Substance

On one end of her life she filled the glass with the
Half that tore apart all that she had ever known
Solid parts of her turning waifish and wane
They reacted
To the dust bowels of scattered truths
The illusion that anything was worth holding onto
All she had ever heard or wanted to know
Consumed those literal points in an instant and the variables
Of certainty became lines on a paper
Written in third grade,
Teacher says
What made you happy this summer on your vacation, off with mother and father and brother?
And all’s you did was eat grandmothers
Chocolate chip cookies
And
Mac and cheese,
But you said
You went to a place called Peru,
Up a big mountain
And there were lots of donkeys and brown skinned people
Lots of smiles that dug trenches
Lots of two lane tales that spoke of
Witches and snakes
You saw all of this in Maria’s National Geographic
On the big chipped up coffee table with Maria’s Mother
Begging her to go out and get her some
Kools
And you felt like your skin got burned
In the high mountains,
But then you came back to Liberty Lane
Unscathed and ashamed that you had wanted to stay.
.
Then there is that part of her life where
Her glass was Dry as dust
Turned over and stomped on
Shards of glass before her and no shoes on either
If walking over all this made any sense at all
She knew there was the
Place that gave no light
Uncertainty that gave peace to those dank dwellers That drained
All that may Become
They flagged her down and warned her they were
Waiting in their own
Putrid rot,
They
So unattended for so long by love lost or found
All in an instant
They
Just barely remembered unless you recite to them tons of times
Again and again to believe that what they settled for
Is enough?
Loveless reality?

But now,

Ask her again to trust her own heart
To the lies of the six feet under
And she will tell you to just
Make it up as you go
You never know
Maybe you will find what you can’t see!

Big tears welled up and she could not place her
Footing quite yet
She reached out for the others but,
All the standard players were at Alice’s getting
New lines and new hearts
New Tin Pan Alleys
New substances to use on a new pawn
Or was that the Land of Oz she was on?
Some yellow brick road pointed
Just over the rainbow
The rainbow,
Reflective qualities of what might become
But never really are.
Just mists of water in a burning sun
Just mists of her yearning burning tears
Had begun
She stopped for water again
And saw that a glass made of fine crystal
Waited for her focus,
All with rainbows inside
Soft lips did slide
She drank up
And felt the fullness of her choices
She drank up all that ever really was or is
Or ever could be
And with that
She set down the glass of expectation
So many manufactures she had tried,
Why not just drink from the well that
Had been running though her life
Inside
This she could remember
So…
Using her fingers,
She cupped the sweet waters and
Was deeply satisfied.
Was deeply satisfied.

Linaji 2009

  • Lisa  Jewell

    Lisa Jewell

    A masterpiece…..

    I can’t even begin to quote parts….the entire piece is sublime and a journey I relate so strongly to. I could eat this piece….

    xxxxxxxxx

  • linaji replied

    Well my darling Co Creator.. I am truly spent.. having you in my smile before I finally go to sleep makes me so very happy and pleased.. thanks so very much Lisa!! xoxoxoxo
    btw.. I just love your eating habits!!!

  • OneMultipleCode

    OneMultipleCode

    This is simply breathtaking. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing this.
    I was moved by it all, especially how it culminated into the following lines:
    She set down the glass of expectation
    So many manufactures she had tried,
    Why not just drink from the well that
    Had been running though her life
    Inside
    Since she could remember
    So…
    Using her fingers,
    She cupped the sweet waters and
    Was deeply satisfied.
    Was deeply satisfied.

  • linaji replied

    You, like Lisa make my days end all the worth while.. thank you One.. MC..

  • OneMultipleCode

    OneMultipleCode

    Also, I agree with LisaG, well spoken!

  • Linda Ridpath

    Linda Ridpath

    your words are beautiful xx

  • linaji replied

    thanks so very much Linda.. now is time for bed!!

  • Barbara Glatzeder

    Barbara Glatzeder

    i am awed … :-)

  • linaji replied

    I smile back Barbara. thanks so much!

  • billyboy

    billyboy

    Def one of the most amazing things you`ve written BabyJi…
    You recognize that the chains that bind us to our past can be undone no matter how many years the links have rusted together… and it doesn`t even matter about the time lost having been bound by them. It`s what is here and now that is our reality, and if we discover the path to purity even only the day before we leave this life, it`s OK because it gives us hope for our eternity.

    I am so with OneMultipleCode on this… it`s that last amazing culmination… that our truth is there, long before the complexities of our lives weaves its thick shroud… we just have to go deep enough into the well…

    I know you will touch many hearts and souls with this beautiful piece.
    xox

  • linaji replied

    I am so pleased Billy.. this is a piece with many meanings.. and for the reader I lay open all interpretations as it enriches my view and my heart. Thank you so much sweet Bbjiji!

  • Paul (Quixote) Alleyne

    Paul (Quixote)...

    A very visual essay. Well written and emotive. Nice piece, ianaji

  • linaji replied

    Paul, thank you so very much!!

  • Isa Rodriguez

    Isa Rodriguez

    wow,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i think this is so real…. a memory of yours so true , possibly .. it feels like I am there.. amazing !..

  • linaji replied

    Lost of stuff here Isa.. mostly about what opens up for you.. I had lots of casualties going on last night and quite a few epiphanies as it were.. It is very very real!!

  • RubyMae

    RubyMae

    stunning piece…

    :)

  • linaji replied

    Hi Ruby Mae!! love your smile and your read here.. thank you!

  • BiographyofRed8

    BiographyofRed8

    From beginning to end.. this piece is filled to the brim with beautiful moments, taking my breath away in one moment of reading.. just there are so many lines in this that are breath-takingly poignant

  • linaji replied

    You the best Red.. thanks so much for taking a time out to read!! xoxoxoxo

  • helene ruiz

    helene ruiz

    girl ur on a roll! wonderful!

  • linaji replied

    Oh Helene.. thanks so much.. a bit of contrast led me to my core..xox

  • Erhan OZBIYIK

    Erhan OZBIYIK

    Wonderful thoughts Lina…
    A kind of path shows everything..

    Congratulations :)

  • linaji replied

    Yes Erhan.. you are so right.. spots of all this view of life came up so clear and deep.. xoxo

  • eon  .

    eon .

    WOW GO 4 It Linaji LADY ” – )) X

  • linaji replied

    I wanted a Hook and I got it!! tee hee…xoxox

  • ArcadiaTempest

    ArcadiaTempest

    This is my last read before I go to bed and…..what a story you have evoked here…..flip I am now wide awake! It weaves the fabric of the protaganist so well…..I will not just presume it is you…..I will just know it speaks to many about what some of us carry within us…..Hugs, and thinking we should go splashing in puddles one day and in the rain too!!! XXX

  • linaji replied

    Yes … So much of what came down in One hour.. One fargen Hours.. and then… All of life stepped in to make the pathway back to the questioner and the one with all the Answers too!! Thanks so much for the read my friend.. One day splish splash We will!!!

  • nkbellani

    nkbellani

    Thank God for this…after all that!!!!!!!! superb!!!

  • TeriLee

    TeriLee

    I AM UTTERLY SPEACHLESS! B-MAILING YOU MY HOUSE #....CALL ME!
    tHIS IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A JOURNEY!! Wowo that was great…..we got lots to talk abut….mostly ADAWG features…I am feeling powerful today….powerful images from ADAWG….wooo hooo! :)xoxo

  • linaji replied

    Thanks again for being with me last night my dearest.. you got it going on for sure and today with you seemed so right too.. You da best friend… for REAL! xoxoxo

  • RosaCobos

    RosaCobos

    Two times..
    two worlds..
    the one of narration..
    as when one has to recall.
    the travelled.
    Souls are not ravelling and they seem..
    And then it was the present tense…
    strechted to the unimaginable..
    and then.. it was..
    the rainbow..
    continaing all of it..
    and all of All.
    Waters.. seemlingly emotional..
    so sprayed as warmed flow of tears..
    and pressured agains..
    the pain in th Solar centre of Life.
    Rainbow…
    being drunk
    as the spider drinks..
    her own..
    in the web… calm.
    Rosan(not one reading with this… too much… and too little.. depending on the openes of the heart-mind… So it goes… precious Lina)

  • linaji replied

    Souls are not ravelling and they seem..
    And then it was the present tense…
    strechted to the unimaginable..
    and then.. it was..
    the rainbow..
    continaing all of it..
    and all of All

    THERE IT IS YOU MYSTIC WOMAN.. SPOT ON

  • TeriLee

    TeriLee

    I just launched a Bee Challenge :)

  • linaji replied

    I just am giving you a big fat hug!

  • TeriLee

    TeriLee

    awe….hugz are good…consider that a big fat hug in return :)xo

  • calves

    calves

    I agree: A masterpiece….
    wonderful dear:)))

  • linaji replied

    Ohhuuuuhah!! yum from you dear Claudia!! thanks so very much!

  • RosaCobos

    RosaCobos

    Sorry for the mispelling…. ravelling…. is travelling
    openes…. is opening..
    sminlingly… (oh my god!) is simingly…(puff!!!)
    and I do not look for more… because I ´ve got “extra” hot flushes…
    Huggies for you.
    Rosa

  • Rahul Kapoor

    Rahul Kapoor

    Lovely Writing linaji!.

  • Keith Reesor

    Keith Reesor

    Totally enjoyable read Linaji!! :)

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