Magnum Mysterium Phantasm

/ Daniel Swearingen


“The unknown is not that the soul never changes. The mystery is that the spirit does.” – DS

I thought myself a haunted house in a deep darkened wood, and every December I changed and became whole again.” -DS

There were angels dancing in shadows. There were angels darkened in shape. Singing magnum mysterium. Magnum mysterium. Awake!

Magnum mysterium phantasm is a spot in my mind, a haunted memory of pictures I cannot find. Darkness, darkness hello my old friend. A world floating with numbers, where does reason end. Houses for living, a house for the dead. Houses for living, a house for the dead. Houses for living…

There sits in a wood a house broken, scarred, and battered and worn. It has eyes on an inward soul searching, haunted on the eve of a storm. The snow it falls on it duly, the ice it makes its way in. There is no way to know if now truly how to separate the ghost from within. So long ago its construction, upon faith and a matter of fact. Articles concentrated by a convention, signed by a builder, his cloak the color of black. This house has a foundation laid in the winter; its windows sealed by the night. What is one to say of this haunting, what is one to say of this errant decay? Can a house be a home really, when absolution of night rules the day? Failing the lack of an answer, the house will let phantasm take it away.

Oh, house that could be a mansion filled with light and magic within, on the eve of a great holiday glorious, how you sit there shrouded in din. How it is you, revel in stillness, pushing magic farther within. Forming union with all the legions, the darkest daemons of unconscious sin. Your inward walls collapsing in terror, your paint peeling within. For the lack of a coherent answer, the only sound is the noise of the northern wind. Did your blueprint not hold some passion, a design of song to begin? Was there never strength in your timbers to hold you up when the darkness began?

As I set here writing this missive, in the sunlight on a bright December day. Thinking how the dark words flowed so smoothly, I was shaken by what they relayed. An insight of a fool really, I am the house, and it is time for a change. I am the house, and it is time for a change.

Magnum mysterium phantasm is a spot in my mind, a haunted memory of pictures I cannot find. Darkness, darkness hello my old friend. A world floating with numbers, where does reason end. Houses for living, a house for the dead. Houses for living, a house for the dead. Houses for living…

There were angels dancing in shadows. There were angels darkened in shape. Singing magnum mysterium. Magnum mysterium. Awake! – 12.17.2020 – דָנִיֵּאל

94 thoughts on “Magnum Mysterium Phantasm”

  7. Brother how this poem speaks to me, in so many ways. I think of sweeping my own house this time of year, and rejuvenating my spirit. To changing. Your words say it all for me. Thank you. Shalom, Den

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  10. Dearest Daniel,
    The wisdom of your own heart and soul is simply amazing as is this piece. I too enter this shade each December and as I grow older so does my home. You encourage me that there are better changes to come.
    ❤
    Ruby

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  12. One of your finest to date Daniel. A good house cleaning is called for once a year and the holiday time is perfect to do so. May you and your family be blessed beyond measure this December.

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  14. Daniel your prose is amazing. The self revelation paragraph I can apply to myself. “As I set here writing this missive, in the sunlight on a bright December day. Thinking how the dark words flowed so smoothly, I was shaken by what they relayed. An insight of a fool really, I am the house, and it is time for a change. I am the house, and it is time for a change.” Thank you.

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  23. Very astute piece of work Daniel. You have given much to think on and a good time of year it is to think on these things, given all that 2020 has brought us both as individuals and as a people. may God bless you this Christmas season.

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  24. Daniel this is amazing as all your work seems to be. Love this quote I thought myself a haunted house in a deep darkened wood, and every December I changed and became whole again.” Wishing you and your family the best of the season. Heather ❤ ❤ ❤

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  27. Very timely, Daniel.
    I fear many are living in Dark Houses this year, this Christmas.
    Even without the virus, many would yet, be in dark houses.However, this year sees a more dire darkness. So many need so much.
    You are a house, and you can become a home/hope to many, for you are a good man.
    Unfortunately, there are too many who will turn only their lights on, light their own fires and leave no Yule or other logs for the rest.
    Cheers to you, dear Daniel!

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    • Thank you Resa for your kind complimentary words. I think of you in much the same way. My light north of the 49th parallel. 😊. I have seen to many personal dark times to be followed by unexpected blessings to be afraid. Shine I will and lead the way with Led Zeppelin playing the battle of evermore in my brain. 😊❤️😁

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