"Magic Named Me"
by S K Dapoz

Taken by kind permission from Father's On-Line Library.

How much pain can one life hold?
Can it be shaped to the size of the vessel?
(a thimble, a cup, the world?)
No.

The vessel takes the shape of the pain,
filling slowly to the rim:
I am an ocean.
I am dust.
I am the air.
I am the unquenchable fire,
Beating to the tender thrill of this spear in my heart,
twisting and twisting,
the voice of its singing a song beyond words.
There is no release.
Oh, never release me!

To Name is to make real:
A magic that brings you from the everywhere into the here.

I would have named an ocean for your eyes,
the moist secret mouth of all rivers for your lips,
the rising lift of all wings for the beating of your heart,
the intimate swaying dance of bare limbed trees for your grace,
Discovering you from the world with the truth:
Everywhere, you are everywhere in me.

I would have been your Adam:
carefully teaching lips and tongue the language of your kiss....
The sound that your name made in my mouth a sigh that rose
straight from my heart:
A name for the world.

As your magic named me.
As your words made me real.
As your love gave me life.
As this pain now names me in this dark underworld:  Alone.

About the Author

S. K. Dapoz has been writing poetry and nonfiction for twenty-five years. Beauty and the Beast has been her first foray into fiction. She has written and edited several fanzines, including the Queen's Knight series, and "All Things are Possible with Love," rated a four in the Q-fer. She owns a small desktop publishing company, Purple Rose Press, and publishes a yearly poetry anthology composed of poetry by Baha'is, as well as poetry chapbooks by established writers. Purple Rose Press also accepts freelance graphics and editing assignments. She is also a software specialist at the Indiana University School of Business in Indianapolis. For information about 'zines or freelance desktop/graphic or publishing rates, SASE to: S. K. Dapoz, 815 N. Broadway, Greenfield, IN 46140, or email: SDAPOZ@INDYVAX.IUPUI.EDU