The Evil Word Hypnotist Spell out of Eden
by Sabrina Dawkins
I sat in the pew of your sanctuary
as you put me to sleep.
But my eyes remained open
and my body remained upright
as I stared into your eyes
and at your mouth
as if they were a swinging pocket watch.
I absorbed your words
and entered your world
while still awake
but also asleep.
My eyes only saw and ears only heard you,
the patter of your feet,
the sound of your voice
leading me through the labyrinth you created
to entangle my soul
in the twisted, confused path you wove.
If only you’d had eight legs
maybe the invisible web
would’ve been seen with strained eyes,
each word a secret silk thread
until you caught me
and pulled me completely into your world,
your silk word cocoon.
Occasionally you would look back
to make sure I was still there,
still under your spell.
Yes.
Then you’d continue
leading me wherever I would follow
as I lost possessions and independence along the way.
They were pocket change that slipped out unawares.
And when I thought to check
there was only lint.
When the spell finally failed
because of the voice of another,
your words melted away:
ice on the hottest summer day.
And my pockets were empty
but my heart was full
of the true love of a voice
from the opposite direction,
the light in the darkness,
the cutter of strong webs.
And “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12)
it discerned that I wanted to be free
from your false words and world.
And I awoke.
(I thought I had already been awake.)
I entered life.
(I thought I had already been alive.)
I experienced true love.
(Hadn’t I already experienced it before?)
And I faintly beheld Eden again.