Samskara

Samskara, jailer of my heart’s deepest passions Enervating me and drowning my soul’s rapture Karma’s imprint become love’s stealthy assassin Lurking fiend of black depths evading capture From my abyssal plain, a seismic accident Atlantis resurfaces in nightmarish form Decayed temple’s coral seaweed entanglement Wretched thing’s agonized tentacles writhe and squirm Fetid beast melts under gold sun’s dazzling rays No longer, my heart ruled by this foul parasite Spirit’s exultant victory over decay Opened heart bounding, radiant love glowing bright Seascape reborn, emerald flora unwinding Into a bright mandala, my soul unbinding 6/6/16 © Thomas W. Quigley 12 syllables/line, Shakespearean Rhyme Alternate first quatrain: Samskara, heart fabric’s twisted bedevilment Karmic burden, this partial soul paralysis Kismet’s onerous imprint, my dark resident Lurking fiend of black depths evades analysis If you’ve a mind, let me know which you like better!