The Lost Book of Shadows

/ Daniel Swearingen


“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” – Roald Dahl

“How many pages do you think we have”, he says his blue eyes wide with interest. “More than enough to make this kind of a Bible”, I smile, holding up the three ring black binder to the star filled sky. “It’s a book of secrets alright”, he says nodding his head furiously up and down, his taped black framed glasses sliding down his nose. “We need to hide it where we both know where it is”, I say my smile disappearing, as the night air around us seems to chill. Much too cold for the end of May, I am thinking. “Yeah”, he says. “We need to make sure we don’t forget where we put it”.

What is done here upon this night, by this stream, my boyhood rite. What is done here beneath these bluffs, shape-shifting shadows, on midnight’s cusp. What is done here while stars fall fast, turning the moon from full to the past. Time travelers move beyond my dreams, splitting the heavens and all their seams. For what do I see this vision faire, something found relieved from its lair, a secret lost upon life’s whim, buried beneath and now I know when. Tousled hair on two boy’s blue, who buried a book of all they knew. Down the Coolidge Arroyo, and then a swim, in muddy cold water, that sucks you in. Twelve steps ahead on an island mound, and then another swim, with a prayer not to drown. Seven steps forward and nine to the right, to the dark overhang, where we stand with our book and two penlights.

What do we own but our own minds, what makes us ghost, when we do die? The answers to what lies within, the secret handshake, the hidden grin. Who killed Bobby, and who shot Jack, the answers might stay in this book so black. Does time hold us, or do we hold time? Are we here as a glimpse, or a reflection of our mind? And what of dragons, and what of arks, are both really hidden in our friendship in this dark. For in this book lies craft and Zen, love and character, spells and sin. For dreams have told us, visions we have had, that the past is our future, in a circle it will last. And the doomsday clock that we have numbers circled within, will end all time, when a new age says begin.

“Do you think we will remember where we hid that thing”? My teeth are chattering, I am cold and I smell like muddy river water. “You won’t”, he says his voice sounding more distant and light. “But I do”, he whispers, almost quietly, almost gone, almost a ray of early morning light, for it is a dream. It is a dream. – 05.24.2021 – דָנִיֵּאל

108 thoughts on “The Lost Book of Shadows”

    • Hi Resa, Hmmm I think you are right, the book of secrets is an Elbib. 😉 There is a proverb somewhere that says, “What you are looking for is in the palm of your hand”. Your “secrets in plain sight” reminds me of that. Thank you my friend for your wonderful comment.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. Daniel this is the writing you do that I enjoy the best. You make me want to be there to be young again searching inventing and solving the mystery. These type post keep my mind young. Bill

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  13. I enjoyed this piece my brother. It speaks to the many secrets that your heart holds. Hope all is going well for you and your family. Shalom Den

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Hi Dennis all is well here. I have been thinking of you and your family and hope you are safe. It sounds like the rockets have stopped at least for now. Thank you for your kind comment about this piece. Stay safe my brother. Shalom Daniel

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Thank you for your blessings and kind thoughts my brother, we are well although it has been noisy here over the past few weeks. Keep us kindly in your prayers. Shalom, Den

        Liked by 1 person

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