Beyond the Lighted Path

February 19, 2005

More is owed to manner of
living, grieving,
groping, reaching
than to formal tutelage;
favoring questions
beyond the lighted path;
listening when wisdom
speaks,
whispers,
breathes...

in the classroom, yes,
but also in a bar
or on the street;
in a church where
addicts meet
and gather strength
to face another day;
where self-asserted
martyrs shame the ones
for whom they die
begrudgingly;

while those who sweetly groom
the addicts and martyrs
push denial, live in lies,
attempt to keep the light
from family and friends,
colleagues and priests.

More is owed to manner of
thinking, teaching,
loving, seeing
than to formal tutelage;
whether wide awake
or walking within sleep,
the truth so often
walks along before,
not two steps ahead
of the lamp
which guides the feet,

beckoning toward
wisdom found
beyond the lamplight's reach.