The sixth or seventh circle of hell

I have an old large-format book which chronicles Dante Alighieri's fictional round trip adventure with his friend Virgil into hell. Growing up, the book sat in our dusty basement at home.  The text was never of much interest to us as kids...rather it was the illustrations that held our fascination.  After my parents were gone, I decided to hang on to the book as a keepsake.   I've repaired the spine with Gorilla Tape, the pages are brittle but the paper smells good and the illustrations are still in great shape.






I believe that almost everyone goes through their own versions of hell in a lifetime - some as kids, some in middle age, and some as older adults. Whether it is from abuse, neglect, violence or loneliness, it is important recognize struggle, however whispered, and accordingly be sensitive and compassionate.

Watch on YouTube

The Perfection of Imperfection

The most sincere attraction is seldom defined by tenents of classical beauty. Physically it might be the unusual curve in a face, crack in a voice...or even a slightly crooked smile.  Emotionally, it's pretty much the same.  I guess uniqueness is predominantly what I crave or fancy. This probably makes little sense, but there you have it.

* * *

From a few years ago:


Undiscovered

So much of what I am
unravels inside of you
but my perfect loom
of all its careful weavings
is really nothing more
than my hope stretched
in threadbare fashion.

Yet someday, I may find you
and I will hold you then
as we fall asleep at night
and we will make a love
of beauty and imperfection
but it will not be of my design
or even of my conception.