For the Love of Truth
As a child
I sat in the lap of Truth
She told her mysteries to me
As bedtimes stories
And she allowed me to play
The delightful games of a child
In the soft
Fragrant
And Holy folds
Of her robe
Until one day, the Others came
And told me to stop pretending
And that I must adhere to their reality
And a convincing tale I was told
Full of fear
Full of guilt
Full of obligation
And so slowly, I went.
I no longer rested in the lap of Truth
But neither did I wave goodbye.
She only smiled
And turned her gaze toward the sea
And like so many days of my childhood
She drifted off into a haze of my forgetfulness
Though I marched in this new procession
And tried to immerse myself
Into their baptismal pool
It refused to hold water
Alone in this self-imposed exile
This no-man’s-land
Like the prodigal son.
A veil of illusions separated me
From that which I was one with
Yet I could not find my way back
By their roads
And screwy signs
And when their roads ran out into wilderness
I went further still
Over rough terrain
Seeing not a single soul
Recognizing not a single thing
Such were my days and nights of searching
And yet
Constant was the voice in my head
“Come.”
The rough terrain gave way to tall mountains
And then deep valleys
Through which dark rivers ran
And I dove in
And swam
Until one day I came to her
Gazing serenely at the water in which I swam
She turned her eyes to me
As if I had never left
And only a moment had passed
She held open her arms
And I cursed my eyes
That would not believe
Yet I crept
Wet
Trembling
And tired
Back into the lap I once rested upon
And cried.
She caressed my head and said
“Tis nothing. Weep not,”
As she serenely turned her eyes back to the sea
Many days and nights had passed since
Last I saw the beauty of her face.
I was no longer child, but man.
“I will never leave your side again” I vowed
She smiled and said “Tis true.”
Many days and nights did I worship at her feet.
Many things did I bring, seeking her approval.
I lounged by her side.
I served at her feet.
And my soul lusted for her Truths.
I begged
I bribed
I demanded
I cajoled
I wept
I waited
Until one day
She arose
And as the dawn broke
She dropped her robe of mystery
And showed me the Truth.
She was right in her delay
It was indeed nearly more than I could bear.
And as I stand here now
Gazing at the beauty of Truth -
At that which I can barely comprehend -
The entire Universe adjusts.
And as I go to her
I sense that I shall be man
No more.
---unAsleep