meditation on 'tabula rasa'

<sub>tabula rasa

empty me of everything.
purge me of all thought.
drain away my will to live.
deny me what is sought.
remove my need to flee this place
and seek a higher ground.
remain me in the valley where
i'm damned and sure to drown.
vacate the warehouse of my soul.
deplete my store of hope.
take from me my artifice
and the ways, with life, i cope.
                                      1990</sub>

'remain me in the valley
where i'm damned and sure to drown.'
i've been shown a different tally,
perception's turned around.

where i am damned and sure to drown:
up in the heights, choking on air,
perception's  turned around.
i seek retreat to Mother's lair.

up in the heights, choking on air,
there is no purchase, no respite.
i seek retreat to Mother's lair:
the only refuge from this plight.

there is no purchase, no respite.
i've been shown a different tally.
the only refuge from this plight:
remain me in the valley.