10,000 Hawkers Hawking

Today I wandered the spiritual marketplace,
And heard 10,000 hawkers hawking,
10,000 children teaching,
And 20 held forth as 100.

So many voices,
So full of authority,
Young and old,
Certain and assertive.

Each having planted a flag,
Declaring the summit attained,
Each teaching their “conclusions”
As “Truth”.

I brought The Beloved with me,
But She could not bear the din,
And ran from that place,
Staring back from my Heart, sorrowfully.

I could not hear,
Amidst that terrible clamour,
Her gentle whisper,
“My Own, leave this place…

And follow Me… Home.”