The desert moon
is the only light I see.
I am parched
Beyond relief.
My knees ache
From the journey
And grief
Knowing that I am divided.
Feeling alone.
Except for the moon...
Expecting rescue
Soon.
Waiting,
Anticipating a torrent of rain
That doesn’t come.
Expecting
A downpour
That is nowhere to be felt.
I dance and call upon
The ancients
For quenching.
They too are distant and silent.
They watch and laugh
At my misfortune.
Invalidating my reality by
Invalidating the reality.
The weathering of years
Has caused this.
Variations of temperatures
Night and day
Have cemented the breaking
Of my heart.
My breaking has led to the shattering of yours.
I descended this valley wall
With one morsel of bread
And a sprig
For chewing.
Your breasts were the sustenance
Of bread.
Your eyes the bright surprise
Of cooling mint.
I descended
Into this dry valley.
Not with the wetness of your tongue
For quenching
But the moistness of your eyes.
Why no tears my love?
Why no tears as you were torn to pieces?
Why no tears
As you were torn to shreds?
A beautiful doe ravaged by a lion hearted buffoon.
I lavished and soaked in the blood of your innocence.
Why only moist eyes?
Why only the precipice of tears for this Moonlit desert valley?
Were you not afraid?
Afraid of night creatures?
Afraid of invaders?
Scavengers?
Hunters,
for the precious life?
Did you foresee a caravan
Of marauders?
Imposters bringing satchels of false gold?
These imposters lust hungrily.
These imposters labor greedily to satisfy
Their own dying souls.
You were afraid.
But,
Why no tears to meet my joy?
Why no tears to meet my satisfaction?
Without your tears,
I descended unprepared...
I descended with scorched feet
And entrails heavy with the feasting
Of young, supple minds
And foolish bodies.
I descended with hands thrust
High toward heaven
But a haughty and hidden heart
Held higher in extended fingertips.
The journey was long and arduous.
In thirsty confusion,
I stumbled towards
Riverbeds that were only beds of salt.
The lakes I sought from a distance were just the
mosaic of smooth stones.
Thirsty.
But no tears for quenching.
Only moist eyes
And the light of the moon
To guide the path.

Focused and driven forward
What did you see when you looked
Onward?
What gave you concern before
Descending to meet my gaze?
Why no tears my love?
Only a piercing stare
Through me to the end of this
Valley.
Through me to the dangers ahead.
Through me to the rock formations.
Through me to the dusty trail.
Through me to this moonlit path.
Through me to the sweltering heat that was hotter than the day.
Through me to the edge of this canyon.
Through me to the ascending wall.
You looked forward to that rise.
You looked forward to ascent
Out of the valley.
You looked forward to shedding tears then.
Once the journey was complete.
No my love...
I needed quenching before the perils.
I needed quenching to subdue the heat.
I needing quenching as we travelled.
I needed tears to wash my dusty feet.
I needed you,
But you looked forward.
I needed you
But you looked to the other side
Of the valley
Anticipating the joy of finished work.
That is when tears would be shed.
When we finished our work.
That is when tears would come.
When we finished our work.
The quenching was for the end wasn’t it?
Emotions for the end of our journey... because we made it.
Arms and hearts lifted high in
Triumph...
because we made it.
Shouts of true laughter and joy then...
But only cause we made it.
A full basket of expression
Awaits on the other side doesn’t it?
There’s no time to cry.
Only moist eyes because the journey is dangerous.
And serious.
Only moist eyes because you have committed to navigate this well.
Your minds eye saw the other side.
Your minds eyes saw you scale
The valley wall.
Your minds eye saw your lifted
Hands to heaven.
Your minds eye saw tears of joy at the end.
Enough to fill the ocean.
Enough to cast swift ships upon the waters and spread the news of our triumph.
While you luxuriated in the future...
At freedom...
And the prospect of bursting forth.

I am led away.
By the promise of false gold,
I am led away.
By the promise of reviving hope.
I am led away.
By the compromise of self absorption.
I am led away.
Taken captive because
I was dying from thirst,
In the valley.
Abandoned to my own self doubt and splintered roots.
My bones ached from dryness.
My muscles sore from lack of water.
I threw myself into caprice
And derision and fell upon cacti seeking
Refuge from the Son.
I chose another way
And fell into a sandpit
Drinking dirt from a mirage.
I lost sight of you in the stormy desert winds.

Suffocating,
I yearned to be rescued
But I couldn’t see you in the storm.
I yearned to be pulled out,
But not even your silhouette
Could be seen by me.

Then something happened.

Although there was work to do...
Although freedom lie ahead.
Although you could have left
Me to the mercy of vultures.
As sand filled my lungs...

By the grace of god
You glanced back.
By the grace of god
You turned towards me.
You saw my fallen condition.
You flew to me.
You were beautiful when you appeared.
A rare black
Swallowtail
With no jaded edges to subdue your progression
And blue jasmine
On the wings of your glory.
You’re descent was graceful.
Your landing perfect.
You fell upon my brokenness
And you pitied me.
You wept long and hard and
Your salty tears
Entered my wounds and gave me life.

Now, the moon is hidden
And the Son has broken the sky.
No more broken fingertips from clawing through dusty crevices.
No more bloodied feet from craggy desert floors.
The rapacious thirst is quenched
By the immensity of tears.
And now,
Your many tears filled the dry valley.
Your many tears filled this desert.
Your many tears filled my soul.
Your many tears covered the dangers.
Your many tears overflowed.

My darling butterfly,
You have suspended your flight
And sat down upon the waters.
On your tears we float to freedom.
Energized by the rays of the Son,
On your tears we float down stream.

With the desert behind us
We are glorious together
At the dawn of a brand new day.