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Nil Admirari

The Wanderer and His Shadow

By C. Rommial ButlerPublished 4 years ago 1 min read
Salvador Dali painting "The Face of War", 1914, colorized by Wayne Degan: https://www.behance.net/gallery/29699705/salvador-dali-painting-the-face-of-war1940

Turn our eyes to the heavens

Just to be blinded by the light.

Better to burn up in the flame

Than to stay lost in endless night.

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This vast abyss between us

Cannot be empathized away

Lest it be filled with suffering

Until our dying day...

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Consoling or controlling?

Is this our fear of the unknown?

There is no one, there is nothing

But this dark void we have been shown.

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Mirror, mirror of the soul,

The wanderer and his shadow.

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The wanderer,

Unperturbed,

Casts a shadow;

Makes his own way...

***** * *****

Commentary:

The most uncommon thing that exists in the world of human endeavor is an individual freed of limbic synchrony. For me, this song was an exorcism, this poem an ironic exercise in humility. We cannot control how others see us, especially as we pursue vocations that alienate us from the crowd. Nil Admirari means "Wonder at Nothing". This sounds callous on the surface--that we should never express shock, or surprise, awe or pity. However, this is not about being cold, but being measured, not letting our emotions get the best of us. It is an expression indicating that the maintenance of equanimity is the most vital part of the ability to act most effectively on both one's own and, by extension, others' behalf.

The song is free to listen to here, but you can also find it on any streaming service:

If you like it, or any of my other songs, please add to your preferred playlist! Thank you for taking the time to read and listen to my work!

inspirationalexcerptsheartbreaksocial commentarysurreal poetry

About the Creator

C. Rommial Butler

C. Rommial Butler is a writer, musician and philosopher from Indianapolis, IN. His works can be found online through multiple streaming services and booksellers.

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    Written by C. Rommial Butler