Arlene Corwin writes

Still Needing Reminders

How long does it take to be a person

Who does not need reminders?

There have always been 

Those men and women fully mended

And full-ended

Who learned all one needs

To know about the, sum and substance

Of reality: its essence.

Incarnation, seer, saint, 

Completed men and women

Who know life for what it ‘ain’t,

And what it truly represents

Here and for all I know, beyond.

In that case, 

How long should it take, for me,

And probably for you,

To get to be that total human

One so much looks up to.

One works, one strives perhaps, for lives.

One thinks at times, one’s climbed the climb,

Attained its aim;

Achieved, accomplished… then one’s lame,

Where one must climb some more,

Renew the ‘brilliant’ store

Of insight that one thought one had,

Life’s underlying gladness passed

(or is it past?).

That’s when the books come down once more

From well-stocked shelf;

One is searching once again for self

Through words of those who saw the light;

Whose insights helped and help your night:

Your dark night of the soul*

Stage set,

Your sage is met.

You’ve been re-minded and re-souled;

Not far off from a whole again – 

Till then.

*Dark Night Of The Soul: A phrase from St John Of the Cross’ book, which narrates the journey of the soul from its bodily home to union with God. It happens during the "dark", which represents the hardships and difficulties met in detachment from the world and reaching the light of the union with the Creator. 

 

Christ of Saint John of the Cross -- Salvador Dalí

 Crucifixion -- St. John of the Cross