THE DARKNESS OF THE MINE

(extended)

Already there, unwrit, unshod

by any save themselves alone

unsevered, paired with inner god

beneath the wave of ego, known

***

They tell what cannot silver mould

they show themselves, unshaped the same

and well deliver, not by gold

but delve the mine bedraped in name

***

Nothing but a semblance drawn

in myth or epic scripture set

or idols men attend at dawn

therewith the outer senses met

***

Like, and yet unlike the cast

of legends scratched in ink, or spoke

support, and hide their face to last

from grasping of the blinking folk

***

These gods, so far from jealousy

or petty politics abide

as real, untarred by fantasies,

that often vile agendas hide

***

And wear a face well seeming to

the breathing walkers, flesh and bone

that strive in race and dreaming through

illusion meshed, begrieving home