‘Metamorphosis of Narcissus’ by Salvador Dali
When confidence and calm
collapse,
I sit here
trembling
like a frightened dog,
and I’m unable
to soothe the ache,
attached as it has become
to this mirror of you outside.
But even here,
almost overwhelmed
by the sense of being
a victim and beggar
for love,
even here, I know I must create.
So in the midst of the shame,
I open
to a hint of light
to make space
for the guidance I’m barely willing to hear:
“Put down the begging bowl,
cast aside the push and pull of your demand,
and give your love to all the ones you believed you needed it from.”
“Give love, without bargain.
When you give love, you are love.
Be the spring,
and source,
and gift.”
“Lay down your fascination with neglect.
Lay down your hope and despair.
Release us, all your mirrors, with your generosity.
There is nothing to do but love.”
“With all your heart,
even when it feels like the most impoverished heart
that ever there was, even when it feels like you need another’s love
like parched earth needs rain, love.
Just love.”
collapse,
I sit here
trembling
like a frightened dog,
and I’m unable
to soothe the ache,
attached as it has become
to this mirror of you outside.
But even here,
almost overwhelmed
by the sense of being
a victim and beggar
for love,
even here, I know I must create.
So in the midst of the shame,
I open
to a hint of light
to make space
for the guidance I’m barely willing to hear:
“Put down the begging bowl,
cast aside the push and pull of your demand,
and give your love to all the ones you believed you needed it from.”
“Give love, without bargain.
When you give love, you are love.
Be the spring,
and source,
and gift.”
“Lay down your fascination with neglect.
Lay down your hope and despair.
Release us, all your mirrors, with your generosity.
There is nothing to do but love.”
“With all your heart,
even when it feels like the most impoverished heart
that ever there was, even when it feels like you need another’s love
like parched earth needs rain, love.
Just love.”