Interpretive Badlands

/ Daniel Swearingen


“The Badlands grade all the way from those that are almost rolling in character to those that are so fantastically broken in form and so bizarre in color as to seem hardly properly to belong to this earth“. – Theodore Roosevelt

In the dream, I ran the badlands, the brilliant cosmos overhead, held my own toward the future, and closed the timeline on my past. The beat of sound it came from heaven, the aurora borealis above my running head. The tongues of prayers, a field of angels, the healing wound of all I dread. In the vision was the lifeblood, of what I used to be, a great belief in all apostles, their words a platitude filled sea. A youthful mind indecisive, until time crept up on me. Now a gray haired man runs through the badlands, a rapid heartbeat of disbelief.

The shifting sands of narrow arroyos, the briars and snakes held there, hard to think that in a summer storm, one could drown if still stuck there. A star lights on the mesa, alien bright it falls so fair, as if to light an earthbound altar beseeching communication from out there.

Unbound, unbound my beating heart that inhales desert air in coldest dark. Scratching illumination as I run in midnight’s lair, humanity’s close death I share. A stretch into my imagination, mixed thoughts rising there, a better night for flying a throng of bats into the air. For I am a prayer unto the union of the joining of a pair, that lessor light of Shekinah with the glory of the upper care. My lungs they know no other way, then to praise the night, for whence cometh day. Loose now these bonds, these pounding feet, bare shrub, and cacti, a thousand shadows creep. The moment stark as in all dreams is it now real, or in my sleep.

In the dream, I ran the badlands, the brilliant cosmos overhead, and stuck between the sedimentary, I thought myself somewhere. The distance marked by parasangs, a length in whispers dared, I ran between the hoodoos, and caught the spirits in their lair. For it was on this occasion, it was this vision faire, that a grey haired man still running, found the secret of things not there. The desert is a badland, with creations built with care, a fortress of our human secrets, of the kind we would not share. We think them rather horrid, a reflection rarely seen, when in truth while we are running, they bring us breathless to know our where. To know our where.

In the dream, I ran the badlands, the brilliant cosmos overhead, held my own toward the future, and closed the timeline on my past. – 08.14.2018 – דָּנִיֵּאל

61 thoughts on “Interpretive Badlands”

  3. Daniel this was beautiful, a very dream like piece written, helping one to realize those inner badlands are not so horrendous when faced. The following was my favorite. “he desert is a badland, with creations built with care, a fortress of our human secrets, of the kind we would not share. We think them rather horrid, a reflection rarely seen, when in truth while we are running, they bring us breathless to know our where. ” ❤

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  10. Much to glom onto in the badlands Daniel, and I think you have a great start. The reason for being there once resolved helps to bring answers and more importantly learning. Very enjoyable post. Thank you.

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  13. A majority of this wonderful post gave me chills, but none more than the following phrase: “For I am a prayer unto the union of the joining of a pair, that lessor light of Shekinah with the glory of the upper care. ” Very well done. I loved the quote and the music as well, it went so well with your words. ❤

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  14. The quote was a great way to start what is another wonderful writing from you Daniel. I enjoy the references to the hoodoo. The sight of them will always hold meaning for me. Have a great day!

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  15. Your writing makes me think about life both light and darkness in life, in the majority of the post that you write but never has there been a post that balanced them so well in that fourth dimensional world that you make yourself at home in as this one. Thank you.

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  16. Brother, you had me close to tears again with this wonderful soul revealing work of yours. Your journey that I gladly join you upon is at a wonderful apex it seems. Those dark desert nights in the wastelands, they provide such opportunities for growth. I will seize them with you. Shalom Den

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  18. Daniel, I loved this. The badlands of the soul of course are a part of balance, however that part seems to overrule so much of the light in our lives. Once again you have made me think. Thank you. ❤

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  20. Funny how fast we run though badlands, through any land and that we know of land at all.
    It may be a dream masquerading as reality. Perhaps it’s reality in a night’s gown’s steam.
    The next thing we know, it’s grey haired prose, running, well paced to the future.
    I really enjoyed this, Daniel!

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    • Thank you Resa. As always you commented in just the most wonderful way making me think and imagine a visual that is perfect to write on about. Of course you are a Whitby lady and your gifts are many In the meantime I suppose I will take my grey hair and continue to run, there is no doudt another story around the next shadow. 🙂

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