Chaos

And so I walked along,

hungry to be in the woods.

Scanning

Praying 

Hoping 

perhaps wanting so much for a sign. 

Something...

Anything 

that whispered 

“it’s going to be ok….”

I wished deeply 

to see an Owl,

quietly and wisely 

observing, as 

my answer. 

And as I walked along 

my feet rustling the dried leaves

of last autumn’s release, 

and carefully stepping 

through 

slippery 

mud, 

the degree of chaos 

became 

So Apparent. 

Growing things 

Rotting things 

Rambling things 

Tangled things 

Last year’s bird nests. 

Chirps around the edges 

Creaking trees 

Water barely flowing under icy patches in the creeks,

Faces in the ice.

The wind gently touching my skin. 

Faces in the trees watching, ever watching. 

There is always Order. Even when it doesn’t look like it. It’s all on Purpose. It all is in constant motion, changing, , birthing and dying. 

I stood breathing with a swamp hidden in the woods. My turn-around spot. 

My breath had quieted. I had quieted.

Fully immersed.

A dweller of this woodland.

Leaving, 

resigned 

and yet calmed

in 

the Knowing, 

suddenly 

I spotted 

a gift

from the woods. 

A precious feather

from a preening

Redtail Hawk! 

as the wind 

suddenly gusted 

and swirled 

around, 

and with me,

greeting me

loving me.

Thank you. 

Thank you. 

“It’s already ok.”

On my way home, I slowed, then stopped, as five deer leapt across the road. Deer are my reminder of gentleness. An invitation to be gentle to others, and to myself. 

Get to the woods. Spend time in Nature.

Root and grow.

xo

Erica Jo