Laguna Cliffs

Laguna Cliffs

They make their way slowly
down my well worn path
         
         that
         
                   meanders

                             gracefully ....
                   
                                       timelessly ....
                   
                             down
                             
                   my
                   
         side.

They have been here many times before -
both of them, in body -
         and she returns many times
                   in spirit as well.

I feel her echoes from far away -
         her sadness, her joy
                   her restlessness, her yearning,
                                                           her pain.

He first brought her here
as a little girl
to poke among my tidepools
and listen to the heavenly choir
of sea gulls and waves.

He held on tightly to her hand
as they walked down my path -
         he taught her how to reach for rocks
         to steady herself in the steep places,
making sure she knew
what was safe to touch
and what was not.

         Do no harm...

And then they'd reach
their rock

         or so they pretended
         and I let them

and sat side by side
waiting for the sun to peek out
from behind the morning fog
as he taught her
of the universal truths
to be found in
         the sea
         and the mountains
         and the deserts.

Their murmured voices
and spontaneous laughter
soothed me
more deeply, more profoundly
than even the waves.

He held her tiny hand in his
and spoke to her of ageless wisdom

         wisdom I like to believe
         that I imparted to him
         and thus, to her.

                   Listen.

                   Watch.

                   Open your eyes.

                             Open your ears.

                                       Open your heart.

*****

On this day
she holds his age-worn hand,
         bruised and battered from IV needles
         and endless blood draws.
steadying him

         and perhaps herself?

as they walk down my path
more slowly than the last time

         together for the last time?


At last they reach their rock -

and sit side by side
in my timeless, healing arms -
waiting for the sun to peek out
from behind the morning fog.