The Reed Flute’s Song

“Language and music are possible only because we’re empty, hollow, and separated from the source. All language is a longing for home.” ~ Coleman Barks

The Reed Flute’s Song

Stay where you are

inside such a pure, hollow note. ~ Rumi

The last few years, perhaps because of Covid and the enforced isolation, each time I say good-bye when family leaves after a visit, I am filled with sadness. The scale of the sadness is in direct proportion to the joy I just shared while we were visiting. There are no words to convey the depth of my feeling. There are no words to hold all the love I wish to pour onto my loved ones. Although I have just spent a wonderful afternoon or evening with my children, or siblings, or cousins, I immediately long for more time with them once the door is closed and they are on their way. Is this even close to the longing Rumi is expressing?

Confection Connection

Innocent beginning
ice cream and lollipops
sticky confections
melted hearts and hands together
Legitimate purchases
to calm an angry mood
or cheer a sad heart

Lines began to blur
with requests coming more often
Willing participants
unwilling to say no

A shift began to occur
as the needs grew greater
sweet toffee
meant to soothe
became tacky
clinging
pulling down

Something to get by
just this once
turned into another
and another

emotions hollow
empty
deeply saddened
instead of uplifted

Relationship disintegrated
right before eyes
cotton candy decomposed
with teardrops of disbelief

Craving connection
a time to share and bond
but all the sweetness
decayed a delicate cord
The link
connecting two hearts
lost

Pit

there is an insatiable pit
gnaws
clamors for more
hovers on edge of living
crater ready to open wide
into yawning emptiness
like a gruesome accident
attention cannot be turned away
head swivels
must look
irresistibly drawn to hollow trench

this dark, black hole
consumes
all in its path
anything that draws
near the edge
disappears
into inky abyss