WILD WAYS 2004

After the flurry of dawn chorus
and early morning,
the wood is at peace.
I'm all activity...:
remove shoes,
feed fire,
light incense
and waft it about
Arrange the place.
Then sit &
and wait &.
for the message.
wind blows
trunks sway
branches clack
leaves rustle
I remember our business
And play a blessing for Phil
a health-getting-better tune,
a lessen-the-pain tune
a getting-out-of-bed tune
And a prayer for Dave
a be-brave tune
a strength-to-face-what-comes tune
a things-being-brighter tune
I play them lasting love
I play them loving life
I play them lasting peace
Then sit ...
and wait ...
for the message.
And the wind blows
leaves rustle
trunks sway
branches clack - like a forester's axe

And I play a tune for the forest
a grow tune
a bright-sun/fresh-water tune
a recover-from-the-clearance tune
And I try to feel its pain
And the forest laughs at me!
"The Axe is part of life
a tree felled is an opportunity
a gap in the canopy
a chance to grow
don't anthropomorphise child!"
I sit ...
and wait ...
Is that the message?
And the wind blows
branches clack
leaves rustle
trunks sway
And I realise
that every plant
every piece of earth
every tall tree
Is just being -
the forest can just be
And, at last I hear "the message"
Your path is true - walk it
Your plan is good - follow it
Stop struggling - just be!
So I play for me
A just-being tune
A master-the-flute tune
An I-like-this-tune tune
A thank-you-to-the-shrine tune

And I'm happy.

Jane Manton, July 2004.