Occidental Soul
Alabaster
25" x 8" x 8"
1996

Conceived in the Light of Love,
in a surfeit of temptation, I fell
after a free sweet smell.
I was spared
to bathe anew,
until deluged by an horrific tide,
I wandered, settled,
was exiled, then set free.

Too many choices
ignited lofty admonishments:
find faith and family,
build temples and tabernacles
to show your special seed.
But war, pestilence, and famine
destroyed my imagination,
with heart pierced through,
I asked
"now, what must I do?"
("Learn how to love.")

Caught in a gap between
dreams and reality,
the winds of history
dictated polarity.
Good, evil, right, wrong,
individual, community--
"is it wise or not
to revere incorporeality?"
So I built and painted,
loved and tempted;
I led, I followed,
acted saintly, was corrupted.

("Look inside!")

I'm older now.
I'm finally coming to see:
that I am the enemy.