Elemental Trust

This is a moment of enlightenment or, as the poem suggests, a forgotten enlightenment long lost since childhood. This moment came, ironically, while poring through Buddhist texts for literature class on a cloudy day.

Today, midst cloud and thunder
while I was wading through words and worries
    and philosophies

        [it’s heard in the wind on the wings of summer]



I meant to breathe a weary sigh, you see.
But instead brought forth--
     pouring
        tumbling
            flowing,
--a forgotton song.

        [softly it sings, "ta loo, ta lee"]

        [echoing sweetly as wee ones wonder,]

        ["where is it found, this answer we seek?"]



T'was a childhood song of beauty shining
through emerald leaves
    and clouds
    and daffodils
upon my soul.

        [look to the sky when your heart feels like flying]



Halcyon winds swept away lost regrets,
wonder reawakened
    the bright-eyed April child
within me,
and my heart laughed.

        [race with the clouds 'til the sun sets]



Then solemnly I stole a peek
at a sprout of simple trust--
    now foreign, forgotton--
still budding green and small
in my heart.

        [but look deep inside when it's joy that ye seek]



I heard a whisper
        [just believe]
from a Voice once dear--
that penetrated,
    enlightened,
        illuminated--
my soul.

        [it is easy when you but believe]



Then I knew it was He
who had tended the sprout
whose white blooms
unlocked
an         invisible kingdom--



--that I'd completely forgotton about.

       
        [open your eyes and believe]

 

 

Author's Note

The words in brackets are an actual song from a movie score, called "Behind the Waterfall." I watched it as a child, and suddenly, years later, it tumbled out of my mouth. I was most surprised. Life is suddenly more beautiful each day as my heart grows tender as a blade of grass.