A Reader’s Poem

I received a message from a reader, Bill Spratley that included a poem based on The Virgin’s Promise. It was so lovely I asked Bill if he would like to do a guest post. Here’s his introduction to himself and the poem…

My name is Bill Spratley. I am a husband, father, teacher, coach and writer. For the last ten years I have been writing poetry, which has focused strongly on Christian themes within the internal journey we all encounter as we live out our routine, everyday lives. Many poems focused especially on the struggles of isolation, misunderstanding, and confusion. Why did a pursuit of God seem so disorienting and cryptic? Why so much adversity and distress? Recognizing the purpose, beauty and hope available within these struggles, I chose the desert as a metaphor to represent this quest–a quest within our spirits and souls for the divine and for our true selves. I compiled these poems and published them in the book Desert Plains ~ Planes of Awareness.

But that wasn’t enough. I also had a strong desire to make movies based upon these poems. Yet I had no filmmaking experience, and was unsure how to start. A colleague read my book, and listened to my filmmaking ideas. He said that my idea and story sounded very much like a myth to him–mythic in content and structure. He pointed me to Joseph Campbell…and that was that! I watched 6 hours of interviews that he did with Bill Moyers, and studied The Hero With a Thousand Faces. I was hooked–hooked not just on the myth, but on the insight that myth is really an outward metaphor for an inward (spiritual) journey. At one point Campbell said that the Ogre Father is really just a projection of our own ego. It’s not that the father is really an ogre, but we perceive him as such. Precisely! Myth can actually capture our internal struggle and present a pattern for our spiritual/psychological development. Additional online research brought me to Kim Hudson and her book The Virgin’s Promise. I struck gold. Not only was she easy to understand, but her mythical insights into movies were profound. Her contention that there are at least six primary life archetypes representing different stages in life was a game-changer for me. But it was her specific focus on the Coming of Age arc (virgin) that resonated so strongly with me. Furthermore, her distinction between masculine and feminine (not male and female) arcs was enlightening. I now understood that my complete devotion to spiritual growth, and my highly-introspective nature are best categorized as feminine. This “feminine” perspective and approach is so lacking in our society as so much attention is focused on outward achievement and our place within societal groups (families, school, work, etc.) But we can’t be truly effective members of a group until we know who we are individually, taking the responsibility of our own individual sovereignty, and standing on our own two feet. To me, this is the true Coming of Age, which Kim so astutely presents. A year or two ago, I wrote a poem based upon the virgin beats in Kim’s book. Recently,I sent this to her, and she asked if I would be willing to share it as a guest post on her blog. I’m privileged to do so, and hope you find some inspiration for the importance of this life arc.

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Maiden Arc

So much out there do I depend

My life, my hopes at bay

Yield to me, my purse will bend

Stay with me, dutiful friend

Disagree, approval’s end

Abdicate–my lifelong way

Conformity’s price, the hangman’s noose

Your worth is much too great

Losing yourself to those who seduce

Surrendering power to those who abuse

Neglecting yourself while others misuse

Wake up. It’s not too late.

Windows of time for you to shine

Start small release your soul

First things first, a selfless “mine”

Dabble and dream, a fresh design

Hidden light, the true alpine

No threat yet to kingdom’s control

It’s taking shape, a part to dress

Please–a sign–confirm the hope

My soul laid bare, a new top-dress

I want it all, I must confess

My life is jammed with acquiesce

Time to push the envelope

All in I go, in secret place

The others must not know yet

This realm for me I have embraced

The others just tag me a disgrace

My dreams provoke, they will erase

Exile–the constant threat

It’s clear I now no longer fit

They want me all their own

The group rules all, they do admit

No place for “me”, it’s “we” misfit

Why not both–why not permit?

Status quo shares not the throne

The cat is out, your shine was caught

Time to accept your fate

Outcast–now fills your plot

Your name now diddly-squat

Relations now, on full boycott

Seclusion your new roommate

My fears for years have kept me stuck

Their shots have filled the air

Freedom’s ring in mired muck

Is worth the quest, the bell is struck

Here and there, I’ll need some luck

Life doesn’t play fair

Bedlam rocks inquisitors

Kingdom howls–the winds of change

Hope–freedom’s prisoners

Panic–tradition’s practitioners

Enraged–party-line distributors

Cadence and beat–now rearrange

Wilderness traced by outcast’s fears

Something more awaits the call

Daily doubts on the frontiers

Hold the course perhaps for years

Welcome glow of volunteers

You have the wherewithal

At last the Breakthrough light

There’s now much more to me

I made it through the lonely night

I never meant to impolite

I offer now to reunite

My “me” into your “we”

We realize our twisted view

Reorder, the charge of the day

Your beams and dreams of great value

Our locks and docks a jaded view

Welcome back simply as you

For “we”, a new birthday

The kingdom’s bright when me and we

Are free yet still combine

On the throne–thee, me, and we

River flows from royal three

Healing life from lumined tree

Eternal, true, and genuine

Thanks Bill!