A Walk with Gaia

I walked with my Mother today

We met at the edge of the meadow

where I had left her last

Where forest touches sky

far from concrete and chaos

I rushed into her embrace

enveloped and overcome

by her cool and quiet ways

Wondering why

I’d stayed away

so long

When I chattered on incessantly

focused on

foolish

temporary things

I was hushed by venerable treetops

rendered speechless

by their stature

I followed her closely

down rambling trails

over mossy rocks

Through rust colored

leaves

and pine needle

carpets

Marveling at tiny tea berries

and ghostly Indian pipes

An owl called a greeting

in my clumsy tongue

I answered

Rebuked by sudden silence

An outsider

looking in

Awkward tourist

uninvited guest

When my earthly body

grew warm and weary

she led me to

cool sanctuary

where an ancient tree

welcomed me

to rest

and shelter

against its trunk

Letting my thoughts fade

to green

I closed my tired eyes

Reminiscent of prayer

Devout worshiper

in Nature’s cathedral

As afternoon waned

I emerged from her world

My spirit revived

My faith restored

My purpose renewed

At the meadow’s edge

I listened

As treetops seemed

to whisper

her voice, ethereal

drifting

Fading from my

city senses

Return to me

remember me

walk with me

more often

I am yours

eternal

I am your Mother