ascend, uplift, reward center

in the brain sizzling like fried eggs.

should expect, belief hardens

then the unexpected breaks the illusion

of a spell cast by time.

patterns emerge, fine lines invisible appear

at the last minute, no need for lemon ink

or heat because the awareness is like a candle lit,

then the cave, the silhouettes cast

with living breathing warmth – terrorizing

for they obey not the human shapes seeing

shadows free without life blocking light.

and life has drank from the sun,

the spellcaster mutters in ancient speeches,

time begins to roll back: twins emerge

as a wrestle for dominance came about.

belief, logic, emotions stirring in a cauldron

while ancient words splatter – marks etched

on a wall where darkness awaits.

waiting, patiently for emergence to spill forth

when the quest for more was never questioned.

pleasure center, ascension to what?

the gold layers suffocate the stifled man

bemoans with chains within,

though the smiles are casually given away

to an adoring crowd.

it must be good to have more,

and he winked.

shadows flited, made patterns within the

heart beating fiercely, strongly: a home,

every etch on the wall, each symbol

meaning something only the man understands.

descends, withers, the petals fall on dried earth

unable to digest – vomits back

the life now gone, and still the hands they grasp

for heaven, more.

but heaven resides not on gold platters,

the cave of shadows, mythical symbols

breaking walls: reward center isn’t the issue.

what reward?

a cave of many names, a heart depthless,

and the golden throne easily seen.

it’s always obvious until it no longer is,

when heaven cries.

symbols, myth – they elongate, take shape

like shadows free, nothing to create those

screaming, piercing, haunting

life telling … … a gold throne filled.

and the price?

when hell rages,

symbols, myth they find substance, meaning

to the creator, the choice made at each turning point.

it wasn’t the gold that was bad,

it wasn’t pleasure that was sickening,

it wasn’t rewards that distracted.

depthless heart finally surfaces

and the world that fell apart, no longer having an influence

on how it should be, could be, must be.

a spirit seeing heaven and hell

for the first time.