Walking in the Dark

  In a dark grove of oak trees, a path spiralled in
    i had been to the entrance before, and
    stood outside, afraid to reach into that dark place.

    a shaft of sunlight came through the trees,
    and a druid priestess, humming the sound
    of awakening, a bee priestess humming
    she came to me, and bid me walk the labyrinth.
    walking directly into the darkness of the deep woods
    and yet with sunlight penetrating
    and as we walked forward, the light grew stronger
   
    a clearing in the woods,
    and,
    what did you say?
    it is already here, the song has already been sung
    and i have only to open my throat
    and i have only to embrace these tears
    and i have only the inspiration that this is the time
    and all of humanity awaits the telling of the tale
    will i drop the comfortable smoky view from inside the cave
    and find the path into the forest
    and strip my identities, and my false protections
    being the ordinary and imperfect man that i am
    and hearing the calling, walk into the woods
    and come to the clearing at last
    and surrender to the goddesses, who dance
    in the clearing, and embody that life
    of our children's children's children.
 

    The children of the Golden Age
    may not know this depth of pain, and this
    illusory but overpowering sense of suffering.
    They may live in the light from birth to death,
    but in their rituals as they become men and women
    perhaps they will take a symbolic walk
    into the darkness that knows no easy human comfort
    that is vast and deep and beyond all words
    that is beyond the human heart although the human heart
    is the beating, is the sound of the drum
    that anchors us to this human world,
    and leads us home
 

    Having walked through the darkness,
    i walk towards that light in the clearing
    knowing that in the surrender to the dark
    i surrender also to the light
    and move freely
    as a bird singing
    in the deep woods
    day and night
    and cry in gratitude to this grace
    that takes me as i am.

    And just that acceptance
    inspires and moves me,
    humbled, i sit in the clearing
    listening, singing, listening, singing.
   
    I deserve nothing,
    and when i realized that
    the light descended
    and kissed me gently.

    I deserve nothing,
    everything comes when
    there is no one to receive
    just an endless heart, humbled by grace.