Crossing Fees May Apply

We gathered in the hum of light--
faces, voices, familiar forms--
and I, among them, half-remembered
the shape my soul once wore.

We went to seek small comforts:
sugar, water, something sweet to hold.
But the path divided--
a gate closed softly behind me,
and the world dimmed to its quiet pulse.

Alone in the hush,
I pressed against the darkened glass,
watched the crowd move on,
as though the heart could wander
and still pretend to follow.

Below me stretched a bridge--
rope and wood trembling
over nothing I could name.
It shimmered like a question
I was not yet ready to answer.

Later, in daylight,
I found the other half of myself--
the one who waits in silence--
and together we walked
toward the edge of knowing.

An old priest called my name,
his voice, an echo of caution,
but the wind carried it away.

Before us, fog--
a pale, unbroken veil.
A strip of yellow tape
marking where the self must cease.
Beyond it--silence,
and the long hum of becoming.

Beside that border ran a river,
dark as unspoken memory.
On its banks, the still ones
gazed into their own reflections.

A child rose and warned,
the air here bites.
So I lifted a mist of mercy,
and veiled myself
in its scent.

Some crossings are forbidden--
not by law,
but by tenderness--
the soul guarding itself
from the weight
of what it is not yet ready to see.

And yes, a toll is due--
paid in quiet sighs,
in soft mercies,
and in the coin of your own patience.

Author's Note

Inspired by a dream. Open to interpretation

Reviews

[red93]

Again, we are into the area of magical realism with this Piece, where all is not as it seems, and we have to gather clues as to what the creator is intending from signifiers. It is powerful stuff, and what makes the Piece successful is the confidence in the way the language is employed. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[RomaJ]

Hi Red93. You're right! This poem is came straight from a dream! I wrote it as a reflection, so it’s definitely open to interpretation. The dream itself had that strange, magical-realism feeling, where things aren’t quite what they seem, and it just stuck with me, haha. Thank you. I appreciate your thoughts and I enjoy reading your poetry as well.

[red93]

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Thomas W Case]

Brilliant. You make this scene come to life.

[John the Baptist]

Has the sound of a near death experience, or maybe a near near death experience. Dreams can indeed tell us what is going on in our deepest minds. Perhaps the old priest was right in imploring caution.

[RomaJ]

Thank you, John. I love that you sensed the nearness of that threshold. There is something of the in-between in this poem, where dream and awakening blur. The priest’s caution does linger, a reminder that not every crossing is meant to be immediate. Sometimes, the soul asks us to wait and listen before we move.

[Soren]

The last two stanzas struck me the hardest. (Some crossings are forbidden-- is so true for the very reason stated we are not ready to see them. So true. The last the toll is indeed paid with sighs and patience. A beautiful poem that speaks to me.

[RomaJ]

Thank you so much, Soren. I’m really touched that those closing lines resonated with you. I wanted to capture that quiet truth -- that some crossings take time, and the soul knows when it’s ready. Your insight into the poem means a lot.

[Soren]

You are most welcome

[RomaJ]

I appreciate it

[Jansy]

RomaJ, reading your poetry feels like peering into the secret chambers of your mind. each line a corridor of mystery, each pause a whisper of something deeper. Your poetry doesn’t just speak; it quietly conjures worlds, reminding me that the thoughts and emotions of a woman like you are as infinite and intricate as the bridges you craft between words and wonder. And I'm so lost and too hungover. You're a mystery

[RomaJ]

Thank you, Jansy -- what a beautifully poetic thing to say. I’m so glad the piece spoke to you that way. I like the idea of poetry as secret corridors -- some meant to be wandered, some just to be wondered at. And I hope that hangover finds a soft place to rest soon!

[Jansy]

My head is thrumming, loud and low,
A corridor I can't quite roam.
But your kind wish, so sweet and near,
Softens the ache and quiets the fear.
I hope my rest is found with you.
A better cure, I never knew.

[Jansy]

Do you have facebook? Insta?

[RomaJ]

Yes. 45678910

[Jansy]

Is that your number? Dm

[ShadesofV]

What a gorgeous and atmospheric poem! It has a hypnotic quality, drawing you into a world that feels both deeply internal and universally true. It perfectly captures the unsettling, suspended feeling of being on the verge of a major, necessary change. the soul choosing to protect itself until it’s ready. A deeply thoughtful and resonant piece.

[RomaJ]

Thank you so much, Shades of Vlue. I really appreciate your beautiful insight. That “unsettling, suspended feeling” you mentioned is exactly what I hoped to convey --that quiet space between what the soul knows and what it’s ready to face. I’m glad that resonated with you.