The Scarf Witch

I never hit rock bottom because I thought I lived there
finding comfort and trust in the pain

slaughtering harpies at the gates of hell - 
afraid to look them in the eyes
Unable to turn my back
Accepting my fate

My eyes were closed - catching the cold draft of their movement and sour smell of their breath 

slicing through them before they got too close

…until I caught a whisper of the darkness calling my name -
a name I didn't know I possessed. 
… the goddesses hidden in the shadow came to me
and I saw them for who they truly were - 
	how they were buried by fear, but they were there in the shadows - standing full in their full power
	suddenly, I recognized the tomb I have made my home.
	 
I opened my eyes and looked straight into the gaze of deep cold eyes
	dissolving all desire to fight
Manifestations of fears that I have assumed position of, now clearly show awakened inside of me

and so I dropped my swords… the clanking echoing as my body glided in around
    towards the gates 
    briefly nervous with my unarmored nakedness
    re-remembering that I am safe 

I've walked through hell before - 
     I've lead people through it - 
     with the shield over my head and swiftly decapitating the screeching creatures I dared not see

now… I look up - 
    what I once imagined was a chaotic and dangerous dance, 
   appears now as a perfectly synchronized ballet of fire. 
  … if only I hadn't refused to actually take a look.
	
They are the physical form - 
the manifestation of all of our fears - the natural balance to creation.  

and so I can go through the gate - pomegranate seeds in hand…
trusting the dark enough to leave it