Bé b‘lia

this is a short piece (my professor at the time referred to it as a prose-poem) which i used as an assignment in a creative writing class, but which i had, unethically, written  several years prior.  i am not proud of everything i have done, but i feel this is a minor transgression.  i was pleasantly surprised to hear him delve into the complex symbolism which i had crafted, yet his interpretation of that symbolism ran much deeper than even i had intended.  the class must have thought i was some sort of  master.  however, years later, i take full credit for all of this and say that i only needed him to find a communicable means to convey my genius to those at-large.  enjoy...

Bé b‘lia

“All the rivers run into the sea, and yet the sea becomes not full”
-Eccl 1:7

In a way that I could never describe, in the dusk of a gathering storm, I met you, exactly where you said you would be. You looked, sparkling, lighting the darkness, and I followed your beacon. As I came ever closer, the enraged sea throttled the sides of the vessel and it heaved violently. It tipped so far that the mast seemed to kiss the waves and in their union, produce an offspring of misty uncertainty; but still the ship pressed on, sure of its course. Closer it approached your light, almost that I was certain you could make out my features as I was alternately plunged into darkness, then forced into light. But I know that you could not have seen my true character or else you would have never guided me ashore.

Suddenly, the rocks jutted up, cutting, biting through the hull of the boat, a hole opened up, and out spilled life like treasure, scattered by the relentless tide rushing onto the shore. Was another love to be swallowed by the swirling eddies of this life? In a great leap of faith, I abandoned ship and fought all uncertainty. My companion was old and abused; neglected for the most part, but in times of trouble, a trusted friend that delivered me into death.

Finally I reached the shore. Alone, beaten, naked I struggled onto the beach. I saw you standing above me, your silhouette traced by the moon like an angel. You motioned to me silently, and I took your hand. I had nothing to offer but tried my best to assume an assured dignity in hopes that you would not cast me off. We walked together to a point of the beach that rose up in a hill and we could see the wilderness stretched out below, bathed in a cool luminescence, peaceful and alone. To the right, we turned and saw the sleeping village, secure and warmed by their own lights. With a knowing smile, we kissed one last time, and parted. I headed into the sanctuary of the wild, alone and uncertain…