Wahat. The Desert.
The perfect stillness of the land
not a single trace written in the sand
and the air brimming with serenity and peace.
The vastness of the sky mirrored in your eye
thyme-infused memories of a few pairs of hands
gently and lovingly working with the moist sands.
A profound connection and so much exchanged
when people still know how to see with their hearts
the people daring to be seen, look behind the masks
and let all superficiality drift away
as the sun slowly moves towards the horizon
colours changing, mist forming
hearts beating as one
a wave of song, a wave of love
a moment so pure
of gentle loving kindness and
the deepest recognition.
I am. Here.
Why ever go somewhere else again?
Eyes filling with tears, hearts filling with joy
overflowing to merge with the everlasting,
ancient peace of this land.
Can you bear the stillness?
Can you bear the restrictions placed by culture?
Can you bear the walking away in the moments
of getting closer?
The wanting to lean on, let go
and yet merely being held by the land?
Thank god there is the sand and the peace of this land
to hold, give space, take care
when conventions disallow to repair
the rift between the sexes.
Can I bear the rift?
Can I bear the norms?
How far can I go?
How deep is safe?
When we're standing at the edge of the desert
infinity becomes a moment
forever the blink of an eye
and there we are – somewhere in between
the sky and the land
my world – a billion grains of sand
and here and there a bit of green
graciously bringing messages of hope
and two feet carefully walking the land
stepping gently not to crush any plant
hands, the antennas of the soul,
connected to the all, being complete and whole
and leaving behind in its wake
a few traces of peace, a lot of love
and an echo of healing in the web of this place.
How precious to be seen
how precious to be felt
how precious to be met in a place so deep
how daring in the greatest darkness to shine our light.
Supported by connection
trusted through love
and intermingling, never to forget,
the taste and smell of laughter,
mints and lemongrass.
Fully landed, being dissolved
as the rainbow moves closer
the cool mist caresses your skin
already kissed by the sun
Deeply planted into the shifting sands
we buried our love – will it grow?
Can we land? Will there be space for it
to take hold, grow up taller
stand strong amidst the storms, the heat
the stars?
Will it mean forever and that we must
make a choice, or have we already chosen
thyme after thyme?
Does the deep movement within
the tender touch of soul and heart
speak its own words, shout a loud yes
that everyone already heard?
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go?
What if we stayed – would it grow?
Or is it all just a desert dream
faint memories
asking me to let go?
No. This can really be.
We can dream this into being.
Am I brave enough?
Will you have my back when the winter storms come?
Is this just a desert dream in this miraculous land
or could it also be built and woven
into concrete instead of just sand?
Thyme will tell – watch it grow.
October 2020