Of wonder and adventure I sing
a vision was granted to me
of that holiest of places:
the world beyond the Veil.

The promise of the future
lives in the branches of a tree
with roots in the past
and trunk in the present.
Inspired and terrified I am
for all mortals must be so
when touched by the Divine.

Just past the midnight hour
to my bedroom I retired
seeking rest and replenishment.
I had spent my evening intently
studying ravens, wolves and eagles
beneath the keen eyes of Ma Bast.
After gazing at the space monster
favorite of another late beloved
I closed my eyes to the mundane
and journeyed far away.

Because my human father
had seen and held him,
we sought our dear departed cat.
We drove to the shores
of an ocean-like jungle river.
Wide waves lapped sandy banks
lined with imposing cypresses.
Snow draped these trees
against a tropical landscape.

We took the ferry to the other shore
came to an island of that inland sea
parked, and walked the rest of the way.
At the entrance to this mysterious place,
we paid twenty dollars of admissions fee.
In a magnificent botanical garden
multitudes strolled, heartily laughed
chatted, and had family picnics
under the shade of their favorite trees.
An intricate labyrinth of vegetation
was the next stage of my quest.
I tried to rush through but completed it
in synchrony with every other pilgrim.

I reached the ornate entrance
to an imposing zoological park.
From there on I walked alone.
What an unconventional zoo:
Besides luxurious ample domains
for countless nonhuman species
from ages long past to the present
a section with rows of enclosures
divided by walls with glass windows.
There I beheld a man bound and gagged
held immobile before a large coral snake
who lunged at him once, twice, and again.
Down a hallway with bathrooms lined
humans were in various ways dismembered
then flushed down toilet bowls into
what sewage pool I dared not ask.

I entered a room where
massive refrigerators stood,
storage for biological samples.
I stretched my hand toward one rack,
pulled out the micro tubes and searched
for their dates and sample sources:
a reflex of my science-trained mind.
Remembering this was not my workplace
I hastily returned them to their rack
but dropped one, which fell to the floor
with a clink, as I closed the freezer door.

Then I met the curator of this strange place,
a fatherly man with the air of a devoted scholar.
Calmly the Professor approached me
gently cupped and raised my chin
gazed into my eyes and said,
"That was a nice Persephone you did."
I asked him where I would find
my deceased cat, and he pointed.
"Follow that hallway, and ask the Lady
at the crossing of the three main corridors.
She will help you further."
Then he said, "You took samples."
I answered, "But I replaced them."
To which he replied, "All but one.
Worry not, I shall take care of it."
He placed the little test tube
in one of his lab coat pockets,
and strolled back to his work.

I wandered into another room where
the windows showed only more hallways.
Now I was in an airport, with crowds
arriving and departing, rushing to and from
their flights, passing by me as I watched.
I sat in a long bench, where you appeared
beside me, and placed one arm around me
while your other hand held one of mine.
I slid the hand you held toward my belly
now a bit rounded and bulging.
"It should not be a problem," I said.
Off the bench and onto the floor
you thudded shocked and speechless.
I could read in your eyes
the avalanche of thoughts.
Strangling panic wrestled soaring pride
generating a deadly tsunami
that would drown you in its wake.

Then I remembered my late cat.
I stood up grabbing your hand
rushed down the hallway wildly
toward the Lady in the small counter
at the crossing of the three main corridors.
Dark of skin, in a dark purple business suit
of pants and jacket with a white blouse:
Busy she checked passengers’ identifications
and directed travelers toward their destinations.
I waited, with you dazed behind me.
When I shifted my gaze behind the Lady
in marched many cats, larger than those
who live with humans, but cats nonetheless.
Pointed, marbled, tabby-striped
bicolor, tricolor, longhaired
wirehaired and shorthaired I saw
efficiently relieving the crowding
steering and ushering passengers on.

I then queried the Lady
about my long-departed Siamese.
She eagerly pointed, "Over there!"
Following her index finger
to the far end of the hallway I went
still dragging you by the hand I held.
Pulled out of your reverie you beheld
my belly now bulging massively,
for time flows differently there.
Then I saw his shadow, his silhouette
his dark face, blue eyes, dark paws
darker tail, creamy hide on body main.
My cherished feline Gurudeva!
He who passed while I was away!
I tried to run even faster
one hand still clutching yours,
another outstretched toward him
whom I had come to meet again
to once more hold in tight embrace.

Vicious pounding on my door
forced upon me searing daylight
cruelly ripped me from Paradise
my aching need yet unsatisfied.
But I did not forget my epiphany.
For I visited the realm of Hades:
the venerable curator none but He
the Lady at the crossings none but Hekate
the feline guards none but Bast’s entourage
and among them my late beloved now served.

In the future I will bear a child
granting rebirth to a late bright one.
I know not any more detail
due to the impudent intrusion
that prematurely and brusquely
ended my audience with the Divine.
But so shall another round
of my journey be complete
some day sooner than I think.

Lord Hades was quite pleased
with my performance in the piece
where I played Queen Persephone's role.
He blessed me with long memory, patience
and perseverance; granted my desire
that I always readily find adventure
and gave me Mother Time for an ally.

Now crushing grief and endless joy
dispute the territory of my heart.
Despite the premature end of my quest
I bear within me the glorious promise
of a hallowed yet fearsome new beginning.

Epiphany, Interrupted
by Cindy Aixmar Salgado