Out in the desert I met a man, he

looked familiar yet it escaped me he

seems friendly but I was cautious, he

didn't say a word still I understood

him...and there was peace. I continued

on my voyage, an atmosphere of the

unknown enveloped the path, where

did it come from? where is it going? I

saw a figure, another man, trees

growing out of the bare sand,

surrounding  us, they blocked the

path. What is going on? I asked the

man,  he shrugged his  shoulders. Rain

is coming I cannot see the man is

fading but I feel reassured that

everything will be alright. He winked,

dissapeared... I feel calm relaxed --

message acknowledged. I was

transported to the city, a true concrete

jungle. I feel close to home although I

don't recognize any of the streets,

buildings, sidewalks. No one around

for directions except for a friendly

face, a soothing smile, a passionate

voice. This time a storm approaches, it

is unescapable, I'm completely blind

and growing desperate. His touch

startles me but I feel comfort, care,

and a promise. My sight returning the

name is gone. Looking around I see all

three together, I joined, where are we

going? We are there...!

When I look in the mirror my heart

stops, I can hear my soul weeping.

I am confused, that is not the image I

expected, certainly not what my brain

anticipated. So many miles I put

between us,

I called, but my subconscious would

change the frequency of the calls with

each passing year. Over a decade and

a half I prevented myself from letting

sand gently tickle my feet, waves relax

my soul, and sea breeze whispers in

my ears. Not able to reflect and re-live

times filled with music, dancing,

learning to love, and learning to enjoy

a colorful culture that despite pitfalls,

obstacles, and oppression, manages to

rise above all and shine, to light up

our path to greatness and show the

sacrifices our ancestors made

so we don’t forget where we come

from and where we have to go.

I look in the mirror once more,

nothing has changed, same image,

now it is staring… I blinked, it is gone.

my dream quickly becomes a

nightmare, the image jumps out of the

mirror and gives chase, I’m not fast

enough.

I am him—He is me, I am cursed!

I am flying, no destination, no horizon,


visibility is very low, I grow tired.

another dream turning nightmare.

same mirror, same image, I ‘m not

running, not scared, never really was.

I turned around to see the image

turning into a beast.

I am no longer him—He is no longer

me. He tries to reach me, tries to talk

to me, he seems to be paralyzed,

frustrated, mute, impotent. I feel sorry

for the beast as he is now powerless,

sad, and alone.

I am flying, I see the horizon, I have a

destination.

I am tired no more… I have a purpose.

Darkness conquers the light, at least that's what they want us to believe.

Engage the fury you must... It will give you strength, power to generate positive illumination, guidance through the dark paths laid out in front of you.

A stranger is watching, waiting for a chance... Will she help? Will she harm? Time will tell...What a cliche.

Time is not a friend, it is a current we must fight to avoid being pulled into a whirlpool. The harder we try, the deeper we feel. Learn to use the current to get out, learn its rhythm to pull out.