a traveler

My family and I found out in February of 2008 that my father had lung cancer.  My father has always been in the best of health and this came as a shock to all of us.  My father and I shared a love of the outdoors together.  I drove to see my mother and father the day after learning the news.  The drive took three hours from Centerville to Williamsburg.  While I drove this poem came to me and seemed to capture what I was feeling at the time.  I scribbled it down as I drove and am now sharing it here…

 

a traveler

a traveler, I, arrive upon this land
I look across the great landscape before me
I feel wonder… and joy… and opportunity
I breathe in a new breath and feel my heart beat in my chest
without thought, an innocent smile forms on my face

my eyes scan the terrain of my new world
I am in awe
all around me I see beauty
the earth turns into hills
the hills lead to valleys
and beyond all this…
my eyes come to rest on the warm glowing sunrise

the Creator is painting brilliant colored ribbons
across His soft blue canvas
the colors penetrate each of my five senses

below the streaming canvas…
across the earth…
          the valleys…
          the oceans…
          the deserts…
          the fields…
          and the mountains…
lies my path,

a path composed of individual footsteps
my footsteps, the notes in the symphony of my journey

as it is with the earth…
and the heavens over head…
I know that time will pass and the great rising sun
will slip below the horizon,
below the streaming canvas…
across the earth…
          the valleys…
          the oceans…
          the deserts…
          the fields…
          and the mountains…

my mind sings in anticipation
I turn to look out across the great ocean
which carried me here,
washed me gently,
and placed the tender soles of my feet
upon the cool dawning earth

my eyes return to the earth
glowing in the light of the streaming canvas
the corners of my mouth stretch to set themselves higher upon my cheeks
my wind kissed cheeks…
the wind carries a song
and the song calls my heart

I pause and slide my hand into my pocket
from the pocket, I retrieve a bright silver disk
the streaming colors overhead dance across its polished surface
I slide my thumb over the smooth metal as I turn the disk over
revealing a clear crystal
below the flat crystal face
an arrow floats magically…
playfully dancing around its center
the head of the arrow sways left and then right…
with each pass the boundaries of its dance narrow…
and finally come to rest…
my heart sets its bearing

my thumb instinctively slides across the smooth face
and I return the disk to my pocket

my eyes return to the display of dancing colored ribbons
painted across the heavens

my eyes track downward and focus on my feet
resting here at the origin…

every imaginable emotion begs for attention within my mind…
          love…
          hope…
          wonder…
          joy…
          excitement…
          fear…
          fear…

fear… the lids of my eyes slowly close
I acknowledge my fear

The Creator reaches out and embraces me…
my body is engulfed in the warm love of The Creator’s arms
this is the warm love from which I was created
the joyful place from where I came, in the presence of the Creator

I know I will return to Him when my foot comes to rest
at the final step of my journey
below the streaming canvas…
          across the earth…
          the valleys…
          the oceans…
          the deserts…
          the fields…
          and the mountains…

The Creator kisses my cheek,
smiles His warm loving smile,
and whispers softly into my ear…

“You are of Me
and I am within You
From the infinite; before the beginning
and beyond the infinite of this day and the end of time…

I love You

let every beat of your heart…
every drawing in of breathe…
remind you that I am always with you”

With love and hope and confidence,
my eyes look out…
across the earth stretching below the painted canvas

the rising sun warms my heart…
I breathe in… the breeze… and her melodic song
my heart beats within my chest…
the Creator’s love rushes through and warms my body…
from the top of my being, to the depth of my feet
resting in anticipation against the warming earth…

my eyes fix on the bearing my heart set…
with wonder… and excitement… and anticipation
I lift my foot from the cool earth of this dawning land
I return my foot to the soil…
to a place beyond where it previously rested
my trailing foot follows and comes to rest
confidently beside the other

I look back
and see the imprints of where my feet previously rested
I know that I have gently molded the earth
where I have been holds a piece of me and will never be the same
my smile brightens…
I am mindful of the path I will leave upon the earth

I look forward
across the earth…
          below the streaming canvas…
          the valleys…
          the oceans…
          the deserts…
          the fields…
          and the mountains…

I breathe… my heart beats…

My Great journey has begun