OUR PERSONAL SHADOWS Everyone's Unfinished Midlilfe Summons, Part One.

"We have met the enemy and he is us." -Pogo

We learn in many ways
and find we can still learn
about ourselves
at different levels of being
as Life Invites us
to go deeper to
titanic vaults
of unguessed wisdom.

Often we are too busy
to pay close attention
take time to feel and discover
scarcely listen to selves
seldom to our inner-most selves:
vast sea within
seeking voyager!

In the changing of seasons
and our search after Life
we are brought
slowly but surely
sometimes sorely
to our own singular Truth
by Ways we could not foresee.

We have the right to understand
all stages of our experience:
even those we disallow,
are not yet aware of
or have not grasped til now.


By midlife (thirties plus)
a groundswell Is impending
for some,
a mild rumble
shaking footholds
passing unbalance.

For others,
an earthquake
storied house of cards
comes crashing down
trashing marriage, career, family
health or reputation.

Sooner or later
our Shadows dart to lengthen
swaying wiggle on the walls
rabbit ears no more
but dormant dinosaurs.

Paradox Is the law of life--
foremost In relating:
since Ego Is a tricky cheat
warped hearts can be opened
only by being broken--
made whole by being cleft.

Healing starts when we
confront our unchosen warps
accept the hole in our hearts
as pregnant void and seeming
is Reason's Control:
Just myth, icon ‘n proud dreaming.

Mating is a ballet
choreographed
by two Shadows stretching
for an elusive Unity
harmony in mime.
our Shadows not we
woo and sagely choose
musically in rhyme.

Whenever another entrances us
dimly we are yearning for an
untapped Shadow-self
response to Inner Child's stroll
to our daimon, genius, muse
not-yet-unfolded Whole Soul.

The dance of spouse
that charmed us once
is that prance later
Passion worn
we critique ‘n scorn:
mate's score is our own
Shadow smothered, ignored

If we never heard parents
argue, swap ‘n explore
we don't have program-score.
If we never saw
fair trade-offs capped
parental fun unwrapped
that model is not on our map.

Half-hearted hedges
self-defeating programs:
If only's--yes, but's--I'll try's
"if she(he) loved me...Why can't you "
what will others say if... ?"
"I can't help... It isn't fair..."
Blemish, guilt In cop-out tricks
are generational
hand-me-downs:
'twas the only game in town!

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