Meditation, on Time. Revolutionary Letter # 74.

by Diane diPrima

June 12, 1982
for Fulcanelli & John Lennon

There is always            the fire.         Downward it
blows our eyebrows off, blows holes
in our dusty skin.         In the crucible
it melts our faces in to knots & puddles
It melts our hearts.  And they become rock or
something more feeling than flesh.    There is
no way around it, it is         there is
always
             the fire.   Is this alchemy?   Must
the process pass thru
                                 10, 000 suns?   There
has never been a way
around
          the crucible.       Can the heat
of our love excel
                          tangible flame? Only then
can this crucible
                          replace
                                      the old.  There are
even in alchemy 'two ways' and this
our way can supplant
habits of war.        It is
                                   'the dry way'
                                                        (no blood,
no tears)     only
                          substantial presence,
my hand in yours.
                            And you are a stranger.
                                                                There are no
strangers.      Now.
                           This transformation
by the Inward Fire
                           (our heat  /  our love)
                                                            no
charred limbs, blistered eyeballs, brain
turned to steam
                        only
                               the Inward Fire,   slow
combustion  /  quick change  /  tomorrow
is already here.