Who Shuts The Door? Poem by Raimi Stranger

May I sit
awhile?
... I am fair tired from
journeying
through timeless stars...

tired of tears
tired of lies
tired of false desires.
tired of darkness
tired of pride
tired of corruption of hearts
tired of your sickness
tired of your gluttony
tired of your greed
tired of your guilt
tired of your imbalance
tired of your injustice
tired of your uncaring
tired of your sad grey eyes
tired of your fears
tired that you do not acknowledge
and yet
we are all the same...

and I wish to end it all

...or is it
you will fight me
still
your will
to you
yet but a thrill
not fulfilled for you
kill's bitter pill?
... you who yet have not distilled
the peace
that once
was built
within?

But if you are
then
instead dead,
yet seem
somehow
somewhat alive,
who then will bid me enter in
to warm old bones
by blazing fire
of broken ruin, life your own,
to breathe in the light
if
aught be left
still unconsumed,
in this foul place
that you call
home?

Nay, I'm so weary
I would end
it all,
as many fairest children
of them all,
turn back
to your ways,
filthy
black inside
in very heart
I gave them...

Who then comes here
to tell the tale
of those who say
it is
my fault?
... Who then will judge
of this old man
crippled
almost dead
iconoclast
who lost his one dear son
to pay for all
...and other,
from beginning,
went astray?
...Will any now accuse me sore
and
rant and rave
and go to war?

so
come
and
I will hear
thy poor complaints
against the few,
my comely saints
... and I'll hear right,
hear all
uncouth,
this then
the place for Light
of Truth..
bring me, within, no darkness here,
but keep it out!
I swear
I cannot bear
with it about
- show mercy pleasing to me too
as it behoves us all to do
come bandy words
if needs you must
see
who it is
in whom you trust
and who lives only for the dust
if I may bear you in my niche
with arguments
the best
of each
...and if your words
are not amiss
then I will grant your fondest wish
talk then
with me
if not undone
see who has heart
to cast
first stone

...mercy
just,
unending bliss,
my misery in thee
bourne
with a kiss
....aim well
and let your hatred fill
to darkened
storm
if be
your will
... and end my life,
if you do judge me with this blade
- now make your move
...else I will hear
fair song of love

Who will come home with me,
who'll stay
when I do take
all life away
in once-fair world
which needs must
pay?
...for it is naught
but is for thee
who made it thus
and so
it be.

... so will you ask
me in
to seek
right in the fire
to hear me
speak
awhile
of all
that now has been,
concurrent is,
and will be seen?
...who is now here who has not bowed
to light of word amongst the crowd,
who,
cruel,
judges,
won't forgive?
who bids me enter
so all live?

Come
I do ask,
and all are bid,
for none excluded,
nothing hid
I will have all to have their say
if choosing love
or
saying nay
...or curse me
and I'll turn away...

Have ye disgust
at my
dark skin
... or open doors
let me within?
...it's as you will
so will you say
who asks me in,
who turns away?

Who then
that is
so straight within
will look much deeper
than my skin?
- who clarified
from all that's dire
can come
in close
unto the fire
...know
I do now
right close
enquire

...beyond the 'chat'
of pain and fears
beyond the deaths
of many years
cast
to the earth,
returned above
the 'water'
burns,
'fire' quenches love
'seas' boil with troubles,
'clouds' you seek
-who ventures up here
so
to peek?
... fire from the air
-who durst yet speak?

Wouldst thou then
still
insult my call...
come forth and sully
pureness,
all?
I gave thee not
thy heart for this
yet come
be brave
by the abyss
...and yet my patience
stands atime
of any
that can muse
with rhyme
...the stories here
of few
who love
and seek to be with me
above
...these stave off timely
evil breath
the tide of time,
the march of death,
gentle as doves
see then these few
who live their lives
in brighter hue...
so I would
not yet end the trance
'til I have seen them
take their
stance...
and there is purpose
in this dance

...so who will set
this banquet scene
a stranger feast there ne'er has been
and if you choose
not sing true song
I will away
full swift and strong
and promise that
end
ne'er be long
...and after that
if still in doubt
not long again till lights be out

...who be refined
like gold from dross
tried in the furnace
without loss
who tarnished still,
who gleaming bright
who yet is blinded by the light?
who stands this heat
of holy pyre?
...those few
now sit
beside this fire...

Who speaks here first
and who be last?
who lost their tongue?
whose tongue be fast?
who sits aside awhile and cries?
who very young?
who, loving, dies?
I will have answer
from the heart
to know which ones are set apart?
didst learn to smile?
...the answer's clear,
and yet I see
but little cheer...
'tis only meek
who love,
and poor...
Who welcomes me?
... who shuts the door?