Archetype

Archetype

Take heed from one who knows the story girl.
She can see earthlings wandering the woods below;
they pass an ivory trunk, apparent to them
only as white birch. Princes drift away,
never looking high enough to see her tower.
Seekers abound until hope fades to darkness
lanced by stars. The winter night is cold and long.
As light's first rays transform the tower girl,
she sees a way she hadn't looked for piercing her despair:
hope lies in her descent to common ground.

Pain rewards her with new ways of knowing:
an ivory tower high from other selves
too easily becomes a judgment seat.
She's known patterns from this height but never felt
the beating of another human heart.
Now she'll look before she chooses where to sit.

Author: Kate Powers

Photo credit: Patrick Hendry on Unsplash