A Crystal World

A Crystal World

stalactites from heaven
  reaching down to earth
   feelings of freedom
    floating above
wanting the ground, steady and sure

stalagmites from earth
  reaching up to heaven
   overbearance of oppression
 sinking below
wanting the sky, happy and free

the melting ice drips slowly to the ground
 the stalactites,
      having been free
    come down to reality
   slowly gaining their wanted sureness
  they sink and are buried in the earth
the melting ice runs slowly to the ground
 the stalagmites,
      having been oppressed
    come to their final rest
   never finding their wanted freedom
 they sink and are buried in the earth

ice covers the trees
sparkling on the outside
but not concealing the grey sienna soul

the outer appearance is clear
showing initial beauty, sparkling laughter
happy days, joyful memories
the world is deceived
it can't see or doesn't pay attention
the grey shadows of the soul
the inner despair, or complacency
the world is revolving
the tree stands still
  never moving,
 never daring to change
   it had decided to be an elm and will never
 be a mighty oak, though maybe a weeping willow
adapting to seasons as times change

we marvel at the beauty of the ice-covered tree
  but when the ice has melted, we turn away
   from the elm
      until it again starts to sparkle

   never realizing it is always crystal
until it breaks


December 1985