(c) 2009 Anna Montgomery
I arrive at the olive tree
sanctuary of peace
abiding at the gateway
of the sacred and profane
on the shores of the Dead Sea
like a lintel at the arch
threshold to a secret clearing
Cardinal points encase an isolation chamber
within the symbolic decade lies the cella
arithmetical progression of this
equidistant quaternary number
a creature of the creator returns to unite
releasing power, intelligence, and love
Past gilded locks of silver, gold, and diamonds
that purify, empower, and enlighten
initiation a conundrum
sedition within the self
penumbra of archetypal wisdom
an invitation to the beyond
Timorous, I approach the lustral waters
amphisbaena within winds a divulsive path
revelation forms through the elements of self-surrender
dulcifluous sighs of breath
ardent intercessions, cantilena,
melody sung to the divine
Prophetic cries of potentiality
seriatim of ablations purify
awe impregnates the ego’s bawn
jacent filiations coalesce
as the roots of life embrace
a reintegrated, manifested, mystic being
Chromapoetica 
your poetry is so rich and intriguing, i am in love with your mastery of language.
Thank you Kelly, you’ve gifted me with a cherished compliment! This one is replete with symbols which are intended to provide additional insights into the diction. I try to create a miniature lexicon for each poem full of aesthetically congruent words.
When I try to envision this, I see a person taking a pilgrimage to a mystical place full of ancient feel and symbols, seeing such a thing, there is this feeling of unlocking, understanding, refreshing the soul. There’s always a feeling of hope upon finding or unlocking this knowledge. Some kind of joy that will come from finding, a little scary at first. Some sweet treasure, something refreshing if one finds it. It seems to be within oneself. There seems a whole lot more than I am able to grasp.
I think mystic experience provides a ‘whole lot more than I am able to grasp’ so I am with you on that :). What an envisioning you’ve accomplished. Thank you again for stopping by during NaPoWriMo, it means a lot to me.
sanctuary of peace
archetypal wisdom
Prophetic cries ..
totally agree with Kelly …. the way u use words is awesome..
beautiful imagery they create and its like a treat to readers !!!
Thank you Jyoti, I always enjoy your visits. What music to hear the imagery is a treat! I’ll be by soon to read what you’ve been writing :).
fascinating…would love to visit the place and your capture of the internal spiritual experience esp there at the end is moving…def love the symbolism in this…
This picture was taken in Jordan, on a day when we also went to Bethany Beyond the Jordan to see the place where Jesus was baptized. I’m ecstatic you enjoyed the symbolism as I reflected on what to include and leave out (like Christus janua vera so that the poem would remain mythic (with universal themes) instead of becoming religious). Your feedback is very helpful.
very cool…would love to visit there as well…i think your approach to the symbolism was balanced and not over powering….
Thanks for the revisit Brian. I’ve been offline for a couple days so I apologize for the delay in reading your poetics piece. As I’ve said many times over the past year, I am grateful for the wonderful community you and the team have created at dVerse!
When I started reading this…I thought…these words are a little ‘light’ for Anna… But then BOOM, there you go giving me an education! ‘amphisbaena’ just one example! Actually I like the way the poem starts off…you give it that perspective of the ‘right now’…. But then as it progresses….it becomes embed with all this lovely language which for me gives this sense of time and history….and relying on the help from above- and therefore the religious symbolism involved….this works extremely well…well done…as always!
Haha, well you know specificity in language and all…I did want the poem to mirror the portal so it’s lovely to know it did journey through time and space. Thank you for your feedback and all you’ve done to make dVerse a great place to be!
I also love that you left the reader to envisage and make their own minds up about the spirituality of the place, and as such, have succeeded in leaving it neutral. I also love the symbolism and the ancient feel of it all.
Your poetry is always educational, musical, and filled with beautiful imagery Anna. There is so much history we have still to discover and to learn about these ancient sites.
Yes, I wanted that neutrality and the reality of the site is commonplace, an olive tree in a planter at the Kempinski Hotel. However, I think there are ‘portals’ to communion everywhere if we are willing to look closely. Thank you!
This is the kind of poem a mystical-poet like me can really relate to !!
Wonderful to know!
first i thought this is a real place..but then i thought it’s more a place within us where we enter and then go from there to whatever awaits us..another fine write anna
That is a beautiful and I think, very true, thought Claudia. Thank you for your wonderful work in creating this marvelous community that is dVerse. And on a personal note, for always making me feel welcome here.
Great write and symbolism in this, Anna. Beautiful!
Sweet ayala, thank you!
HI Anna, long time no see! I totally echo Kelly’s comment and say I LOVE your mastery of language.
I can always be sure to learn something new when I come here.
excellent
Anthony! I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering if I’d see you at OLN. Thank you for your kind comment. It’s wonderful to see you at dVerse!
What a beautiful possibility, appropriately embedded within and within and even more within as one arrives into the sacred center to embrace integration. Lovely and soft. I feel like I have been away for a long time, which is not true, so maybe it is the poem drawing me in through the 4 gates.
Yes, the inner naos, and how lovely that you journeyed there through the poem. Thank you Susan, your kind words warm my heart.
I still love it, and the words you choose.
Kelly, how wonderful to see you here again :)!
Filled with gorgeous images – a place of the sacred – just beautiful. I could hear the sound of bells and smell the fragrance of spice in the air!
Ooo, I love it when a poem induces synaesthesia. Very nice to meet you.
Beautiful, like sinking onto a bench and becoming one with the surroundings.
Thank you, and again for your poem tonight…
language strewn across the lines that has me hooked from the start i love it
That’s a great image, thank you.
The road to enlightenment – but make sure you take a good dictionary. 😀
Haha, well I like to think that’s good advice on any road so you can read the signs and symbols of the path.
At the outset, I thought this would be a political piece, given the location and the elusiveness of peace, then perhaps religious; only with the second stanza did the mystical become apparent to me.. which, I think is a fine journey to reach the ‘beyond’.
As ever, the intricacy of language has built a very specific filigree cage within which to expand. Lovely… and with this line, I’m also back to the political and the hope for peaceful co-existence…
Prophetic cries of potentiality
..but that’s my context reading those words in that particular way
And there is a whole lot more to say and conisder.. full to bursting again.. always a pleasure to visit here, Anna.
Becky, I think you hit on an important point about politics and religion. Most of the time I was there I felt overwhelmed by both. The presence accented by my fear as everywhere we went there were men with machine guns. Also, we stayed at or visited places where bombings and terrorist attacks had recently occured. In a way this inner journey that I began on the shores of the Dead Sea was a way ‘beyond’ all that. This poem and its ancient symbols connect to the way I found to be rooted in the present and hopeful about the future when I was there. My visit was pre-Arab Spring, before King Abdullah’s attempts to preempt its flowering (they are saying it is simmering there). I’ll be fascinated to see how and if things change.
Yes, Anna.. I think it’s a when and how in Jordan. Really interesting poem.
Thank you, Becky, for your thought provoking comment. It’s always a treat to have you visit :).
I love the beauty of this….full of meaning but speaks to me of sanctuary and finding peace & ourselves….I love these words “Timorous, I approach the lustral waters
amphisbaena within winds a divulsive path
revelation forms through the elements of self-surrender
dulcifluous sighs of breath” ~ Gorgeous, Anna! 🙂
Yes, I think that is one way to create peace in our lives. Thank you for your beautiful words of encouragement :)!
Your mastery of language simply amazes me. The diction is such that is slows the reader down a bit, giving the mind time to work is magic. I also liked the tad of alliteration sprinkled throughout.
This reminds me of those moments in my life when revelation transcends what I see at the surface. Those moments feel inspired – mystical. Like insight into a mathematical equation that either sticks or quickly flees. Life, living, awareness is like that formula. It’s there for all to see, to apply, it can be worked through, but not always understood.
Yes, I often purposely slow down the reader for different reasons. Here I wanted to allow the ideas to unfold and give the opportunity to catch the symbol rich layer, especially upon reread as I’ve used a concatenation of intentionally diverse religious and mystic symbols. I love how you indicate it allowed your mind to work its magic – it’s my intent which is frequently met with resistance and in some cases hostility. I feel we rush by everything these days and these mystical insights are better engaged by mindfulness. Also peace is a way of being, not a momentary accord, which requires a lifetime of attention. Thank you very much.
Interesting to revisit this one. Now I see: towards the end, a realized connection, a seed planted within, which then progresses to grow/give rise to a higher self. I think now I understand better the point of that olive tree.
How wonderful, yes, that’s how I saw it. Thank you so much for the reread!
your third stanza is my favorite. the whole piece ignites sensation of place and being. your portrait of the opening is mystical and real…a beautiful employment of enlightening words.
Jane, what a lovely compliment. That third stanza is rich with the symbolic processes of mystical enlightenment.
I remember this tree, or one very like it, in the courtyard of a town / village, either in Greece or Turkey, we love both countries especially the islands, and visit them as often as we can.
I wasn’t writing at the time, but I’d like to think that, had I been in writing mode, I’d have been capable of writing something similar to this wonderful poem, Anna, your command of language is extraordinary – it gladdens the heart – just lovely.
Oh, two places I would love to see! This is a cherished compliment Polly, gladdens my heart, thank you for this gift.
Hello lovely Anna, so sorry I’m late. This is beautiful and I looooovvvee olive trees, there was one at the centre of a spa I once visited, they are so calming for some reason, probably because they remind me of travels and holidays and relaxation… as did your poem. I particularly liked ‘Past gilded locks of silver, gold, and diamonds
that purify, empower, and enlighten’ It was like being let in on a secret. Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful as the olive tree is a symbol of peace :). Happy to see you here, thank you for the visit and as always, your kind words brighten my day!
I love the opening of this and into the sound of ‘sanctuary’ in ones heart. This place sits deep inside of us, you make it so easy to reach.
Where we(poets) choose to place our words is important, you are masterful with placement. Anna, I’m so happy to have discovered your space, I feel light as I leave. 🙂
Goodness Archna, this is high praise! I am especially heartened to hear that you felt light as you left. I’m happy to have discovered your space too and look forward to our exchange of poetry :).
This is like walking into an emerald cut emerald sinking into an eternally endless set of quadrangles that as one progresses through beauty one is cleansed, purified, emblazoned, and tutored into a higher order, a portal to higher thought and understanding. Breathtaking in its scope, it left me wanting to experience it.
What an enticing description. I do think this is what our spiritual path calls us to, no matter what form it manifests in our lives. So many traditions outline the need for those that encounter and are transformed by the divine/compassion (the mystics and bodhisattvas) to return and share their understanding. Always wonderful to see you and thank you again for the marvelous challenges you’ve provided me through dVerse this past year, I have grown from them.
great imagery to guide through this location. were you actually there?
In Jordan, yes; thank you for your feedback.
wow. it seemed like you were, that is, not just telling a story.