Pantheist Journey Through Lands Unknown 1. Deliverance When I awoke, the sun was high and the clouds had accepted their defeat The lovely shores and the blue sky couldn’t tell me where I was I had to find out by myself Then I stood up and a gentle breeze graced my sun-burned, naked skin I collected fallen leaves to cover my fear and shame And I went to find out who I was I reached the hilltop under the rumbling thunder And as my eyes wandered over the fertile landscape I couldn’t understand what higher powers brought me here To this deserted isle so long undiscovered And suddenly I saw them: warriors from the Underworld charging my way On dark steeds, blowing their trumpets Declaring war to the intruder who invaded their island A fight ensued and wounded I fell to the ground My blood contaminating their soil Like poison it flowed, destroying their earth And as I fell to the ground and life-force was abandoning my cold body I heard the wind whisper: “For every precious gift there is a price to pay” When I was reborn I knew that the deserted isle was mine And as I looked inside my soul, the peace I needed I couldn’t find But I found the desire to embrace my inner world 2. Unknown Land πατριδα μου ειναι η ψυχη μες στην ερημια μονος μου γυρνω ψαχνωντας να βρω τον χαμενο μου εαυτο... “Why is it that whenever words sweet like honey Linger at the tip of my tongue As I open my mouth, a song of joy to sing Voices of evil and discontent torture my poor mind?” [The voice of reason:] “I am the voice of reason, the one and only truth Your duties you will pay, there is no other way But treason beckons here, as you allowed in A very unwelcome guest who disturbed my rest No, I can not tolerate another presence here How can you feel the pain in my heart When you haven’t got one? How can you see how much I suffer When your eyes are shut?” [The voice of irrationality:] “I’m your redemption so you’d better listen: I am sick of your figures and your calculated risks I abhor your arrogance, when with zeal you project guilt Only where logic dies you can find true happiness So forget your dues and your duties, give your instincts free rein” [The voice of Insanity:] “In the land of the blind, I’m the one-eyed king While the two dogs fight for the same bone I’m seen running away with their meat I’m the voice of insanity, the genius of the universe” [All:] “ O can’t you see? I’m the only way, your sole purpose in life” 3. Dum Spiro Despero Dum spiro despero, via dolorosa Bring me a sharp blade so I can cut The strings that direct my moves And like a puppet make me dance To rhythms foreign to my limbs The voice of desperation Can stop this senseless wheel of life I trust in suffering to free my tortured mind Dum spiro despero, via dolorosa The God of hope far behind I’ve left The Enlightened One has shown me his path His way I’ll follow, forsaking earthly pain His wise words echo through my brain: “Give up hope and everything you love” Strength I don’t lack this decision to make But trapped in torment, illusion and pain Aeons of cruel suffering I foresee Before my ignorance shall leave me And my weary mind finally finds rest Amida, give me the strength I need To trust in your Other Power And follow your noble path Amida here I stand: am I worthy of your Pure Land? 4. Haven 5. Oblivion In a God-forgotten land Under the blazing hot sun The stream of life showed me the way Brighter than it ever had I knelt to wash my weary head But the water was ice-cold In a God-forgotten land Under the blazing hot sun An angel sat under a tree Just for a moment, to rest his wings I knelt and touched his pale face And tears fell from his eyes 6. The Loss Of Innocence When suddenly at nights dark thoughts intrude your peaceful sleep And your dreams wander in places long-forgotten When visions of loss and regret engrave their ugly features on your skin And you feel your purity slipping from your hands When gradually you see the years you’ve lived turn into statues -The hopes and dreams you had, now cast in stone And when the years that come appear to be stillborn -When you reach out to touch them they have already gone Please don’t let sorrow and grief make you bitter With honesty and diligence search in your heart and find The secret gift of your old innocence And if by chance once, in a black winter night As a casual trespasser on your way back home Suddenly you spot a tragic figure writhed Don’t let me quench blinded by my guilt But like a Good Samaritan Lend me a hand Salva me 7. Eternal Sorrow When I'’ll die, my surrendered soul Shall descend to the dark realms of Hades To be judged by my ancient gods And the mighty king Minos Will step forward from the dark Silently to fix his gaze upon my mind’s eye His eyes like mirrors reflecting my whole past But he’ll hang his head in sorrow Tearful, he won’t bear the sight… For eternal sorrow has enveloped my soul Eternal sadness, opportunities lost To show you how I feel And so you will –just like everyone else- One day stand before the mighty judge Your soul full of hatred for the injustice done to you You thought you’d live forever His eyes like mirrors reflecting your whole past His head hung in sorrow…for he will be looking At a hideous, unbearable sight… For eternal apathy has withered your soul Eternal suffering has been brought upon me As I couldn’t show you how I feel Looking through the eyes of eternity at a failed past that can’t be undone; struggling to understand how I lost my hope; I turn to look behind me, but my Eurydice is not there any more…I allow myself to float on the waves of solitude; rebirth is not an option, so I must accept. The wind shall carry away the memories, but the eye of eternity has seen it all… 8. Mourning the Passing of Certainty (Despair As the Sky Turns Grey) [Based on Pure Land Buddhist recitations]