Enlightened Ignorance

 

Echoes from a restless

cathedral,

pigeons fluttering

in thin air

 

my faith is unable to see

 

In front of me

a cold-blooded moon

above cemetery gates

rusted shut

 

a beam of light from nothing

 

In the fullness of time

there exists this grief

that’s too dried up to cry.

I move unsettled

                       darkness taunts the light

 

What does it matter

that this hopelessness

is a broken wing?

There’s silence in floating

 

simple enough to dare

=====================

from my unpublished manuscript: inheritance

©dah / dahlusion 2018 all rights reserved

first published Otoliths Magazine (Australia)  

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is mind-blowingly superb writing. I thank Rob for pointing me to you. This line: "there exists this grief that’s too dried up to cry" brings to mind how I have not cried one single tear about my mom dying this past May . . . after my highly-abusive childhood, she lived a good life to age 97, & my grief dried up a long time ago (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[DAH]

... and now it's your turn to live the good life, and thank you for this high praise, and for the quote.

Cheers,
DAH

[Eilis]

I find it difficult to comment on your poems because it feels almost like writing notes in the margin of a book. Your work is so precise. A professional quality. But, I'm going to try here.

This puts me in mind of the search for all things. One of the things that defines us as human is our need for answers. We aren't satisfied with instinct alone, we need more. So we search. And that search can be fruitful anywhere. Sometimes most fruitful in places where life has ceased to be the leading force.

I like the play between life and death, between the idea of eternity or an absence of it. Questions are swirling like leaves, but the speaker seems less concerned about answers and more rapt by the moment. That's a dynamic worth exploring. I will continue to explore the idea.

Excellent work from you, DAH.

[DAH]

Ah, Eilis, this is simply lovely. Thank you for the wisdom and for this in depth critique. I'm honored!

Cheers,
DAH

[John Alexander McFadyen]

The descriptions in this are delightful if somewhat morbid. The opening stanza sets the scene so well and provides the cavernous atmosphere for the rest to flow from. Enjoyable and filled with symbolism and a hint of religion.

[DAH]

Nice to read that it resonates; being a non-believer I sometimes voice my opinion/disbelief on the topic of religion: "my faith is unable to see" (translated, I have no faith).

I'm happy that you are delighted by this one.

Cheers,
DAH

[Robert Trakofler]

when the grief no longer has a name and only the feeling lies in the remains of your comprise a subconscious message is in that beam waiting for your glean if you look hard enough. He he floating is fun swimming is better but flying is best

[DAH]

To float, or swim, or fly, I'll cash in on all ...

Thank you, Robert!

[Ted Kniffen]

Abandoned cathedrals and shuttered faith...how could light spring from nothing? ...let there be light to counter the Darkness.
' my faith is unable to see' and yet we dare to believe something exists...something greater than ourselves.
Call it what you will.

An excellent piece of writing...I'll be checking out more.

[DAH]

Being that everything and everyone in the universe is one part of the whole, I, personally, deny the existence of a "higher power".

Most humans need to believe in something greater because they have no faith in the power of self.

Thank you, Ted, for this fine critique.

[R.J Calzonetti (Siniste..]

Excellent poem. Your imagery is something I'm fond of. Keep up the great work, I'll be back for more dark pieces like this one.

[DAH]

Thank you, R.J, for stopping by; happy to read that this piece resonates with you.

Cheers,
DAH