CLEARING
surrounded by grace
reconciled
wading through tall grass
I rest on
fallen pines
in a soft rain
gazing through
reflections
of my grief
to pray for
this lake of
ageless waters
as I watch
listlessly
gathering darkness
made of the wood and earth and water
longing to return to that lost place
I hear a growing roar
and feel an approaching tremor
figures vanish
and leave in their wake
voids of knowledge
colorless fields
as they gather
on a lone hill
away in the plains
and keep solemn watch
beneath the ruins
of an altar
where winds do not reach
haunted by regret
wandering
through fields of goldenrod
I search among the grasses
for the
relics of what was here long ago
I am within you
am I poor in spirit?
consumed by
endless thought
never hidden from your gaze
I am within you
dispossessed of relationship
wanting what has passed away
do not forget the silhouette of my face
only you know my error
and what has bloomed for the last time
listen for my voice
I follow the firefly’s light
through an unknown wetland
the call of the yellowthroat
mingles with the flowering elder
and all is made new again
running from the horizon
I hide my face
were you calling to me then?
treefrogs leaping underfoot
in that hopeful golden hour
when the summer was still young
juncos sing from the boughs of this old oak forest
as the days quicken and our paths entwine further
bound to the spirit
the melody echoes beyond recognition
where do these colors come from rising at dusk
parting the clouds for a glimpse of the sky’s true name
woven with longing
into this landscape that has known me from my youth
shadows of bare branches grow in the fading light
where the deer silently encircled the path
land of long neglect
help me to know in full what is only seen in part
walking beneath the cottonwood
where as before we once gathered
with one accord
lighting a path away from sorrow
amongst the snows of summer
as I walk through rich fragrant fields
hearing the din of friends dear to me
I will renounce this self-sown grief
and open to rivers of brightness
call upon my nobler nature
to shine forth love and gratitude
remember the sunlight
remember the seasons
the distance is fading
remember
joining our hands in brotherhood
rejoicing and sharing in each day
put off your sorrow
you are beloved
put off your sorrow
put off your shame
I know your spirit
I know your mind
I will be with you
held in light as a treasure
pondered in the heart alone
bounty and glory and splendor
in a fragile floating world
I cannot speak what I feel
I give you my love
take of it freely
you are with me now
eternally bound
what has followed me here?
bonded to tears of parting
whose memories are these?
claiming part of my nature
clouds of waxwings alight
on a cedar tree
oracles of the air
awaken and rejoice
revived from a broken life
blessings flood the open sky
I will begin again
joining in a love unconstrained
I will reach out beyond
these walls of fear and pain