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A long day on this longest night. I read the prompt and Kaitlin's poem early this morning, write a very sjort poem, let it sit while the day danced with me. Somehow, this much longer poem emerged.

Companionship

“We travelled together for a while,

Even though we were headed in different directions.”

Joe began his sharing at Bill’s celebration of life

All those years ago.

Big brother, poet, teacher, storyteller, dancer,

Guardian of the forest; keeper of the wisdom.

A brave companion of the road, gone too soon.

We, too, were moving in different directions.

Remembering Joe’s words, I ponder

all the companions along the way.

Those whose paths overlapped for a season,

the tragic departures borne of betrayal and lies,

the friends who just vanished, never to be found again.

A closet full of memories and songs left unsung.

Tonight, frigid cold winter solstice evening,

fire curling around the strands of our lives,

my heart goes back to the Vermont meadow,

winter solstice so very long ago,

deep snow welcoming us to our new home.

Newlyweds dancing in the glow of love all around;

Giant stilt puppets marching over the hillside,

bonfires roaring in the snow laden fields,

saxophones and flutes and free bread,

this secluded garden full of dreamers

Yearning to light the sky.

The road promised to wind free, forever.

Forty years on, I look across cozy winter haven

you reading on the couch, cats framing your body,

the trails we traveled too numerous to count.

Our lives have woven together two searching hearts,

dreamer and dancer companion to

clear eyed prophet and wisdom keeper.

Some of the roads have been long and hard,

the challenges and pain almost pushing us away

from the love we have known.

I don’t know where these next steps will take us.

I truly pray it will be together; the dreaming heart

and the one who sees beyond the hillside.

Two souls colliding with each other in another winter,

in another place, our maps just beginning to be drawn.

Willing to walk the next steps together,

no matter what we may have planned.

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What a beautiful touching journey through time... Really related to the last ten lines or so, feeling that deeply!

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Thank you Julie. Blessings in the growing light!

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From a solstice long ago to now... beautiful and poignant reflection on the long journey shared 💜

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Thank you Becca. Thankful for the long journeys! Blessed solstice season to you and your beloveds!

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ahhhhh....tears on this one! But ending with a smile <3

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Thank you Karri--tears and smiles, that about sums up life! Wishing you the very best!

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