Those Blessed Incognitos

author’s note:

I think if we want to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we've got to be that light.


THOSE BLESSED INCOGNITOS

I’ve grown aware
of a powerful positive conspiracy
involving an obscure confederation
of priests and priestesses

usually unknown to the casual observer because
they don’t wear uniforms
or carry placards—

for that matter, often even members
don’t realize they belong to a club—
don’t realize
they’re connected by an invisible web
to souls all over the globe
who share their divine obsession—
noble servants content to work in the shadows:

apparently driven by higher instinct
they dig new wells
and map interior towers
that spiral endlessly upward.

My dreams have shown me
how their hearts swell
in depth of night
to overflow riverbanks
and soothe the wounds suffered
by eight billion human battlefields.

Yet despite their strength
at times, our heroes and heroines feel exhausted
by these birthing labors
and must escape
to the forest that mothers.
There, they surrender once more
to the black earth

to decay and resurrect
in three days—
sometimes less

and though these warriors may hesitate
before returning
they return, nonetheless:

as priests and priestesses
they understand:
despite appearances
no effort ever goes for naught—
every step is another step
up the stairway—
they understand:
as they rise they help
the rest of us step up.

Glorious Tedious Transformation: poetry ebook
© 2021, Michael R. Patton