Stephen is a web developer, Bahá'í, and interfaith activist in St. Paul, Minnesota. He likes to write about religion, social justice, sustainability, science, programming, &c.

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poetry, prose, and other strings of words · 1993 - 2003

Abhá

Number 116

August 16, 1996

As I stroll into this darkness
I feel no coming home,
I feel I have no home,
I feel there is no home;

I walk through these hills,
These plains and the valley's shadows,
Entombed, enwrapped in darkness:
Here is chaos, out there is life;

The thunder beats—
Tap tapping the heartbeat of the land,
The thunder beats, calling clearly,
This land of silence;

Enthralled by a light,
I wept at my soul's joy:
I was coming home,
I was heading home;

Not knowing,
Never knowing,
I can only follow,
Always follow;

Only myself to comfort,
Only I comfort myself,
Burning flame so bright
Eclipses even the sun;

Yet darkness,
Midnight abounds
Through the pain of birth
In desert seas;

A haunting melody has pierced my ear,
The nightingale’s voice doth cry,
Cry to me,
Cry to me sweet nightingale;

Release me sweet nightingale,
Bring me softly from this barren land,
Softly carry me home,
Softly whisper my name;

Existence assured,
Blessed existence Be,
This rhythmic white sheen
Surrounds me;

Tender embrace,
Of warmth’s delight,
Tenderly
Embraces me;

And I still journey,
Never finding my way home,
I seek a home none know,
A home unknown to me…