A STRANGER ON THE SHORE

I stand upon a Midnight shore
Gazing out over the swiftly moving stream
Behind me lies the green forest
A forest I have fought through
Sometime running blind into tree and brush
Other times strolled in blazing sunlight
Where every patch of sunlight, every leaf and bird,
Seemed to call my name and urge me on.

I have stumbled and fallen
I have run and I have crawled at times it seems
I have had days, like no other days.
Days if I could I would hold in my hand
And gaze into their sweet perfume
But even the most perfect of days
Dry and crackle into dust
Like an Autumn Leaf
And fall from my hand dissipated by the wind

I have had days and I have had nights
Nights where I tossed and turned
Unable to find any easy peace

Evenings borne by the great summer twilight
Mornings told by the Mist and the Rain
Days and Nights
Morning and Evenings
All have been mine
And each one is valued
Despite the fact that some were easier on the eye
And softer on the heart
But what does it matter when one life is but the ripple of
A pebble across a huge pond?

And so here I stand
Reflecting a little
As I see myself mirrored back at me
By the moon on the Water
And the rustle of the trees from behind

The moment sends a shiver right through me
At first I shrug it off
But it is like an electric shock up my spine
Quite pleasant as I sense it's arrival at the top of my head

It is like a spur into action

Long enough to reflect on battles won and battles lost

Who IS this stranger on the shore?
How did I get here?
Where am I going?
And how do I cross this next obstacle?
How do I begin again anew?

Do I swim?
Wade?
Search High and Low for a bridge?

Deep inside me I feel the shiver yet again
But this time it is like a hot flush of something
I have no words to define

It speaks to me

It says jump, JUMP IN and SWIM!!!!

Like a command, but gentle like

If I jump in I may drown
Or be swept who knows where
But If I stand here I will just rot
Like a pillar of saggy bread
All moisture removed
Crumbling and cracked
Food for the ants

I begin to tire a little of gazing into my reflection
So I look up into the night sky
Behind me I feel the trees murmur their approval

I feel their murmur echoed inside me.
I murmur too, resonating their timbre

Looking up, I begin to hum a tune to myself
No tune in particular, just notes following notes
As I modulate the notes a great flock of birds
Explodes from the trees over to the left
And fly off with the Northern breeze

I remember then as a child
How I always wished that I could fly

I have a little joke with myself
And jump up and down flapping my arms
Like some demented bird going Whoo, whoo!

My heart lightens then and I hesitate no more
I walk up to the edge of the stream and fling myself IN
Right into my own reflection

Whatever it may hold
Whatever I may find
It is all still me
What else is there to find but more about me?

My head breaks surface and I strike out across the river
For I see now that it is more than just a stream
It is a mighty river, and I a speck of flotsam in a tumbling sound
But still, the river no matter how mighty, welcomes me

Faster this time, I remember to swim WITH the current
And so I smile to myself as I start my little doggy paddle
Grinning and singing one silly song after the other

Me and my Shadow
Dancing in the Rain
Raindrops are falling on my head
Some Enchanted Evening
A veritable Cabaret
Sung with relish and a mouth half full of water

I talk to myself between verses
Jokes and comments
Stories and rhymes

My, but it's good to be moving again
Swimming, walking, running...
Maybe one day I can FLY!

By half way, I guess
My arms are tired and my legs are numb
So I turn and float a little
Letting the river bear me where it may

Once a little strength has returned
I turn and swim again
But more relaxed
Carefully using my energy wisely

Then I get into my stride
A second Wind
And see, not long
a glimpse of trees

So I break once more into song
A deep Baritone voice this time
Bouncing off the water

Shore
Sleep
Morning
Trees

Humming softly I gently walk forward into the mist
Remembering well my night of swimming WITHIN

A Bard of the Setting Sun