A poem by Sha'Tara, local writer and friend.

…By way of introduction to this ‘poem’ I must say that it only makes sense to me when seen from my particular chronology and bits of understanding.  Life as I observe (and participate in) remains a complete enigma to me.  I sense very deeply that I am supposed to ‘do’ something with it, and not just pass through as a tourist at a fair.  I sense that I am expected (by whom?) to express responsibility within this life process—but how, and for what?  The Teachers teach, they cannot answer these questions.  Only I can.

I understand that for one’s life to develop meaningfully it must be guided.  The guide is purpose.  I must have purpose.  If I am not given a purpose, or if the ‘purpose’ assigned to me, or forced upon me becomes a burden, or goes against my nature as an evolving and self-empowered ‘ISSA’ being, then I must change that purpose.  I must create a whole new reason for expressing myself in such a way that it dovetails compassionately and creatively into other purposes also expressing the desire for meaning.  I know what I want to say but my words are so inadequate to express the feeling. 

To the poem, then.
Sha’Tara – December 12 th, 2008

                       Who Shall I Say?
                
  [a poem from   ~burning woman~   Sha’Tara ]

Who shall I say wrote and performed the music of the spheres
And who in a day painted the sea and the sky of earth?
And heaved up the green hills and rocky mountains
And ploughed out the canyons and misty valleys?

Who channeled the meandering rivers and cascading streams
And who planted the forests and the plains in their place?
And who peopled them with wildlife, insects fish and birds?
Who shall I say did all this just to set it free to grow at will?

Which of all the answers given
Shall I say is the right one?
Was it man’s creators?
Was it man’s slaves?
Was it man?

Who shall I say forms the tools and builds the great ships
And who sails the oceans of the world and flies the skies?
And who sends the mighty armies to conquer and plunder?
And who carves out the roads and expands the bloody cities?

Who shall I say writes the great symphonies and tells the stories
And who plays out the sad romances and pain-filled dramas?
And who looks on the sun and the moon and the stars in hope?
Who shall I say dies a million and one times alone on the shore?

Which of all the answers given
Shall I say is the right one?
Is it man’s creators?
Is it man’s slaves?
Is it man?

Who shall I say will dream crystal palaces adorning domed cities
And who will walk the future to encounter the peace weavers?
And who will open her arms to sweep up a giggling child at play?
And who without fear will touch another in holy reverence?

Who shall I say will set the notes of love in man’s new song
And who will capture energy strands from a billion alien stars?
And who will stand at the head of the silently gathered ones?
Who shall I say will have authority to give the signal for departure?

Which of all the answers possible
Shall I say is the right one?
Will it be man’s creators?
Will it be man’s slaves?
Will it be man?