Still Life (Ritual Suite)

Still Life has been published in All of Me Vol. V, courtesy of Shadow Spark Publishing. Featured art is by Hans Katzka.

Listen to Still Life by Richard Charles Stevens (Ritual Suite)

Listen to Ritual by ORAX

shattered every piece of me
that cracked within the frame
shattered every piece of me
that cracked within the frame
shattered every piece of me
shattered every piece of me

still i see the beauty
all about me
still i see an endless bounty
waiting to be claimed
held onto my flattered faith devoutly
shattered every piece of me
that cracked within the frame
still i see the beauty
all about me
still i see an endless bounty
waiting to be claimed
held onto my flattered faith devoutly
shattered every piece of me
that cracked within the frame

still i see the reason that enabled doubt to grow
still i feel the seasons pass
as fast as heartbeats slow
still i raise my mast
appraise the ocean like a crow
still i show devotion
to the parts of me outgrown
still i venture into
the unknown
still i venture into
the unknown

still i see the morning dew that glistens on the sill
still i give the dawn its due
permission to reveal
light and air i need to breathe
wisdom of the honey bees
without them
i would cease to be
the world would be deceased to me
the world would be deceased to me

still i see the piquancy of distant lights aglow
still i dream dreams sweepingly
in crystalline nouveau
still i am the keeper
of a host of souls in overflow
still i feel the steeping tide
in every single chromosome
every single chromosome
every single chromosome

still
i feel like home
even when i’m all alone
that feeling grows
still
i feel like home
even when i’m all alone
that feeling grows
still i feel the seasons pass
as fast as heartbeats slow
still i raise the cleanest mast
the heart in me bestows
still i thank the evening stars
for weaving path to lead me home
still
i live this life of mine
profoundly
still i see the beauty
all about me
still i see the beauty
all about me
still
i live this life of mine
profoundly
still i see the beauty
all about me

still i raise my mast
appraise the ocean like a crow
still i show devotion
to the parts of me outgrown
still i venture into
the unknown
still i venture into
the unknown

shattered every piece of me
that cracked within the frame
(repeat to close)