in dead of night

“A further sign of health is that we don’t become undone by fear and trembling, but we take it as a message that it’s time to stop struggling and look directly at what’s threatening us. ”
― Pema Chödrön, The Places that Scare You

in dead of night,
thoughts like parasites
infestations of gloom

dread ignites
in repugnant blight
declarations of doom

angst in flight
i won’t recite
some memories are exhumed

no need to fight
or to be polite
or even presume

fears chide despite
my inner fright
delirium in the room

confront their sight
in pale moonlight
of awareness consume

when morning’s bright
new mercies overwrite
lucidity blooms

in graceful light
forgotten plight
exuberance resumes

©allysoally2017

Walk the Labyrinth

“The only reason we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes. ”
― Pema Chödrön

I’m coerced deeper
into disconnection
from thought.
My cells have absorbed
so much untruth.
The narrative I create
is to protect
myself from harm,
from disappointment.
I’ve been distracted
by the words
and accusations,
the confusion of
things I tell myself.

Shadows of my false self
pass by my window
each day,
enticing me back
to reduction,
a far cry from the expanse
that surrounds me.
Grooves deep in my psyche
spill into recognition
of failure,
I sabotage belonging.
Have I tried too hard to forget
my shadow self,
even to deny it?
In my judgement of it,
perhaps I’ve given it
more power!

©allysoally2017

Paradigm Shift

“Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.”
― Wayne W. Dyer

Pink crystals
of sunlight,
purple beams in the sky.
Moments of euphoric
awareness,
feeling so high!
Visitations
of wonder,
silver pathways to tread
ethereal visions,
reciting the unread!
Exposed in limbo,
beyond
dimensions of time.
Free falling
from static,
shifting the paradigm!
In an instant of
consciousness,
an illusory self.
Reinventing the blueprint,
to transmute
the cells.
Detached
from previous notions,
of being called out.
Clutching
authenticity
in aspects devout.
Within glowing embers
of specious dreams,
a life force
emanates,
beyond the smoke screens.
A blazing re-entry ,
being scorched
to the core.
Found in the sanctuary,
where order
is restored!

©allysoally2017

Revelations

In all chaos there is a cosmos,
in all disorder a secret order.
― C.G. Jung

acceptance of nakedness
revelations of being
surrendering to the elements
peace with what’s unseen
we are lights in a Universe
imbued with disorder
sojourners of wretchedness
fragments moving  forward
separated from the essence
we lose sight of our souls
a need for sacred mercies
that forge us to be whole
when darkness is all around us
we are confined by despair
shadows hide the hollowness
of desperation’s prayers
though when we acquiesce
onto the jagged path of life
existence is consecrated
and foundations realign

©allysoally2017

*Lobola

valuable daughters
the richness of Africa
tokens of repect

*Lobola; a bride price, typically of cattle, paid to a bride’s father.
THE traditional custom of lobola, also known as “bride-price” or “bride-worth”, may sometimes be misunderstood by western eyes but in African culture, it is a ritual that helps to bring two families closer together.
It is aimed at developing mutual respect, and showing that a woman’s future husband is capable of financially supporting his wife.
It is a token of thanks and appreciation on the groom’s part to the family of the bride for their care over her and for allowing her to become his wife.

Cataloon

Dogs have owners, Cats have staff!

The cat got sick
and hid from me,
I found her concealed
beneath a tree.
She glared at me
as if to blame,
did I curse her,
what a shame!
She had a grudge,
cause I shut her out,
and I’d only gone on a
walkabout.
To this day I can’t
read her moods,
sometimes she sits
and gloomily broods.
I try to cuddle her
when she’s ill,
then she refuses
to take her pills!
But some days
when the sun is shining,
she runs to me,
comes out of hiding.
I really don’t know
what to say,
she had a career
as a runaway.
At times she
stays out all night,
I lie awake,
and get uptight!
Maybe I should
have stuck to dogs,
I wouldn’t have to
confer with frogs,
or step on lizards
on the floor,
or keep opening
the front door!
I wonder when
my contract expires,
when she’s had enough
will I get fired?

©allysoally2017

Gifts

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.”
― Mary Oliver

life can be hard
but full of miracles
sometimes colorless
though often lyrical

forests breathe
to keep us alive
the moon orbits
and does not collide

in the darkness
sometimes unawares
celestial beings
tenderly care

doubt lingers in
unanswered prayers
sorrow is treasured
with every tear

disturbance pulls us
back to the center
guiding us towards
deeper surrender

unknowable bounty
in the turmoil of life
invisible grace that is
secretly applied

stories recounted on
cold and joyless nights
turn into compassion
with profound insights

©allysoally2017

Eclipse

Breathe it all in and love it all out!
― Mary Oliver

the sun
came up today
and painted his glory
across the sultry skies
and he waited
for the moon
to wave her majestic
orb in his face

graciously veiled
he shut his eyes
for just a while
in devotion
to her beloved form
each crescent
of her loveliness
glowed and sparkled
with certainty
that the sun
delights
to shine
on her

and as she moved
she danced
before his eyes
and darkness
fell upon the earth
in sombre rhythms
quiet reflections
of remembrance
to the sun’s
devotion
to all who live and breathe

then the moon
swayed and
moved
and swept
over the oceans
until they
bulged with pride
and her face
was only
known to the sun
as she dissappeared
from sight

©allysoally2017

 

Birdies

birdies
singing sweetly
my morning symphony
perching on branches above me
captivated by such simplicity
an existence of harmony
my evening melody
chirping softly
birdies

©allysoally2017