Overcoming
sacred space
OVERCOMING
When I walk The path of suffering, Knees scraped, Bloody from the fray, I ponder the paradox Of frailty and strength, The human capacity For darkness and light. My soul contains it all, Responses to the extremes of Being alive, The ecstasy of joy The horror of interminable loss. When I think I can’t take anymore, Pain persists Emotion intensifies My heart continues to break. I go beyond my endurance Sweating from the assault Exhausted, I pray, A habit known to bring comfort. I damn my weakness Along with my fortitude Striving for numb oblivion Unconscious, unfeeling. I desire rest. Wordless, my passion is mute Unlike stoicism It springs from a silent depth Outside of awe and agony, A symptom of the disordered speech Of the possessed Immovable in trance. This space is sacred A secret of the species The frontier of transcendence Where the self is overcome. © 2026 Stephanie M. Vargo
Brilliant piece
This is a profoundly moving piece. The way you capture the exhaustion of human endurance, damning both weakness and fortitude, is incredibly honest. That transition into the "sacred space" at the end is breathtaking. Thank you for sharing such a raw, transcendent glimpse into the soul ✨