An Early June Morning Stroll – 2020

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.

*

We are stardust. We are golden.
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden.

31 thoughts on “An Early June Morning Stroll – 2020”

  1. 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.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. 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. 💜

      Liked by 1 person

    1. 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. 💜

      Liked by 2 people

  3. 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. 💕

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Helen. I love Joni, too. Her music is so unique and her poetry, often profound (and it even rhymes!). Sending my best wishes and apologies for such a belated reply. 💜

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  8. 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.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you for sharing important reflections and insights, Michael. Your reflections reminded me of something Khalil Gibran wrote:

      “I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.”

      Actually, I am working on the challenging task of learning how to be grateful to those teachers. 😊

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    1. Congratulations on your well-deserved award, Fredrick. You have a lovely blog.

      I am deeply honored by your thoughtful nomination and apologize for my very belated reply. June was an extremely busy month that made it impossible for me to keep up with my blog. July promises to remain busy, too.

      Wishing you great success with your blog and sending my best wishes! 💜

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  12. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you so much for such thoughtful, lovely comments, Allyson. Your eloquence and kindness are precious gifts and deeply appreciated. I am saddened by the fact that I won’t get to see you this year on Park Point. Instead, I send my gratitude and best wishes. 💜

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