The Journey Back

It is a long journey
back through the labyrinth
that twisted the child and left it
killed a thousand times o’er.
Each milepost holds its own special pain.
In the twisting tortuous road
at whose end sits a tiny child,
seated on the ruins of the past, crying,
yearning to be taken home at last.

Marjorie Larrabee

Home at Last

Under a blanket she cries,
it’s as though none have eyes,
for they do not see her need.
Sent to her room with no one near,
the knot holes in the walls cannot hear.
There’s cloying loneliness within
and the inner voices raise a din.
In yellow flowers she takes delight
And after the rain in the sunshine bright,
feeling alone and left behind,
her needs become clear in my mind.
My hand reaches back over time
to gently draw her home at last
to love and to comfort; for the child is mine.


Marjorie Larrabee

Open Letter

April 3, 2000

I started this class feeling emotionally distanced from what I was doing. I chose three little war figurines rather automatically. I didn’t think they had any profound meaning. Then I was bored, not knowing what to do with them, frustrated, lacking the sculptor’s skills.

Michael helped me and the little figures started to take shape. They started to take on a personal meaning and I began to realize I hadn’t chosen them by accident. Three little figures, children, parts of me.

This morning people were running through my mind like crazy, people who judged me. I am mentally defending, justifying myself. Then as I ponder what it means, I am crying, crying - I need forgiveness.

It has felt so good to find this outlet for artistic and emotional expression. Part of the benefit and healing has been to feel the pain of the past. A lot of fear has been released of looking at the past and feeling the pain. The pain is there if I choose not to work with it anyway. I think I went back further with this experience to help heal my smallest self, the natural child that was suppressed early on. This growth is very important to me and I have been looking for a means to do it for a long time. I feel that I was ready for this step.. “When the student is ready, the teacher appears” seems to fit here.


Marjorie Larrabee