Gateways

Openings to a spirit:
Natural, raw, dazzling.
Tranquil on the surface,
Seemingly undaunted by life,
A stronghold of substance.

Beneath this exterior
Lies quiet, genuine dignity.
Lucid intelligence pours forth,
Clashing with chaos.

Tracking deeper-
Fresh agony overwhelms the soul,
Mending is not undertaken.
Nearly hidden scars criss-cross the depths,
Remnants of undeserved torment.

But in the face of anguish
Delicate grace flourishes. . .
Perpetual, yet fragile.

The exploration is euphoric and polarized:
Burgeoning hope and delight for the spirit's beauty,
Floods of compassion for its unchecked distress.
Though joy is formed,
It collides with sorrow.
The honest, true, pure soul is chained
To outward ideals.

Vulnerable and insecure,
Generous and diligent.
Unequaled.
To examine these openings is to feel
Permanent, everlasting appreciation.