THE PATH Part 2 Waking up in the cold dark of the mountain top she was achy and cramped from the stillness of her exhausted sleep. The memory of her dream, so warm and full of hope, seemed to mock her as she looked out the vista before her. The mountain tops, etched against the beautiful night sky, stars sparkling above her, so close she could almost touch them. None of the beauty comforted her now. She rose woodenly, trying to shake the stiffness from her bones. Wearily, she set of along her path. No longer eager, yet knowing there was nothing else to do but press forward. Tonight, it seemed, she would come to know despair as intimately as she’d ever known any lover. Walking ahead, the path was easy, flat and straight through the low bushes. She could see the mountain stretching out below her as she began her journey down the back side of her mountain. Soon, she would reach the forest again. For now, she walked amongst the stars and the mountain tops. Glancing at the other mountains, she wondered if any others shared her sorrow and rage on their own mountaintop. Somehow, the thought gave her a little comfort. The gods must have known the sorrow and rage would blind her to any dangers. Although she barely noticed, the path underneath almost felt carpeted in softness. Eyes downcast, head lowered, she trudged forward. She stopped at a stream to refresh herself, drinking deeply of the icy water. Hoping it would wake her from this state she was in. Wanting, more than anything to return to the eagerness of her earlier steps. The wanting was not enough to bring her back to that wonderful state of mind. Still, she did move forward, steadily. Despair would not become a home for her. She would walk inside the sorrow, let it surround her, fold her up in its cold hardness. And continue forward. With the hope of finding a new strength in the face of this hopelessness. Reaching the forest, wondering if there would be enough light in the trees to continue, she stepped into the deeper darkness. The light of the moon, shining through the trees cast a silvery glow to the trees. Leaves fluttering overhead shimmered against the stars in the background. This seemed a magical place. She raised her head, wondering what she would find here. If all there would be in her life was more mountains, then at least she would look at the beauty along the way. Her silent partner laughed at her. Teasing her for her unremitting hope and optimism. This time she knew that it was no longer hope that opened her eyes, lifted her chin. It was simply know that there was no turning back. For now, she no longer belonged in the valley. She’d chosen this path. She would continue, open to what ever it offered along the way. Continuing on into the forest, the light began to dim as the trees grew closer together, creating an almost solid shield between her and the moonlight. Still she could see the path so she wandered forward. As she pressed on into the darkness, she noted that there were more and more roots growing out into the path. Taking care of her step, she moved slowly, listening carefully. It seemed to her, she’d never heard such a quiet before. The branches seemed to clutch at her as she walked by. Time and time again, she had to disentangle herself from a branch caught in her hair, or in her clothes. Feeling a little frightened of this forest, she tried to move quickly through to the other side. She could see little as she peered out beyond the edges of the path. Thick with underbrush, the forest was dark and mysterious. Falling to her knees, head bowed, she prayed for guidance. Feeling lonelier than she ever had in her life, she knew that she could no longer walk alone. Knew she must ask for help with this task. She remained there, searching her soul, knowing that her request must be pure. Finding the soft place inside herself, the place that would never be bold and confident, she prayed from there, only asking for a sign to show the way in these wild woods. Finally rising to her feet, she set off again. The sun must have risen during her time of contemplation, the way seemed a little lighter. As she picked her way through the roots that twisted in the path, she watched for a sign from the gods, something that would help her on her way. Rounding a sharp twist in the path, she was startled to see a flash of red in this dark place. Walking further, she was caught by the sound of beautiful singing just ahead. The notes seemed familiar to her, yet she couldn’t place them somehow. As she passed the gnarly tree ahead of her, she saw a cardinal resting on one of the lower branches, singing as if it flew in the brightest sunshine. Feeling her spirits lift, she stood still to listen to the enchanting melody. Resting up against the rough bark of the tree, she closed her eyes and let the song flow through her, comforting her. Looking at the bird again, she watched as it flew off the branch and on into the wilds of the forest. Watching sadly as this joyous creature left her, she took the time to study the forest beyond the path. Sinking back into the relative safety of the old, wizened tree, she noted for the first time that she was in the wildest part of the forest she’d ever seen. The trees seemed to look evil here, lower branches casting downwards, as if they wanted to trap anything that wandered off the path. The underbrush was thick and thorny. Everything seemed dark and dreary. No flowers grew there, nothing of grace or beauty seemed to exist in this part of the forest. Feeling more lonely now than before, she set off once again. Unwilling to hurry, fearing she’d trip and have to spend another night here, she stepped carefully along the path. Without warning, a flash of red flew past her face. Startled, she jumped back again, tripping over a root and landing on her rear. Looking up in surprise, she saw the cardinal settling in on a branch of the tree in front of her. It tilted its head, looking at her and then launched into a tirade of notes, seeming to scold her. For the life of her, she couldn’t think of what she’d done to this bird. Perhaps it thought she should reward it with a worm for it’s beautiful melody earlier. She’d never given any gifts to any thing else along the path. She couldn't shake the notion that it seemed to want something from her. Not knowing what to do, she settled down on the ground, letting the lesson come to her in its own time. Thinking over the events of this journey, she reviewed all of the difficult times she’d faced. Her memories brought back her faith again in the power of this path, and in the goodness she’d found there. As she contemplated, she watched this beautiful bird. At times it would sit and watch her, almost expectantly. At other times it would trill the sweetest melody she’d ever heard, making her want to lift her voice in song along with his. Without warning the bird lifted up off the branch and flew past her, over her shoulder and into the wilds again. Still she sat, knowing she hadn’t come to an understanding yet. And knowing she couldn’t push the lesson to come any faster than it would. These trees still seemed ominous to her. The bark was thick and ridged, and the branches looked like claws to her. Yet when she looked off to the sides of the path, she felt comforted here. Relatively speaking what remained of the path was safe and secure. At least she could see her way ahead here. Knew that following the trace of the path would lead her to the sunshine again. Out beyond the path was a forest so wild she tried to make herself smaller, to become invisible to it. There was no way to see far into it, the branches seemed to fight with one another, making the way to move through them seem impossible. Suddenly there was a flash of red coming from the tangle of brown and green. Grinning delightedly as the bird she now considered a friend approached her once more, she watched intently as it flew through the tangle of branches, never getting caught in their traps. As the creature approached, she noticed it carried something in its beak. Surprised as the bird settled on her leg, and dropped its burden in her lap, she sat totally still, amazed at the boldness of this bird. Looking into her lap, she saw a perfect blueberry. Round and ripe and looking so sweet. Picking it up gently, she raised it to her lips, biting into it, breaking the skin and letting its juice flow into her hungry lips. Looking down at her benefactor, she held out the other half to it, wanting to share the flavor with this gentle bird. Taking the berry from her fingers, the bird flew back up to its branch. Continuing to look at her, his head cocked to the side. Almost as if in a question - did she understand yet? Had she learned what to do? Looking up at the sweet, silly bird, she shook her head, answering the unspoken question. Again the bird lifted from the branch. This time he came to settle on her arm, his sharp little claws scratching the tender skin on the inside of her arm. Sitting so still, watching as the bird gazed up into her eyes, almost as if he was trying to tell her something. Lifting on his delicate wings he lifted up to fly off again. Seeing him enter the wilds at the same place again, she wondered at the ease with which he navigated the maze of branches. It seemed as if he had some kind of magic, that the tangles disappeared as he approached. Sad at her loneliness again, realizing how special it was to have a companion, even a bird, as she walked along. Thinking of her loneliness brought tears to her eyes again. The sharpness of her time alone stung with a force she could hardly bear. Huddling up in these frightening woods, bringing her knees to her chest, hugging them for some comfort. The tears flowed again. Sliding unbidden down her cheeks, her head resting on her knees, sobs taking over her body. The reason for her journey left her as she wished for someone to hold her, to love her. In her imagination she could feel him. The tender touch of his hand on her back, gently at first. Almost like a warning that he was here, that she should surrender to his touch, his needs, her desires. Give herself to him completely. She could feel his hand traveling up along her spine, finding the place on her neck where his touch sent showers of lightening bolts throughout her body. Gasping at the vividness of these feelings, she leaned back into her imaginary lover. [this would continue with her indulging in her needs as she realizes that the touch is not imaginary] A WORK IN PROGRESS: The Path - Part 3 Back To My Home Page Poetry and Other Literature | Next | Random Site | Previous | Next 5 Sites | List Sites This The Poetry Ring site owned by Pamela Armitage. JOIN The Poetry Ring! pamtev@hotmail.com