Turmoil

I toss and turn as darkness falls,

No cloaks of comfort to recall,

I toss and turn on stormy seas,

Inner wisdom just out of reach.

On the Night of the Dark Moon

ONCE UPON A TIME

Neela wandered the lonely streets in vain on that fateful summer night.  Her twin was home burning with the fever that had killed so many over the last few weeks. The sour stench of death permeated the house as the fever ate its way into her brain and frail body. Neela knew she had to save her for she couldn’t envision life without her twin.  She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her only to find herself lost in the labyrinth of alleyways and passages that was the town. It was a no moon night and the light from the lone house across the street did nothing to help assuage the rising bubble of fear and panic that was forming inside of her. They came out of nowhere. They were called the shadow dogs. They were the forces of dark and light, the forces of death and rebirth, the forces she had come in search of.

The townsfolk found her the next morning, curled in a foetal position, a smile on her stiff lips and a dried tear drop on her soft, smooth cheek.

THE PRESENT

The desert heat rose up to hit her in the face as she ran as fast as she could across the scorching sand. The shadows stretched, tall and long, and the black dogs, or shadow dogs as they were called, closed in on her. Finally, her weary legs gave up on her and she turned around to look into the menacing jaws of death.

I sat hunched over on my bed trying in vain to keep my droopy eyelids open for I knew I’d dream ‘the dream’ again. For the past so many months, on the first night of the dark moon I’d feel it creep up on me and no matter what I tried the end was always the same. I’d wake up shivering and sweating, lost in the land between dreams and reality. Tonight was going to be different though, of that I was determined. Tonight I would look death in the eye and I would live. As absurd as it all sounded I knew it to be the truth of sorts, for it was about time I conquered the dream.

They came out of nowhere. They were called the shadow dogs. She ran across the desert sands, as fast as her legs would carry her.  The faster she ran the harder they chased, until finally, at that point where the shadows end and the darkness closes in, she gave up and turned around to face her tormentors. The darkness deepened until the shadows disappeared. Through the tunnels of time she saw her twin, the twin who had died so she could live. The same twin was now begging her not to squander her life away.  “I didn’t die so you could throw your life away, now did I?” her twin asked. “No, you didn’t,” she replied. “Then turn around and find your inner light,”  whispered her twin.

I woke up with a smile on my lips and a dried tear drop on my cheek.  Had the dream visited me last night? Maybe it had, and then again, maybe not. For once I couldn’t remember a thing. What I did know was that I felt whole again. That empty, restless hole in my soul felt renewed and at peace.  I had found myself again.

Homeward Bound

Who cares for the smell of coffee
When there’s a forest to be seen,
Potted plants and balconies
Pretty yes; not my dream.

A canvas bold with colours new,

Pink, purple, orange and yellow hues,
Peacock, deer and elephants true,
Spot their dots and backsides too.

The wilderness calls out to me

Or is it home I really see?
For winding forest-paths and trees
Take me home; my heart, my dream.

A canvas filled with earthy tones,

Bare trees, dry grass and watering holes,
The lone gaur stares as I pass by,
The elephant watches as I sigh.

For the lack of coffee I won’t swear,

Even when the forest’s bare,
For blue-grey skies and cloudy eyes,
Take me home on the wings of time.

The Initiate

Into the unknown,

Hesitant - she stepped.

Engulfed by flames,
Her aura - leapt.

Two became one,
Once more – herself.

ENTITY

From beyond the grave you found me,

A melody – lost and lorn,
Your skeletal fingers caressed me,
My life – no more my own.

From beyond the grave you touched me,
Nameless, forgotten soul,
Your lips of moss – brushed me,
A sigh – my last breath whole.

And as the moon glides softly by,
My breath, on wings, the breeze does find,
Dust to dust,
Petals crushed,
The fragrance fresh, once mine - not mine.

From beyond the grave you saved me,
A whisper – tender, true;
Your breath I felt beside me,
As my soul journeyed t’wards the new.

SHADOW MOON

Blood red roses,

Scattered past,

House of sorrows,

Shadows cast.