While walking my dog this morning
on this sunny warm day
“I came across a child of god”
He was helping his dad
build a tree house
“And this he told me”
‘I chose this tree
because it has flowers
and I thought people
might see how beautiful
this tree is.’
We chatted about his tree house
as he showed me
the special place he reserved for himself
although he reluctantly shared
the rest with his little sister
He called out as we left
‘Have a good day’
I replied, ‘You, too Sweetie.’
*
Note:
In the poem above, apostrophes ‘mark conversation.’ “Quotation marks” acknowledge words from a song that played through my thoughts as I began typing this story. The song is from Woodstock by Joni Mitchell.
*
*
Reflection:
Life is so challenging these days. As I greeted the early morning with the sweet scent of lilac and bleeding heart blossoms in the air, a thought flowed through my mind. “I have been to the mountain top.”
A memory long buried surfaced. I doubt that the mountain top I was on was the same one that inspired Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his famous speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top.” Instead, it was a high hill in Gill, Massachusetts, near the Olde Stone Lodge where I was living at the time. A member of a struggling commune.
Breathing in the stillness, I was transported to another time and place, to a different mountain retreat. I was surrounded by wise, loving beings who showed me the power of the communion of spirits. “Times ahead will be challenging,” the wise beings said, “but you can come here whenever you choose.”
I haven’t been able to go back there, though, for a very long time. The reasons are too many to recount. This morning, I remembered the visit, though, before Pinto and I left for our walk.
Like the song, Woodstock, decades ago I set off as a young mother to “try and get my soul free.”
As I’ve mentioned before, I set off with my young daughter to live on a commune. It was the beginning of a long journey trying to find or create a loving community that finally led me to a simple life closer to my daughter and grandchildren.
This morning, I remembered the message, echoed in Mitchell’s song.
*
Our journey to set our soul free can take us to some strange places. From all that you’ve shared with us, I do believe that your soul has been set free to unite with Mother Earth. I’ve literally gotten “back to the garden,” but still have a long way yet to go to set my soul free of the burdens I still carry.
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Such thought-provoking comments, Rosaliene. We do have to travel so many strange places, and through tumultuous times on life’s journey. Setting one’s soul free is a never-ending challenge. I was working on a reflection yesterday that echoes the weight of the burdens we all carry –
“ah, these trying times
forcing me to go ever deeper
to discover yet more
unresolved woundedness”
Thank you so much for your always thoughtful comments. Sending hugs and love to you, dear friend. 💜
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I wish so much I had been here (in western MA) back then, my friend. Your stories make us rich.
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Thank you as always for your kind words, dear Trace. I, too, wish you had been in western MA then. It was a strange experience and not easy, but I learned a lot! Sending love and long-distance hugs to you and Herb. 💜
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Carol…what an inspiring post. From the beginning I knew the song melody and lyrics. I love what unfolded on your wall. Setting our souls free and getting back to the garden…YES. 💕
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Yes, when all can realize that we are already the garden, how beautifully the world will blossom. Thanks for a lyrical post.
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Let me just say – thank you for sharing ❤️
And I am glad you included a link to your post from December.
Please do continue to take care.
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Utterly beautiful Carol, it has fair lifted me up and Joni is my favourite singer of all time. Xxx
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carol, I guess I just want to remind you that going to the mountain, if only for a moment, is still going there, going home. I find myself wondering these days whether that is really what we do, go home to those places of holding and vision, those places that remind us of who we truly are, so that we can keep our hope and stay on the road Home.
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Wonderful post! Wonderful post.
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“….but that was long ago, and now my consolation
is in the stardust of a song.” Golden memories indeed, Carol.
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You’ve been nominated for the BrainStorms Award. Should you wish to participate . Click here https://cityflamesart.wordpress.com/2020/06/13/brainstorms-award/
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Your post made me think of the many stops I’ve made along the way of my life. Each was a chapter of a continuing story; each contributed to the whole of who I am. I can only imagine raising a young child as a single parent. What courage this takes. I can only imagine life in a struggling commune. What lessons to be learned! And having met you, and knowing the love, care and concern you have toward others, I can imagine with certainty the contributions you made to those you met along the way. You have seeded many gardens. Perhaps you need not get back to the garden! Perhaps you are within the garden, surrounded by the lives you have touched in each chapter of your life, in each stop along the way.
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