ABSTRACT ARTIST JOANNE CALOCERINOS ( a.k.a. Kali )

Poem by Abstract Artist Joanne Calocerinos

AUSPICIOUS DREAM

I DREAMED A STRANGE DREAM, BELOVED-
SO AUSPICIOUS, THAT ITS IMPRESS
UPON MY SOUL
BELIES ALL THAT I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

YOU WERE THERE, BELOVED,
BUT I RECOGNIZED THEE NOT!
YOU CAME TO ME,BELOVED-
I WAS DAZED AT THY SIGHT!
ENMESHED WITH FEAR OF THEE,
BELOVED, I DESERTED THEE!

BUT THEN, BELOVED, I RETURNED
FOR I WAS HAUNTED BY THY CHARM,
AND OUT OF THE PIERCING-
AGONIZING PAIN I SUFFERED
THAT I MIGHT SEE THY FACE,
MY LOVE FOR THEE BECAME PROFOUND.

EVER WAS MY PASSAGE TO THEE EVIDENCED
BY ADVERSITIES AND INTRUSIONS
INNUMERABLE DOORS HINDERED THE ARDUOUS WAY.
TIME UPON TIME I FLED FROM THEE IN HASTE,
AND TIME UPON TIME I CRAWLED
AND BLED MY SOUL BACK TO THEE.

THE JOURNEY INCREASED-
THE PATH BECAME MORE DIFFICULT
AND MORE DISTRESSING-
BUT OH, BELOVED, I LEARNED THE WAY
AND EACH TIME IMBUED GREATER FACILITY.

BUT WEARINESS DISHEARTENED MY SOUL-
VOWING TO RELINQUISH THEE FOREVER,
I TOOK SECRET, UNJUSTIFIABLE LEAVE-
INTENDING EVERMORE TO DENY MY SOUL
THE AMPLITUDE OF THY TORMENTING,
YET BEAUTIOUS VISAGE.

I SHUNNED THEE STILL!
YES, PROVIDENCE KNOWS-
I ADORED THEE, AND I DREADED THEE!

WITH MENDACIOUS ENTHUSIASM
MY HEART SOJOURNED WITHIN A WORLD
VACANT AND DESTITUTE-
FORBIDDING THY VOICE-
THY LOVE- THY ECSTACY.

UNCEREMONIOUSLY I SEARCHED
FOR WORD OF THEE
AND LEARNED THAT THOU, BELOVED,
AWAITED-STILL REMINISCENT,
AND BROKEN AT MY PURPOSEFUL FLIGHT.
OH, HOW I DARTED BACK TO THEE-
UNMINDFUL OF THE CUTTING COURSE!

NOW I KNOW, UNQUESTIONABLY,
THERE IS NO OTHER BUT THEE!
I FLY WITH THEE-
I WEEP WITH THEE-
I LIVE FOR THEE!

JOANNE CALOCERINOS SEPT 11, 1955

Listen to the poetry reading by Gary Abel.

JOANNE CALOCERINOS

( A.K.A. KALI )

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