tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60821347779885037142010-05-10T22:27:21.828-04:00grepthis.orgwritings & thoughtsdefconxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05651250578714700109noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6082134777988503714.post-75431448013974939812009-04-24T21:02:00.001-04:002009-04-24T21:02:45.471-04:00a traveler<p><em>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…</em></p> <p> </p> <p><em></em></p> <h1></h1> <h2>a traveler</h2> <p>a traveler, I, arrive upon this land <br />I look across the great landscape before me <br />I feel wonder… and joy… and opportunity <br />I breathe in a new breath and feel my heart beat in my chest <br />without thought, an innocent smile forms on my face</p> <p>my eyes scan the terrain of my new world <br />I am in awe <br />all around me I see beauty <br />the earth turns into hills <br />the hills lead to valleys <br />and beyond all this… <br />my eyes come to rest on the warm glowing sunrise</p> <p>the Creator is painting brilliant colored ribbons <br />across His soft blue canvas <br />the colors penetrate each of my five senses</p> <p>below the streaming canvas… <br />across the earth… <br />          the valleys… <br />          the oceans… <br />          the deserts… <br />          the fields… <br />          and the mountains… <br />lies my path,</p> <p>a path composed of individual footsteps <br />my footsteps, the notes in the symphony of my journey</p> <p>as it is with the earth… <br />and the heavens over head… <br />I know that time will pass and the great rising sun <br />will slip below the horizon, <br />below the streaming canvas… <br />across the earth… <br />          the valleys… <br />          the oceans… <br />          the deserts… <br />          the fields… <br />          and the mountains…</p> <p>my mind sings in anticipation <br />I turn to look out across the great ocean <br />which carried me here, <br />washed me gently, <br />and placed the tender soles of my feet <br />upon the cool dawning earth</p> <p>my eyes return to the earth <br />glowing in the light of the streaming canvas <br />the corners of my mouth stretch to set themselves higher upon my cheeks <br />my wind kissed cheeks… <br />the wind carries a song <br />and the song calls my heart</p> <p>I pause and slide my hand into my pocket <br />from the pocket, I retrieve a bright silver disk <br />the streaming colors overhead dance across its polished surface <br />I slide my thumb over the smooth metal as I turn the disk over <br />revealing a clear crystal <br />below the flat crystal face <br />an arrow floats magically… <br />playfully dancing around its center <br />the head of the arrow sways left and then right… <br />with each pass the boundaries of its dance narrow… <br />and finally come to rest… <br />my heart sets its bearing</p> <p>my thumb instinctively slides across the smooth face <br />and I return the disk to my pocket</p> <p>my eyes return to the display of dancing colored ribbons <br />painted across the heavens</p> <p>my eyes track downward and focus on my feet <br />resting here at the origin…</p> <p>every imaginable emotion begs for attention within my mind… <br />          love… <br />          hope… <br />          wonder… <br />          joy… <br />          excitement… <br />          fear… <br />          fear…</p> <p>fear… the lids of my eyes slowly close <br />I acknowledge my fear</p> <p>The Creator reaches out and embraces me… <br />my body is engulfed in the warm love of The Creator’s arms <br />this is the warm love from which I was created <br />the joyful place from where I came, in the presence of the Creator</p> <p>I know I will return to Him when my foot comes to rest <br />at the final step of my journey <br />below the streaming canvas… <br />          across the earth… <br />          the valleys… <br />          the oceans… <br />          the deserts… <br />          the fields… <br />          and the mountains…</p> <p>The Creator kisses my cheek, <br />smiles His warm loving smile, <br />and whispers softly into my ear…</p> <blockquote> <p>“You are of Me <br />and I am within You <br />From the infinite; before the beginning <br />and beyond the infinite of this day and the end of time…</p> <p><i>I love You </i></p> <p>let every beat of your heart… <br />every drawing in of breathe… <br />remind you that I am always with you”</p> </blockquote> <p>With love and hope and confidence, <br />my eyes look out… <br />across the earth stretching below the painted canvas</p> <p>the rising sun warms my heart… <br />I breathe in… the breeze… and her melodic song <br />my heart beats within my chest… <br />the Creator’s love rushes through and warms my body… <br />from the top of my being, to the depth of my feet <br />resting in anticipation against the warming earth…</p> <p>my eyes fix on the bearing my heart set… <br />with wonder… and excitement… and anticipation <br />I lift my foot from the cool earth of this dawning land <br />I return my foot to the soil… <br />to a place beyond where it previously rested <br />my trailing foot follows and comes to rest <br />confidently beside the other</p> <p>I look back <br />and see the imprints of where my feet previously rested <br />I know that I have gently molded the earth <br />where I have been holds a piece of me and will never be the same <br />my smile brightens… <br />I am mindful of the path I will leave upon the earth</p> <p>I look forward <br />across the earth… <br />          below the streaming canvas… <br />          the valleys… <br />          the oceans… <br />          the deserts… <br />          the fields… <br />          and the mountains…</p> <p>I breathe… my heart beats…</p> <p>My Great journey has begun</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6082134777988503714-7543144801397493981?l=blog.grepthis.org' alt='' /></div>defconxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05651250578714700109noreply@blogger.com1