Recovery
“Midway on our life's journeyI found myself in a dark wood,for the right way was lost.”
The Divine ComedyInfernoCanto I
The entirety of Dante's journey is the tale of a man
who has lost his way,
who has diverged from his right path,
who needs to find a way back
to reach his intended destination.
It is at the behest of the beloved, Beatrice,
that Virgil assists Dante
to act as his guide,
to assist him,
to direct him
through the perils he faces returning to the path of his choosing.
It is Virgil who acts as the therapist,
exposing Dante to the weaknesses of man,
the vices he must avoid,
allowing Dante to learn their true dangers
so that he may better prepare and admit,
to his God and to himself
that he has a problem,
for only by identifying the problem
can one begin to devise a solution.
It is Dante's trip through Hell
where he identifies his faults,
personifies his problems,
admits to his weaknesses.
It is Dante's time in Purgatory
where he atones for his sins,
where he implements his solutions,
where he apologizes for his mistakes.
It is his time in Purgatory that Dante,
with fresh resolve
with renewed dedication
with zeal reborn
That he can implement the change he needs.
It is Dante's arrival in Paradise
where he has returned to his right way
where he feels whole again
where he sheds his defeat.
For the beloved, Beatrice, gave him the hand
that he missed
that he needed
that he wanted
It is only after recovery
that one can finally and fully
bask in the glow of Paradise.
