Exiled together

Revelation Must Be Terrible

Revelation must be terrible 
with no time left to say goodbye.

Imagine the moment staring at
the still waters with only the brief tremor of your body 
to say you are leaving everything 
and everyone you know behind.

Being far from home is hard, 
but you know, at least, we 
are exiled together.

When you open your eyes to the world
you are on you own for the first time.

No one is even interested in saving you now
and the world steps in to test the calm fluidity 
of your body from moment to moment,
as if it believed you could join 
its vibrant dance of fire and calmness 
and final stillness...

as if you were meant to be exactly where you are, 
as if like the dark branch of a desert river
you could flow on without a speck of guilt
and everything - everywhere would still be 
just as it should be,
as if your place in the world mattered 
and the world could neither speak nor hear the fullness 
of its own bitter and beautiful cry without the deep well 
of your body resonating in the echo...

knowing that it takes only that one terrible 
word to make the circle complete,
revelation must be terrible 
knowing you can never hide your voice again.

- David Whyte