Magnum Veritas

More All Saints than Halloween, but better late than never!

My mind twists with the smoke and the wraiths 

The way lighting a candle can draw out my faith 

I dream not of witches on all Hallow’s Eve 

But of silk and fine velvet with color-slashed sleeves 

 

The cold brush of melancholy at the edge of my pain 

Dances with words like spring dances with rain 

I turn from the gold and make silver my friend 

When all this over how shall I begin 

 

There are tears in the sunlight that blesses the earth 

A twist that calls back to the place of my birth 

The black seam we gather beats back the cold 

Bone and blood in the darkness, the price of my coal 

 

As we sink we are rising but where shall I go 

The stars give the answer but how shall I know 

The river remains and its ripples remind 

The truth is the hardest thing to find 

 

-Zoe Richardson

Author's Note

https://youtu.be/Hd_DuEU6Mvg

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

When you sink to the depths, and you can't go any lower, the only way is up. There is much pain and darkness in this write but I also caught some softness and light. You took me on a journey Zoe.

Chris

[Zoe Richardson]

This was written in a time of great upheaval. It is about emerging from darkness, like being rescued from a cave or cellar after years of captivity. Thank you so much for reading, and for catching those hints of hope!

[shadrach hah]

Hi Zoe, although there is such pain in this write, at the end the feelings seem to rise from the darkness to thoughts of light. I have always said that beauty can be found in the heart of sadness and there is a beauty to this write. You write with the strongest emotion. Have a wonderful Friday. Hugs always....Mike.

[Zoe Richardson]

I was working through a lot when I wrote this. It's supposed to evoke feelings of emerging from darkness but still being disoriented from it. Of light mixed with tears. I am so glad you got this, and enjoyed it enough to say such kind things!

[Laz K.]

Today, I'm in an especially melancholy mood, and reading this poem echoes my feelings. Some lines taste like salty tears in the throat, and I wonder how many people are out there that really sense the beauty "at the edge of pain"? My rational mind tried to make sense of these words, and construct some kind of meaning out of them, but I decided to be satisfied with the experience of melancholic beauty of the highest order.

[Zoe Richardson]

At the risk of exposing all my secrets, this poem is basically a reflection on Grief. I wrote it not long after I returned to my home state after my husband passed away. My family comes from the coal mining hills of north-central Alabama, and I live very near the Black Warrior river. All those things are in the poem, as well as wondering what I would do, now that a part of my life was over. It is meant to do just what it did for you. Call out a feeling of melancholy, and create that place of both loss and possibility. And, of course, it has a few spooky elements because it was written near Halloween! I am glad you enjoyed it and chose to leave your thoughtful review!

[Kerra]

SO truthful, Loved your last line so much. The coal part made me think of Charlie Brown's Halloween when He kept getting a Rock. This is wonderful Zoe....

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you, Kerra! I absolutely love that part of the Charlie Brown special. When my children would go trick or treating they would always call out, "I got Skittles!" or "I got a KitKat!" and I would always say, "I got a rock!" In this morose voice. I'm so glad you liked the poem, and reminded me of such a funny part of Halloween!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

This is absolutely fantasytic as you bring to life the true meaning of Halloween.

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you! I'm not sure people remember what Halloween originally meant, but sometimes we have to find our own meanings. I am so glad you like this!