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Thread Bare Soul I shivered at the brisk night air, but I really wasn't cold sheltered here on my island, my private place for reprieve Once again I had come to bury my sins Seeking truth and solace, needing to find a bit of solitude To search the elusive night for a moment of peace For hours I wandered the land listening to nothing at all I spoke to the flowers, telling them my secrets Revealing to the majestic trees the enigma of my soul Eventually I tired and slowed my pace My heart was worn and my soul, thread-bare While looking for a place to rest my weary head I came upon a child kneeling by my private brook Her hand was thrust into the waters while she giggled in delight The tinkling of the water matched the tone of her laughter I could only stand and stare, shocked by her presence Sensing me there she looked up with clear and innocent eyes She said 'I've been waiting for you to come again' I was puzzled, bewildered as I had never seen her before 'What are you doing here?' I asked. 'Are you lost, child?' Chuckling, she said 'I 've always been here, it's my home.' Not knowing what else to do, I sat beside her on the grass a great well of sadness filled me, my island wasn't mine after all 'Oh don't be sad,' she said. 'I'm glad you've come again' Pulling myself out of my thoughts, I looked at her closely My curiosity was stirring, this was intriguing 'You've been here every time?' I asked. 'I've never seen you.' She grinned impishly, 'You weren't supposed to.' Frowning, I thought about that, it rather made me angry 'It isn't nice to spy on people,' I said. 'I came here to be alone.' Impatiently I stood up with a sigh, it was time to go 'Don't leave yet,' she said. 'I've something to show you.' I looked at her, shrugged, and let her guide me away She stopped frequently as we walked, picking things from the ground I hadn't noticed before the satchel over her arm When I asked what she was doing, she said only 'Gathering' Eventually we came to a small house surrounded by flowers It was clean and seemed almost to give off a glow 'Where are we?' I asked, confused, I'd never noticed it before 'Home,' she said and opened the door in welcome Inside was warm, cozy and a fire burned bright at the hearth I looked around, interested, and noticed the sparse furnishings There was only one room I could see, and besides a bed and table There was only one other thing in the whole place In the center of the floor stood a large weaving loom and a small chair Spreading out from it was the most beautiful tapestry I'd ever seen I moved toward it, drawn by it's exquisite splendor Reaching the edge of the cloth, I kneeled beside it in awe Reverently , I reached out a hand to touch, to feel It was warm, soft and the colors were so vibrant They almost moved with a life of their own I looked up at her in wonder 'Did you do this?' I asked. She smiled softly and said, 'No, you did.' I shook my head in denial, and looked down, confused 'Look', she said, 'It's your life, can't you see it?' 'That tapestry, the whole thing, is who you are and why.' I looked closer at the patterns and pictures there Portrayed by the silken threads and there, yes, was my world My family, children, friends, each picture flowed into the next Flawlessly depicting the days of my life in brilliant color 'I don't understand,' I whispered, 'how can this be?' She took my hand in both of hers 'Oh, my dear, don't you see?' 'Every time you come here, you've left pieces of your life. Your pain, your joy, each whisper upon the wind, each sin you buried. I have gathered them all and woven them together. are the threads that make up the tapestry of your life.' Tears gathered in my eyes, 'But why? Why have you done this for me?' 'Who are you, that you care?' I asked the child with bright eyes. She looked at me with love and said 'I am you, the child in you.' 'I am the part of you who doesn't want to lose who you were, the one who wants to remember everything that led to now.' And she took my hand as I wept with the joy of finding, remembering 'Come with me,' she said. 'I've gathered all you left behind today.' 'Those secrets you whispered and the sins you buried Come, take a thread of your life and weave with me a memory.' and she led me to the loom where I learned to repair my thread-bare soul Copywrite 2001 Maria G. Abernathey |
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