An image of myself culled from a dream dreamt long ago seems suddenly right and brings me peace and restores my soul to a measure of what it’s meant to be.
In the dream I stood tall and straight arms outstretched fingers reaching starbursts bursting from my heart. And from my forehead grew a tree mighty and strong of oak, I think, and spreading crown.
This vision, long forgotten, sent from the Goddess herself, returns to me unbidden a soothing balm for uncertainty.
Green hills roll and farmers’ fields stretch
side by side with fingers of forested tracts,
an ebb and flow of fertile terrain.
New leaves stain the trees,
pale silk over naked shoulders.
Mist diffuses the clouded light,
enshrouds the slumbering knolls.
The ambience settles behind my eyes
and cozies around my heart.
Cool drizzle freckles my skin and curls my hair.
I feel content.
Sitting by the roasty fire basking in its cozy warmth, a pause in the day’s activities allows a moment of reflection.
Grocery shopping, heavy lifting and carrying up and down endless stairs, sheet-changing and laundry and shoveling snow echo in my aching back, then ease into a crackle as I settle on the couch.
It’s late, almost bedtime. My son winds down with his usual burst of nighttime activity. In the background drones the TV, and in the flickering dimness glow the softly colored tree-lights.
It’s because of moments like this, when all of life’s contentment unfolds in my soul with spreading wings of comfort, I almost don’t mind that, after my son drifts off into sleep (and before I can drift off into my book), I still have to wrap the presents.
Under thick foliage, small stone steps wind their way down the hill to the water their coats of moss cool and moist shield the rocks from my sight until it’s much too late.
My foot slides down I go with a shriek that cuts the air and echoes far across the valley rough and tumble bouncing and jouncing praying hard that no one hears or sees me.
I test my limbs and listen close for creaks and cracks my butt hurts but not as much as my pride I start again down the hill but this time I avoid the slippery mossy stairway.
Oh, Bridge,
tell me your stories
of feet that tread your ribs
across peaceful chattering water
that laughs and plays
over rocks and roots and fish.
Tell me of giggling children
walking hand in hand
pointing and pounding,
scaring minnows from your shadow
as they trample
one side to the other.
Tell me of lovers
leaning across your rail
and into each other’s bodies
smiling at the pair of ducks
wading warily near their nest
beneath your sheltering belly.
Tell me of the weary
whose souls bear scars
of love and death and sorrow
who sigh heavily
upon broken dreams
while pondering silvery depths.
Tell me of the aged
with deeply carved planes
and backs bowed
by the burden of living,
as your bowed spine
bears their weary weight.
Aches radiate from deep within the marrow of my bones-- phalanges, metatarsals, tibia phlanages, metacarpals, radius right big toe right thumb. My body speaks with the rain.