Until the Veil is Lifted

Can you hear the grass grow?

Can you feel the stars glow

When the rhythm of the heart

Skips a beat, comes apart?

All the world seems to slow

While the scene, like painted art,

Draws the eye to row on row

Full of flowers, nature’s start

In tracing what true beauty is.

Never being hers or his

Or anyone’s to own,

Beauty’s beads are gently blown

To all, and none can lay a claim.

Faces show themselves, alone.

Veils no longer hide the shame

Of pride in who we thought we were.

Spirits sting and angels stir,

And soon, among the silent stones,

A voice is heard as we endure

The truth deep-set within our bones

Of flaws and faults and thoughts impure,

But also, through unvarnished tones,

Of humbler selves, to build a cure.

 

 

Most of this poem was written before the dark events in the US this past week, but I feel like it may be applicable, at least to some extent. The actual inspiration for this poem was a book written by C.S. Lewis titled Till We Have Faces, which reworks the myth of Psyche and Cupid and reveals some of Lewis's Christian ideas and influences near the end. I think the main theme of the book has to do with how we see ourselves, and how we may hide parts of ourselves, our motivations, and our desires, even from ourselves. Uncovering them can be painful and frightening, but in the long run we're likely better for it, since we can more clearly understand ourselves. I think Lewis's ideas were focused on the level of individual people, and I can certainly relate to that - I know there are parts of me that are far from perfect. But, in light of recent events, I also think it can apply on a more societal level.