What riders from those darkened hills,
what breaches known on once calm seas?
We journey toward unseen precipice,
entrained by soothing voices intent upon control.
In the night, waves of supplicating energy
urge us to prepare, to break the spell
and turn away from the downward spiral.
Contemplating the ritual sacrifice
practiced since ancient times upon the altars
of stone, of war and now in consciousness.
How much must be surrendered
before the incantations of the tender heart
free the restraints of blind conformity?
The voice of protest sounds within,
calling from the inner earth
with love’s magnetic impulse.
Adventure will not soothe the hunger,
nor the drug of acquiescence.
Riding the tiger of life’s passion
take heed along the watchtower of your highest vision.
Breaking scar tissue requires pain and fortitude
yet beyond heartbreak there is life,
a river to cross and green land waiting,
ripe and verdant with the fruit of your immortal soul.
photograph by Sandy Brown Jensen
Reading of “Incantations of the Tender Heart” with music by Olga Kharitidi and Jim Wilson
Don, this one is full and thoughtful. I’ll read it again and again today. Thanks.- Love, Tom & Nancy
Such a beautiful and powerful call to action that found me at the perfect time to take root. My gratitude to you, Don.
Riding the tiger of Life’s passion….yes! That was Tessa Maskell, if you saw the memorial today, Don……
I seek out your beautiful poems every Sunday, always articulating what’s coursing through my heart, weaving lovely words to express similar thoughts, yet yours with elegance and poignancy. Thank you.
Don, thank you for this lovely poem. It is truly “spot on”! Perfect.
One of your best ever….I can feel the fire burning deep in my heart with you Don, who’s going to step up today and let the new earth appear? You and I and……
Thank you, Don.
Beautiful expression of the tender heart. Thank you Don.
We see the downward spiral and the hunger that won’t be soothe yet we construct our own destiny, day by day with our highest vision and the view of a green land appears naturally! Thank you for this eloquent rendering!
One of my favorites to date ..potent and inspired