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ARICAHILTON 

BRING IN THE FRUIT (EPUISSE)

I have seen the innermost valleys 
of Falcons confined to darkness
of Fate which cuts the thread of life 
signaling "It's time to bring in the fruit"  
in that treacherous Tower of Hunger.  

Like water taking the shape of its captor 
My eyes tasted a grief so profound 
there was no outlet for tears or fears. 
I have seen those who journeyed past repentance
swaying on a cliff of regret or inspiration.

Which is it, I ask you?
A step up?
or back down into the refuse covered selfishness 
of domination?

Is it easier to climb a holy rock
or chase a holy grail?
Is it easier to be grateful for the fall?
Or to writhe in misery because the climb is
too difficult if one can only crawl?

Fatigue crawls down the river.
Ambition kneels in surrender 
to forces of dubious motives.
The sky reveals itself
inane, illusion.
Are you repentant,
Spent
in lost directions?

Say farewell to damage!
Leave it on that runway of forgotten cities
where time left imprints on seedless sands.
Who will remember?
Or will they
Because their defeat
May be yours?

Stand naked before ruin
Your body covered in welts 
too buried in confusion.
When all the doors are closed
Does God open a window?

And what lies on the other side?
Is it a valley of green terraces
flowing into a stream of Reason or Truth?
You step into a river.
Rocks surrender their edge into your feet.
Crimson ribbons wrap realization about your ankles. 

Marred, 
branded,
Branded with indignity,
Your breath trickles in whispers,
taciturn tears
In the shape of a note,
staccato,  forlorn,
a denouement of battle,
lost to the forces of darkness.

Can you hear the music of regret
wading down the ravine
of addiction
to ego
to greed? 

Can you surrender to stillness?
To light? To sound?  
Reach for higher ground?
Return passion to compassion?  
Be a rose in remorse?

There is a way to swim out of the ninth circle of hell, I tell you.  
There is a way.  

Go back....
go back to the river a second time….
all the way back.  
And reach...
Reach
into the womb
of healing waters,
and sleep….sleep…
Until a pulse returns…
And a cry announces life.

          ©Arica Hilton 2013 

TURKISH Translation

MEYVE İKRAM ZAMANI  (EPUISSE)

En derinlerdeki vadileri gördüm
karanlıklara mahkum şahinleri
hayat bağını koparmış kaderi
“Meyve ikram zamanı” diye sinyal veren
o hain Açlık Kulesinde.

Su esir alanın şeklini aldığı gibi
Gözlerim öylesine derin bir kederi tattı ki
Ne göz yaşları ne de korku için kaçıs yoktu.
Tövbe yollarından geçerek

Pişmanlığın, ilhamın uçurumunda
sallananları gördüm.
Hangisi, sana sorarım?
Bir adım ileri?
yoksa tahakkümün çamur kaplı bencilliğine doğru
bir adım geri? .........