Part Thirty One, What Lies Beyond: A Tale Told With Time

What Lies Beyond, Part Thirty One

Whether With A Shock Or Slowly

Joan Ann Lansberry

August 13, 1999

© JAL,1999

Bathe
Breathe,
Emerge into the coolness,
let each anointing drop
bless me with its cleansing.
Let each cool drop
take away
some gathered heat,
until all is
gently subtracted,
leaving only me.

JAL, 8-13-99

August 27, 1999

What I Don't Know

And this bridge,
where does it lead?
That immense arc
spanning from here
to there,
am I that bridge?
This moment now,
the beginning?

~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~

And what I don't know
is sitting right in front of me.
It's teasing me,
but I can't touch it.
It's always been that way,
stumble blind upon truth,
then I know.
Stubbed toes of the mind,
awakening shock,
how it lets me know I'm alive.

JAL, 8-27-99

September 10, 1999

Julia's New Old Coins

Julia's been wanting a bronze Roman sesterus or two for ages. At Pieces of Time (http://www.romancoin.com/), Julia's favorite web site for ancient coins, a bid was offered for thirty of them. She bid somewhat less than the quoted price, and won. For a little over thirty bucks, she has ten of them. They're each about 1 1/4 inch (3.2cm) and feel quite substantial in the hand. Yes, they are somewhat worn. But this lends a pleasing mystery to them, for, to me, the ancient past is hazy.

September 11, 1999

Outside, the night sky is alive with whip crack after whip crack of quick light stroking through it. Feeding on this wild electric energy, I bid my soul to capture the light that streaks to nowhere. On these hidden pulses, I enlarge myself against the night, feeding, feeding, feeding. This power that is in the lightening, can it be in me? If it can, I will it.

~ ~~ ~~~ ~~ ~

Earlier, while eating out today, I looked around the exotic decor, seeking what might be good for the camera. I held it up, tentatively framing areas. Some pictures didn't turn out well, but I love the way the light reveals the details in this elaborately carved chair.

In the darkness,
comes the light,
sometimes like thunder,
sometimes gently.
But come, it does -
wild streak slashing
through the night which does not break
or through open windows softly,
gently revealing -
whether with a shock or slowly,
we are awakened.
May my eyes be open.

JAL, 9-11-99

Continue Forward in Time...
"What Lies Beyond" Index, Book Two of the Journal
Main Journal Index Page