Layers

De José Antonio Calañas Continente
La Toba (Cuenca, Spain), May 2009


Years ago, I started
looking beyond my eyes,
beyond skin and bones
and discovered a layer.

A layer
thin, but strong, tough
hiding everything
I thought I was.

Through pain, with love
the layer could be removed:
Joy and happiness unbridled
came into the brightest light.

Back then to look up to the Sun,
up to the most colorful horizon,
a sliver of hope which, again,
faded to gray.

Another layer,
a new trek through darkness
to learn from and conquer
hardships caused and passed.

It just goes on like this,
from joy, realization
to darkness, hard times
through struggle, pain
to learning and back to joy.

On to the next layer
I have just happened upon.

This time, though,
I will keep my eyes on the path:
The goal will soon enough
be back within my reach.

And so will I go on,
removing layer after layer
until joy and happiness decide
to stay home forever.

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