Emergence
(a glosa)

One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began
You felt the old tug at your ankles
there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own
You strode deeper and deeper into the world determined
to save the life only you could
… lines from Mary Oliver’s “The Journey”

Deep grey doubts spread inky tendrils
Joy was strangled in its quest
The colours faded from your sight and the gloom grew black
One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began.

The first steps were tentative; got a notebook, opened it
Moved your feet a little; scribbled a few thoughts, don’t commit
Tried to run; to let in the light, to let those words flow
You felt the old tug at your ankles, and stumbled.

You were determined, bulked those arms, wrestled with the pen
The pain pulled you back, scared but now those muscles fought
You spoke aloud and each word appeared on the page
And there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own.

The grey doubts faded, pummelled by your voice
Light filled you, your page, your words
And you knew, you could not stop now
You strode deeper and deeper into the world determined…
to save the life only you could,
yours

- Theresa Dekker, novelist & poet