Isle of Manifestations

Author's Note: What do you do when a friend and one of your favorite Vocal creators suggests you use your weird Facebook cover photo as inspiration for a poem? Personally, I do as I'm told. Thank you, Cathy Holmes, for the marvelous suggestion and I can only hope I've done justice to the idea. (I'm not sure how my mind went on the journey it did, but here's where we ended up!)

*

The beast looms dark above the tiny isle

Growing ever larger, mounting higher

A surging, seething mass, loathsome and vile,

Its shifting faces set with eyes of fire.

*

Across great waters, on a distant strand,

Two lonely figures stand and face the beast.

A woman-child clings tightly to the hand

Of one whose back is bent and forehead creased.

*

“Oh, Grandma, what is this?” the young girl cries.

The Old One pulls the child close to her side.

“Dear child, you see before you, hate and lies,

And violence and pain and genocide.

*

You see, that island far across the sea

Absorbs the evil will that mortals bear,

Which radiates as rancid energy

Throughout the world until it gathers, there.

*

It manifests above that lonely place

As that unholy beast before you now

And gathers strength, devouring peaceful space

'Til chaos reigns and all mere mortals, bow.”

*

“But Grandma, who will save us from this fate?

Is there no hope, no spell to stop the beast?

It's getting awfully big! Is it too late?

We need a hero! No, we need a priest!”

*

The Old One laughs and kneels beside the child.

“Stay calm, Granddaughter. Let me dry those tears.

The world's not lost. This will be reconciled.

Just listen, now, and I'll allay your fears.

*

See, child, this isle of ours is special, too.

It gathers energy from mortal hearts.

The hero that you seek, my dear, is you.

Tonight, my role here ends and your watch starts.”

*

“But I'm too little, Grandma! I'm too scared!

I can't face such a monster on my own!”

“Fear not, Granddaughter, you are well prepared.

Your heart is strong – and you are not alone!

*

The island gives its energy to you,

You've felt it all your life. It's in your veins.

It lives in me - lived in your mother, too.

Her heart was broken, but your heart remains.

*

And so, my precious child, it fell to me,

To help and offer guidance on the way

And though your years are few, your heart's the key

To everything that's brought us here today.

*

You can take up the torch, and yes, you must.

It is a blessing, not a curse, you'll see.

You only need to use your heart and trust

In this great gift bestowed on you and me.”

*

Defiantly, the gifted Young One stands.

“I'm ready Grandma, tell me what do do,”

And staring at the beast with small, clenched hands,

“I'll fight the beast and kill it, just like you!”

*

“No, my dear grandchild, this is not a fight.

The beast is not at fault, and is in pain.

And killing isn't how we set things right,

If we use violence, what do we gain?

*

Draw from inside, instead and heal the beast.

Allow the energy of love to flow.

And when that energy has been released,

Your own young heart will learn and further grow.

*

As twilight dims the skies, two figures rise

And love illuminates the peaceful skies.

***