A Clearing in the Woods

"Thanks, I've got this." That's what we say when we find out we are born with the gift of free will. And we journey on through the dark woods. We learn, grow, try, look for light, and rest in a clearing in the woods to catch our breath. We get up again to journey on until we come face to face with the epiphany that is revealed as its own gift... breath, breath enough to live one day at a time grateful for the gift. It is here that we come to an understanding to find that we are not alone. After the death of my mother in 1986, I began to write out the voice of my private heart in poems that mark time and hold the essence of my proof of life. After more than 30 years of writing through life, the act of collecting these poems and fieldnotes into a book has revealed a spiritual legacy filled with common things such as a longing for love, a perpetual return to original love, and a commitment to long-term love relationships. In all chapters of living that call us body and soul, Nature, Love, and The Mystery mentor our spirit that turns to answer the whisper of the seasons and the wind. Along the way, a soundtrack in a universal language connects us, reveals us, and gathers us in... laughter, sighs, weeping, scripture, music, song lyrics, hymn lyrics, stories, and poetry. Perhaps one poem or this book in full will speak into your own memories, longings for love, spiritual revolts, and emotions ranging from joy and sorrow to awe and you will hear the "voice" of this silent witness as you seek the essence of your own proof of life. Journey on. Rest in a clearing in the woods. Breathe in and out. Enjoy. Endure. Emerge. Repeat. Enjoy...