04.06.06
A poem
What follows is the result of a wonderful experience I had a week ago visiting with a girl friend who was an early romance. We were young. I saw her briefly 20 years ago, but for all practical purpose, I hadn’t really connected with her in 40 some odd years. We spent the afternoon together. It was a beautiful spring day, and we sat for several hours trading time telling our life stories. We had dinner together, and then said our good-byes. I was sad to leave her, but I must say, it was a wonderful time. This poem, which I leave unnamed here out of respect for her, does actually have a name. The poem came to me while sitting quietly in my living room. This meeting brought up tons of feelings for me, expecially feelings of loss. I cried. Joy and well-being returned and all the pleasant memories of so long ago. I can only thank her! Needless to say, it is a heavy look at what I believe were the tragedies of my friend’s life, and what appears to be the isolation that she now deals with. With love, I dedicate this poem to her.
I live in the valley of darkness.
I shroud myself
So freedom will never find me.
You can not see my eyes.
For to look into my soul
You will find Hell’s fire, my pain, my tormentor.
It is scary here, for I am alone.
What shall I do?
You say, “Remove your shroud, set yourself free”.
But I ask, “why”?
If I should remove my shroud
I will surely lose my life,
Dying of hurts buried so long ago
beneath my soul.
You could destroy me,
and I will be no more.
This I can not bear.
You ask, “Who are you”?
Saying, “Remove your shroud, live!
Your spirit is dimmed, never dead.
I will look, then listen. You shall live.
At last, freedom!
Remove your shroud.”
By Richard Kavanaugh
Helen said,
April 6, 2006 at 6:49 pm
This is very moving and as intended, I suspect, leaves me wondering what blanket of darkness she covers herself with. For many, it is the comfort of the ‘known’ that keeps us feeling safe even though it is often the most dangerous place to be. I wish her well.
Peace………………