Poetry (written 2003)

Torres del Paine, 2006

Effortless

I am water gurgling over rocks,

tumbling along.

I am an eagle floating on the wind,

letting go,

as the spirit takes me with her

free and spontaneous

on the ride of my life.

Torres del Paine, 2006

The Yawn

i yawn,

surrender to a languid peace

strive not, hurry not

need not, worry not

judge not, grasp not

i yawn

and in my letting go

my spirit smiles like a care free child

and i float free

within the heart of god

Let It

let it out, let it flow, let it be, let it go

The Valley

The sun shines on a meadow

of smiling flowers and babbling brooks;

I dance through yellow daisies

And sing out loud

under a soft blue sky.

Suddenly…

the meadow plunges into valleys dark

Thunder

Shadows

Chills on my skin

The black sky swallows the sun;

cold walls of rock at my sides

squeezing me in.

Was I ever light of step?

Did I ever dance?

Fear squeezes my heart, and

Grit clogs my soul

as the valley's path twists ahead

like a thrashing snake

steep and bare

then fades into night.

An echo in my head:

the trace of a gentle voice,

"Behold the meadow in your dreams."

it whispers.

"No valley stretches for ever

but opens onto fertile plains

where birds greet the dawn

and butterflies dance in the air."

Warm colours wash through my mind

cheerful yellows and tranquil greens

and I sing again, first hesitantly, then more surely,

For now I can delight in the valley

its chills will brighten the meadow's natural glows.

its lifeless greys will deepen the warm hues;

its thunder clouds will enrich the blue skies;

its ominous silences will sweeten the singing of the birds.

I walk through the valley of shadow

and my heart feels free.

I release. Let go. Flow.

I do not rush headlong

striving in panic to grab at the light.

But follow the steep path, steadfast and true,

feeling the exquisite ice on my skin

that will melt in the sun.

The Great Mystery

will guide me through the valley

and I will return to the light

stronger and more confident

with greater room to laugh, explore, love and feel

in the knowledge that I can weather the storms

as I relish the calm.