This was the result of a very special workshop on ekphrastic poetry today.

I am a sorceress, twice in exile –
they claim my magic is merely madness, but
those with the eyes to see know better
I am the voiceless breaker of curses, until now
bearer of grief no one knows about
I am no one’s prisoner anymore

to know myself is to know my power
to know myself is the key to my freedom
I have all that I need
there is an embarrassment of riches in my heart
and though you may not like what you see
you might be shocked by it
terrified by it
I have looked within so I can look without
I see you for all that you are now
and you hold no charm for me
I am made of night and waves and song
water and air, wrath and lightning
while you are made of nothingness
I do not need you, you need me
you will no longer have my pain

so here I go, I’ve broken my chains
and the ties that bind me
and I take my first steps into the dawn and
the red world

~”the sorceress”, after breaking the vicious circle by remedios varo, written by Allēna 11/9/2025