Sacred Vessel

Magdalene, Memorial Gallery Rochester, NY

 

Am I looking in the right places?
Fragments of you scattered
across blank pages
and left in empty rooms.

I’m searching for you
in the shelves of libraries,
and in the silent shadows
of abandoned cemeteries.

I swear I hear you,
when I’m walking away
quickly from the crowd,
and in the dark of my room.

At times I feel you,
lovesick and tender;
broken by the plot line or
made full by the act of kindness.

I’m alone with you now
in the quiet galleries,
beneath the goddess
showing me the way.

Weathered finger pointing
to the seat of your throne,
close to my core and
surrounding all I am.

~JL©2015

Imminent Flight

Wingless and alone,
walking blindly
into the unknown.
Mute and missing
the music of birdsong.

Staring into the storm,
there is alluring space
between the rain clouds
and the mist, and
the darkness on your face.

No place left to go,
you walk corridors
of forgotten institutions;
archaic knowledge littering
walls that resemble your flesh.

Your true journey
is within the scarred chambers
of a tenacious heart
that beats in time
with your anxious mind.

You stand quaking,
ancient memories beckon.
No one guards the open doors,
but you feel the heat
of a dragon’s tongue.

The air burns brighter,
dryer than the storm’s grey face;
flaying your skin
as you shift into shadow,
moving towards grace.

Cocooned and shrouded,
closer to your truth,
wrapped up in darkness
it’s impossible to see
your imminent flight.

~JL©2015

 

The Demon Tea Party, or Heart-Space Housecleaning

Last night,
during the full moon,
my demons came calling,
awakening me from my slumber
ready for a tea party.
The trouble with demons,
no matter what messages they bring,
is that they refuse
to do the dishes
after consuming
all the cakes.

~JL©

 

When we lie awake examining the darkness inside of ourselves, it’s actually a way of taking stock of what we need to clear out of our hearts in order to facilitate growth. It’s messy, exhausting, and often painful to dig deep into the crevices of our hidden wounds.
Visiting demons bring messages that poke painfully into the tender places that we try to avoid. But their presence is a glaring reminder that we cannot hide from our wounds. We need to examine them, forgive them, forgive ourselves, and then move forward. Then they will begin to heal, and another space inside of our hearts will be opened to let in something new.

And did I mention, it’s not the easy path. It’s not the length of a simple sentence or the chapter of a book. It’s work. And it’s hard. But, for myself, I have never once regretted pulling open the doors, and letting the truth in my life… demons and all.

So, spring is a great time for cleaning house. I guess today I work on cleaning up after the tea party!

“Demons are like obedient dogs; they come when they are called.”
― Remy de Gourmont

 

(Kind Readers, please feel free to share your experiences with me! I would love to chat with you. Leave comments, write emails! I send you all my love.)

*Art post by Max Ernst
*Original poetry by Justina, please do not copy without asking.