Sliver

He had offered her a world not his own

Conjured a universe for her exclusive joy

A whimsical land of endless spring flowers

Where she and he could love eternally

Still, he found himself exiled from her

Thrown to the darkness - cast aside

All he had created stripped from him

The shriek of winter howling

In a rage she had burned the spiritual bridge

And with its destruction, was lost to him.

Alone and despairing - hollow and dead -

He became a soul of suffrages.

Imprisoned by walls self constructed.

Sealed in the sepulcher of self preservation.

Dormant and frozen - as the seasons turned.

As time flowed forward in an endless cycle.

As empires fell crumbling and turned to dust.

Until meaning had none, and love was a shadow.

Only then did he peer out at the cosmos.

Stepping out onto a rocky cliff,

Scanning the ocean before him,

Raising a foot - taking one deep cleansing breath -

Walking into emptiness and uncertainty.

Marching headlong into the world unknown.

Naked and exposed - vulnerable and naive.

Set in his determined resolution to succeed.

To find his purpose - to gain a sense of completion

To locate the other half of his heart.

To fulfill the desires of his longing to belong.

Trudging on in spite of his emptiness -

Beginning to exist - yet still not quite alive.

Feeling purpose in scattered bones

His path carved into cold ashes

He followed seven sisters of the night

Even as the hunter has ever pursued them.

Staying his course through dark of night

First asking help of the silver maiden.

He sought the scorpion, consulted the dog.

As two bears circled swiftly to see

All gathered for his benefit and pleasure.

Resting only under the golden one

At rest did he meet his quarry.

At rest did he fail to guard himself

At rest was he overtaken by shadow.

A sliver of what had been emerged

Developing - stronger - more cunning

Penetrating his chest - seizing his heart

Increasing exponentially - taking him in.

Here it was that he found love again -

or perchance it was he who was discovered

He wagered his soul - arose as the victor

Surrendered all without protest or regret.

Here it was that he learned truth

Here it was that he turned wise

Here it was that he knew absolution

Here once more was he alive.