Faded Hieroglyphs

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Poetry was traditionally spoken aloud and accompanied by music*, though today our habits tend towards reading poetry silently.  In this inaugural presentation of Integral Poetry on Integral Life we have included the written poem as well as an audio recitation from the poetess herself—Zayra Yves—accompanied by music.

Deep poetry becomes sung once again.

We invite you to savor this poem, reading it silently to yourself, reading it out loud, and also listening to the poetess’ recitation, all this as a more integral way of entering into and opening the poem’s substantial magic.

After allowing the poem to permeate your soul, perhaps you will be then called by the muses themselves to offer your response and feedback below.

*See Music, Transmission, Integral by Clay Shotwell and Michael Schwartz (section on Ancient Greek).

Faded Hieroglyphs  Right click to download mp3  Duration: 3 minutes

Faded Hieroglyphs

There are eternal images somewhere I have been in my dreams.
I long to return to the sands where lions roam,
sit as sun statues and roar in the night winds.

I have heard them singing of golden rings,
of fire in my belly, while ashes and petals blew in the alleys
with yesterday's news.

Red with ceremony was the light
and women's bodies did not harden
as they stood in the shadows watching winos commune
with jackals and the children play with paper sails.

Among the kohl eyes and black draped women
shopping in the bizarre, I long to wander free
as a winged creature in the shape of a hieroglyph,
in the shape of mystery, in the curve of linen…

I long to see the women in the streets
who speak to me from their eyes;
hear them as they say:  

                 Welcome home my sister, my brother.

I feel their presence now and know that we are one.

If this life is fragile and we are often too easily broken,
then let today be the day we celebrate love,
so beautifully transparent with its perfumes and melancholy vines.

Follow me to where the lions roam free
and give over your weary heart to rest in mine. 

Come with me to the gates of magic
where the mountains have names
are celebrated for their wisdom
alive in the whispering winds of grace.

I long to be once again in pristine gardens,
in God's country
listening to the wild things speak.

Walk with me now where destiny is written in the stars
and your ancestors sing your song back to you so
you will remember who you are.

Let us be where the journey is loving
where the tribesmen know secrets we have forgotten.

Come with me now where the white lions are walking. 
               I have heard them calling your name.