A Journey in Duality▪︎
After the stillness
And on that solemn hill, the moon will bathe your path,
While whispers be a healer’s bane.
When I lived upon that hill,
I starved myself of all things grey,
fleeing the valley’s dispiriting veil,
that bothered the sunrise into wanting
what it held so near,
and offering what it could not share.
My mother said to dream of dust,
its sunlit shimmer before stained eyes,
a golden thirst for cleansing showers,
after storms that cease and times that ached,
the glory of barren lands , and even shame,
touched by sunlight, touched by rain.
Now I feel a churning burn,
spreading fire, yet cool to touch,
a dream’s own sow, a healing glow,
mending me in a healing spree.
To this I surrendered, for this I prayed,
a rift in winds, a memory fade.
When you live upon that hill,
that redeeming anchor in lightness,
even when you find the graces fill,
without voice or sound to steer,
you may lose your way, your will.
With spirit tied in denial’s grip,
‘tis a pleasing ride to valleys low,
a stay in gloom, a time alone.
There, arise! Let the valley’s grip unfurl,
for the valley is, but should not hold,
a soul too deep, nor a path too steep.
So be the ritual, awakened soul,
ascend the hill with righteous fury,
be spiritual, with mind and shield,
to dwell in the summit, and its glories won —
delight in being, for freedom’s claim,
delight in living, with heart aflame.
©thatshadowriter
Dear reader,
I wrote this poem to explore the duality of life’s journey, and how that shapes our choices. The hill is something we both know; morality, clarity of purpose, a sort of refuge from the “dispiriting veil” of the valley below. Truth is, isolation hangs like a lamp on this hill, lighting a different trail, yet casting a deceptive shadow on the path we know.
On the other hand, the valley is a familiar comfort, a well-worn shroud we find solace in, a chance to reflect, a pause in time, a tempting little escape. But like the hill, there’s a darkness in dwelling there too long, leading to missed opportunities and negative growth that hinders us from truly being.
In the end, the poem unravels, with balance at its core. We need to welcome the growth and clarity the hill provides, but also hold onto the insight gained from navigating life’s challenging times. It’s a call to heal for the ones truly stuck, to embrace both worlds with “mind and shield”, and to accept the contrasting forces of our unique journeys.
Thank you for reading, always.
