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Poem: “Pixie Led”

Pixie Led

Pixie led, bewildered in the darkness
Follow flame that flickers in the wildness,
Near or farther off cannot be told,
Sheep you wandered silly from the fold

Come closer, then – but how to know how far
The beacon floats ahead – or who you are,
Whether in the air or in the mind,
If body or a spirit of what kind?

Come this way, the darkness has a door
Through which the sheep can enter
 – But what for?
Peace and shelter, rest and harmony,
Other sheep already there – you’ll see

A shepherd would not lead with such a fire
That bobs against the ground and rises higher,
Fear that you will lead me up a hill
And there’s a drop, a falling and a kill

But if you are a shepherd, what’s your name?
Follow Me, they call me, sometimes Fame,
Money, Beauty, Admiration, Pleasure,
Flattery and Cruelty and Terror

Come to me, the light shines up ahead
Where I can lead you will be warm and fed,
The light you show in darkness is confined,
No blood, no flesh, is only in the mind

Pavel
July 13, 2011


Pavel Chichikov is a Washington DC-based poet and photographer. He has written for both the secular and the Catholic press on issues as diverse as Russian nuclear weapons systems, Olympic athletes, and miracles. His books include From Here to Babylon: Poems by Pavel Chichikov,  Lion Sun: Poems by Pavel Chichikov, Mysteries and Stations in the Manner of Ignatius, and Animal Kingdom. Pavel may be heard reading his works on catholicradiointernational.com and on pavelreads.com. His poetry regularly appears on "The Poetry of Pavel Chichikov."