Nopal

The sweltering heat
caused delirious dreams 
and the nopal appeared 
to speak
"within is the rage 
of betrayal 
no cool water
can squelch the burning fury."

The sun drawing
liquid from a grain of sand 
yelled with glee 
as the ground released 
a tiny droplet.

The nopal continued
"within my heart
is green, alive 
with water drawn 
from beneath 
the surface.
My roots search
far and near for those 
lifegiving reservoirs 
hiding from the sun."

The man
covered with cloth 
to keep cool and hidden 
from the sun 
exposes a hand and 
gestures at the nopal.

His thoughts
burning hotter
than the midday sun
says
"the life within
is confused when
thoughts of taking
life in anger
and rage
instinctive
yet unreal
my hands have done
my eyes have seen
my mind has ventured
into the rage
and now the rage
rules where there
once lived peace.
The rage
has become hungry 
and it wants to be fed. 
not only with thoughts 
but also with acts."

Nopal smiles cooly 
in the desert heat and says
"I have seen man 
feed gods of this 
and that.  They fed 
their gods prayers, 
words, sacrifices 
of innocent animals, 
persons, and delirium.   
I have seen man 
powered by these gods 
to liberate other men only 
to enslave them with a god.
A god is not an institution."

The covered man
coyingly asks the nopal 
"Do you have a god?"

The nopal quickly answers 
"yes, the big prickly pear
of the universe.
A god is one who supports 
and frees you of horror 
and thoughts of power over 
things and others.
A god is a light 
shining bright within.   
A god seeks only to
guide those to become one with
themselves and the universe."

The covered man's dark face 
seemed to brighten 
with nopal's words.
He feels the rage within 
was being diminished.   
The covered man 
realized that one must first 
search for forgiveness 
within before
it can be found outside of oneself.

The universe smiled.

Chema 6/94