The Circle

Allen Joe Sera

Wandering aimlessly midst the dunes with not a tree in sight

nor a blade of grass

nor a flower

nor a drop of water

I am losing

I feel insecure in my security

I trip over my tongue with my words of confidence

I am troubled

I am empty

I am lost

captured by the light

blinded by the bright

begging for the night

I weep

my miraging mind coveting the oasis in my heart

vanquished within my gaze

an apparition stills my daze

a dancing orb of silver haze

anxious

yet I am drawn

sentinels of my mind exhort cockles of my heart

with my mind and heart in conflict

yet

I am haunted by a phantom of the sensitive monkey

they're standing on my tail

mighty

almighty

you will prevail

they're standing on my tail

they're standing on my tail 

mercy

oh mercy

I will prevail

they're standing on my tail

within rages of war

amidst all confusion

benevolence of the soul forgives affliction

dons compassion from pertinence of perishing foe

hesitant

I walked the outer edge of the circle

I turned to trace my path of nullity

my mind distressed

my heart spoke to my mind

to return to nowhere with fear is to regres

to stand idle is to die

to advance to somewhere with courage is to progress

I continued to walk forward without fear

I panged to hunger

without nourishment my mind lamented

my heart spoke to my mind

to disdain desire with pity is to wither

to abstain desire is to die

to sustain desire with joy is to bloom

I continued to walk forward without pity

I strained to challenge my body to vanity

my mind raged

my heart spoke to my mind

to regret limitations with anger is to abhor

to ignore limitations is to die

to accept limitations with love is to enjoy

I continued to walk forward without anger

an ornate voice like that of sweet desire beckoned to me

within the circle find your truth

I paused to remember my emotions

my mind bled with fear yest my heart healed with courage

my mind wept with pity yet my heart laughed with joy

my mind screamed with anger yet my heart whispered with love

I stepped into the circle

with no walls to hide me

with no doors to confine me

with no rules to refine me

with no theories to define me

with no scripts to guide me

I am alone

within the circle I am placid yet weary

within the center of my orb I lay to rest

I dream

chaotic kingdom of captured blue

spilling freedom of crimson hue

shadow streaks of spirit curtains

haunting peaks of painted mountains

silent ease of eagles flight

redeeming peace of sacred twilight

my plead

sky wizard

share with me

silent secrets

of thy peace

the retort

my serenity

is only mine

thy serenity

is only thine

why must thou

quest for mine

must not thou

quest for thine

search thy dream

and thou shall see

thy light of peace

forever will be

my question

is this circle

without a door

covert silence

forever more

will I not

ever be free

of covert silence

to be me

the answer

thy soul

is free

thy door

is thee

my conclusion

I am only truth when I want to be

I am only wisdom when I want to be

I am only compassion when I want to be

I am only passion when I want to be

I am only free when I want to be

I am only me when I want to be

all of these things I will be

because

I want to be

I am awakened to the rapture of angelic voices

with enchantments profound throughout time

listen

songs of the minstrel

prayers of the preacher

rhymes of the poet

lessons of the teacher

guidance of wisdom

calling to the living

calling to listen

listen

the tribal drum beats for our moment

this aura of time will have no sequel

in this instant we share

listen

if with me

within my circle there is a conflict within your mind and soul

where you do not understand and con not accept

tell me

if it is within my control to compromise

I will

if it is not

please understand

and accept me

as I will with you

within your circle

thus my truth

I continue to walk forward

with mind and heat in harmony

I am

the sensitive monkey

therefore

I will