The Cliff - an allegory

[Ingulphus]

[The following was written this morning for a man who has made the decision to become poz, and did me the great honor of allowing me to be his mentor.]

Many years ago, out of nowhere, a cliff appeared. Nobody knew exactly where it was (sometimes it seemed to be everywhere), and many, many people died because they hadn’t seen it, and had fallen off the edge into an oblivion.

As time went by, experts began discovering information about the cliff, and mapping it. They posted warning signs everywhere, warning about the dangers of the cliff, and put up barriers, and so less and less people fell.

But some of the men who had fallen didn’t die – they lived, and created a new country, very different from where they had come from. More men began to survive the fall, and discoveries were made about the cliff that kept that number growing.

Most people were terrified by the cliff and avoided it, taking new paths far from its edge. But the men who had fallen and survived sent back reports of what the new country was like. Some were glowing and happy, speaking of greater freedoms, and better pleasures, and a kind of brotherhood; some were sad and despairing – there was illness, and poverty, and loneliness, and they could no longer visit the old country without being shunned by its inhabitants, not even their families or loved ones. Living in the new country demanded a daily toll; some could afford it, although sometimes it troubled them, and some could not, and died.

But there were some men in the old country who were curious. At first, they were careful to keep their distance, but as they read the reports, they wondered, and pondered, and drew closer to the cliff, peering at its edge and trying to understand why some men had fallen willingly. It seemed insane to do so, yet they grew fascinated by the thought of doing it themselves. Many got near to the edge, and then drew back – it was too scary, and they didn’t know if they could live and be happy in the new country, as seductive as it appeared.

A smaller number of men got to the very edge and stood there. They’d read the reports, good and bad, and they knew that, whatever the outcome, they felt drawn to the new country, and knew they wanted to be accepted as one of its inhabitants, forever giving up their citizenship in the old country, and their old lives. They could only speak of this to each other; no one else could understand the desire they shared.

So, one by one or in pairs, with eyes wide open or shut, each put their arms out at their sides, like wings, and allowed the cliff to take them into freefall. It was terrifying, but it was exhilarating, and as they slowly fell, they could see the men below, welcoming them to a new world, and a new kind of life.

[Hotload84]

The allegory, Ingulphus, has over-tones of Poe's work Silence, A Fable, a work I've long admired. http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/eapoe/bl-eapoe-silence.htm

The Cliff is very thought-provoking. Thanks for posting it.

[SouthCal323]

Thank you Ingulphus.....

[RawPigMd]

Ingulphus, thank you for this post. Brought a tear to my eyes. I want to be welcomed into the new country so badly.

[pozpigluvr]

Great Post! Precisely sums up my feelings. Thank you!

[6811283]

That is just beautiful. I wish @Ingulphus was still here (he hasn't logged in since 2015) because he's someone who I think could help guide me on my journey.