"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." Kahlil Gibran

Ceremonial Pillow Burning, by Jaclyn Weber

Beyond the black cindered layers of
adolescent dreams
A woman stands
casting a sad stoic eyes on ribbons of memories
flames of memories reach out
to lap against the pale blue fall air.
Ready to step forward
"I burned it when I was ready".

Smoke billows.

She steps away from the unbreathable air,
dusts the rain of ash from her memories,
holds the hopes and pains of her past
in the cradle of her arms, hold these
like the baby not yet born to her.

She is ready to step forward into the dark night of desert
The horizons of unforgiving heat and sun,
the mysterious unknown of soul feeding love.

All the while in her peripheral
she watches
the walls of her childhood defenses crumble
ready to step out in to the open
and love.