Light

Lightning flashes

illuminating the room

through rain-smudged windows.

I awake

struggling to emerge

from the depth of slumber,

eyelids weighted, drug-heavy,

my body pulling me down,

earth to earth.

To the arms of Morpheus.

Light floods the room

warming my hand.

A breeze caresses my cheek.

I awake

Grave faces watch—

searching for signs of life.

A clock ticks,

loud in the silence,

marking the time passing,

so quickly,

so slowly,

as we all wait, and wait, and wait.

For the passing of my time.

Lightness of being.

The weight of my flesh dissipates

as the morning sun burns away the fog.

I awake

The mortal burden—

so heavy, yet unnoticed,

drops away,

my essence rising,

lighter than air.

Buoyant, joyful, free.

Light fills me

All the colors merged, yet separated

A prism of colors unimagined

I awake

Unbearable clarity of meaning

I am separate

I am one

I am in unity

love, light, God,

the universe, quarks, dark matter,

my eye, my heart, my soul,

us, them, you.

Eternity, mortality, time.

Enlightment.

I am Light.

—C. D. Walter

In memory of
Larry J. Palmer
1936-2003