I was thinking about the loss of Aretha Franklin, the real deal “Queen of Soul” the other day. It occurred to me that of all the amazing songs that she earmarked with her larger-than life talent, my two favorites seemed far and apart, “Until you come back to me” and the soul stirring live rendition of “Mary Don’t you Weep”. Why did those two leap at me? I don’t know…exactly. I love almost everything she ever sang. Still, after listening to both, I thought maybe it’s because both remind me that as humans “doing”, we make mistakes, we incur losses against our hearts and spirit, but will and hope can and do prevail, when love is our guide. We sometimes have to count our disappointments and pain as opportunities to see what we are intrinsically made of…there is a promise in that. So, thank you Aretha for helping us put soul and sound to that journey….
Putting in the work
With a tremble,
I lay the way bare for you,
Genesis of the new…
I am vulnerable with conviction
Consumed with touching
Your soul,
Infusing our wills
Or freeing these vexing spirits-
for the sake of humanity’s
food and feast. LOVE.
The wait has been too long,
And troubled-
My anger thwarting the Angel’s
machinations,
I have been humbled, then remade of copper
Burnished to brightness over time
Branded of understanding-
Too free to choose then
Contrarian of my own truths,
Denier of desires
Still the stoke
Smother the smoke
Kill the flame
Be liar.
But you stay
In front of me
And looking away is impossible.
I know what you know
Advantaged?
What grants you such power to steal me in moments-
Tearing away my perfectly crafted pieces of pretend dis-passion.
What whispered word,
Showed you the way back past all the defenses
loving you made necessary?
Forgive me,
We all believe only what we need as long as it serves us
And,
we are still here
Here where and when love is rare
Too late -for indecision
Too long without -to lose more
Everything to gain
For awhile.
With a tremble
I lay bare the way for you.
What will you do?
D.E. Womack ’18
spilledlight.com 