Ancient Eden - The Dark Night of the Senses

Poem by Michelle Estep, OCDS

Ancient Eden
Your garden fair
Contemplating the seed you bare

In soil deep
The darkest rest
The warmth of Love does pierce my breast

Refreshing Grace
Envelops me
Living waters flow forth to free

A root descends
From softened seed
Your Spirit blest my soul does feed

O Flaming Light
From Sun Divine
Unfurls my leaves - a tender vine

-

Ancient Eden
Your garden fair
Contemplating the leaves you bare

In sprouted breath
My shoot ascends
Projecting towards the Love You send

My first true leaves
Do bask below
Atop a stem, I will to grow

Your Light of Life
Sustains my zeal
A fervor strong, cannot conceal

Fresh foliage green
Springs forth anew
Growing larger still beneath the dew

-

Ancient Eden
Your garden fair
Contemplating the vine you bare

My sweetened sap
From tendrils slim
Yearning for first grasp of limb

But down I fall
My stalk still weak
Consolation my soul does seek

The path I trod
I try once more
To find the Love I felt before

I will within
To stretch my twine
But into earth I lie like swine

-

Ancient Eden
Your garden fair
Contemplating the blight you bare

The Flame I knew
I see no more
Without Your Light, to live is chore

My tendrils cling
To shadowed woes
My flesh devoured by earthly foes

My wilting leaves
Have lost their grace
What can I do to see Your Face?
The spark of
Life Had just begun
Is this the end, my soul you shun?

-

It's much too hard
To seek your Light
When dusk gives way to darkest night

My roots they grasp-
Support to find
On larger weed they yearn to bind

In shade obscure
Sap crawls to slow
On yellowed leaves distress does show

My desperate plea;
Unanswered sigh
Ascends on wind toward darkened sky

Grey clouds come forth
To still the air
Atop the earth my vine lay bare

-

Refreshing drop
Your healing balm
My anxious pride You yearn to calm

The torrent flows
From cup of life
The cleansing flood dispels my strife

My sense now stripped
An empty case
A docile death to Your embrace

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