Knowledge, Wisdom, the Gap, and What I Saw Inside
To the ones who dream
I woke without waking.
My were eyes held together
As if they were reluctant to know.
A hand outstretched:
Motivation for a first step.
A first step forward.
Glowing embers lit the night
Like stars woven in
Dripping tapestries of ink.
Eyes staring.
Intelligence analyzing.
My eyes opened:
Though I saw, I did not know.
There it was, as if trying to will me to blink.
But I had come this far.
I followed fire in the dead of night,
Streaks of crimson trailing along behind us,
Leaving scars on the sinews of the shadows.
I followed without question,
And so followed without hindrance.
Nothing could stop me now.
I was illuminated, but I did not see myself.
I was blinded, but I remained surefooted.
I was overwhelmed.
But not overcome.
And I reaped my reward:
Flames danced harmlessly in the branches
Of an ancient, starlit tree, gnarled and waiting.
Tiny beacons, candle-like,
Guiding; comforting.
Beckoning.
As welcome as tiny paper lanterns
Hanging from the branches
Fluttering in their own warmth,
Like immortal fruit blossoming
Under infant skies.
Yellow leaves swayed without wind:
Tiny earthen heartbeats
Dancing in welcome
To the internal beat of
Their own familiarity.
Now my eyes could finally open.
Now I could pick the flaming fruit,
To spark the tinder in my soul,
To ignite the flickering courage.
To warm these wandering bones.
Now I know.
Now I know.
(2013)
This poem is based on a reoccurring dream I used to have. I would be standing with my eyes closed, and would see something like a white, flickering flame flashing against my closed lids. At first I was scared to know what was making the light, but then I realized that I was much more scared not to know. I saw that there was a small flame floating in the air in front of me, and when I looked at it the flame led me to a beautiful tree on a hill under a starlit sky that looked as if it had just been created. The tree grew large, beautifully colored fruits that glowed of their own accord, and I thought if I could just reach out and eat one of those fruits, I would know everything there was to know. But every time I attempted to grab one of those fruits, I would wake up.
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