THE SOUL’S UNVEILED SHADOW

 

I finally got it—I see it clear.

I noted the things, both far and near,                             

All the small troubles that I held dear.

But I got it, in the space of a minute.

So, what is the matter?

What is the trouble within it?

 The whole of the matter, the reason I say,

 Is that the matter itself was in the way.

It was one starry, deep midnight hour,

 I woke, held tight in its gentle power,

 At a sudden, soft knock on my door.

A perfect surprise, but nothing more.

 A phantom, a dream, a moment in flight,

It was gone by the time I sought the light.

 As I returned to the comfort of sleep,

 I held the matter; I had it to keep.

It was nothing, it’s true, but my own soul’s shade.

 The quiet reflections that my shadow had made.

 All through the night, it was there, taking shape,

And in all of these matters, my soul was awake.

I got that matter—the one I had missed,

And I sighed, at long last, by the revelation kissed.

The whole of the matter, the struggle I had,

Was the simple, clean matter of my own soul, unclad.

Moods 14/8/22