crossings

arqios

Crossings 

A ritual in six steps

 

I. The Letter

 

I knelt beside the younger me—  

mud-kneed, wonder-eyed—  

and said,  

You did not fail by surviving.  

With ink soft as forgiveness,  

I wrote:  

“I carried you here.  

And still, I do.”

 

 

II. The Dialogue

 

I found my fragments arguing—  

mask and marrow, fire and husk—  

so I let them speak.  

One said: I yielded,  

the other: I stayed,  

and together,  

they wrote a name I recognized.

 

 

III. The Sigil

  

By candlelight, I curved a shape—  

part wing, part wound, part word.  

Not to cast a spell,  

but to remember:  

I am allowed  

to believe  

in what remade me.

 

 

IV. The Blessing

 

At the mirror’s edge, I whispered  

to the name they gave me,  

and the one I chose:  

May you outgrow shame without shedding gentleness.  

May you speak without shrinking.  

May you love without folding first.

 

 

V. The Boundary Walk

 

I stepped to the line—  

threshold, doorway, shore—  

and paused,  

barefoot, present.  

The air on both sides  

tasted of salt and maybe.  

Halfway through,  

I said aloud:  

Here I am. 

And the wind replied,  

Welcome.

 

 

VI. The Altar  

 

I gathered the evidence—  

a scar,  

a poem never shared,  

a feather kept for no reason.  

I built no temple.  

But I bowed my head  

as if I had.  

And left the matchbox open,  

just in case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

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Comments +

Comments11

  • arqios

    Thanks for the Fave @sorenbarrett🙏🏻🕊

  • sorenbarrett

    A spiritual journey, a metaphor with wings of life alighting in various places, a prism of refracted light separate colors descending to different points of focus. Perspectives from different points of view of the same entity defined by each perspective. Worshipful an ethereal and ephemeral feel to this poem as if grounded in clouds. A rainbow that in its splendor is here and gone. A most lovely write and a fave

    • arqios

      Thanks kindly, Soren. Most appreciated as always 🙏🏻🕊

    • Friendship

      Nicely done. The poem "Crossings" explores personal transformation, healing, and self-acceptance through a ritualistic journey. It reflects on the relationship between one's past and present self, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and honoring one’s experiences, struggles, and growth.

      • arqios

        Thanks Friendship, a most appreciated review and Fave🕊🙏🏻

      • Tristan Robert Lange

        This is breathtaking, dear poet and friend. Every step feels like a rite of remembering...tender, sacred, and unflinchingly honest. The layering here…name, fragment, threshold, altar...each part throbs with lived truth. That final gesture with the matchbox? Chills. If feel you and here you there. You’ve built something luminous here, my friend. 🌹👏 One of my faves of yours. Love the ritual aspect of it!

        • arqios

          A BIC lighter would suffice as well but matchsticks have an incense feel about them🕊🙏🏻

          • Tristan Robert Lange

            Absolutely!

          • arqios

            Thanks for the Fave @Friendship 🕊🙏🏻

          • Poetic Licence

            Beautifully written write, very nicely staged, I wish they had been my steps, very enjoyable read

            • arqios

              They can be anyone’s steps! Thanks so much, friend 🙏🏻🕊️

              • Poetic Licence

                You are very welcome

              • Bella Shepard

                To me the stages of this poem speak beautifully of forgiveness, love, remembrance and ultimately hope. A true gem my friend!

                • arqios

                  Thanks dear Bella. That’s the way it could be 🙏🏻🕊️

                • Tony36

                  BRAVO

                  • arqios

                    Thanks Tony🙏🏻🕊️

                    • Tony36

                      You're not

                    • David Wakeling

                      Wow now this is special and dare I say therapeutic poem .The the authors history in 6 stages.There is so much wisdom it is really mind blowng. It is one of the most important poems I have read for a long time.It begins It with a communication with the authors younger self and ends with an open matchbox which could be as innocent as having a cigarette or it could be as sinister as burning the house down. Either way this is an amazing poem.Well done compadre

                      • arqios

                        The power of a match stick 🔥 yes🙏🏻🕊️

                      • Goldfinch60

                        That matchbox will be filled with the love that comes to you arqios.

                        Andy

                        • arqios

                          That is something worth accepting any day, and giving as well. Thanks Andy 🕊️🙏🏻

                        • Aman 12

                          The poem doesn't end it lingers like a soft whisper.

                          • arqios

                            Thank you Aman. That is so complimentary and greatly valued 🙏🏻🕊



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