Friday, March 29, 2013

Teacher Geese

A  L  O  H  A !

Growing up,

 I lived beneath
 the Great Eastern Flyway 
of the Canada Geese.  

Feeling trapped in my childhood, 
longing to escape 
to far away places. 

 I painted that big world  
out there
 in all the bright yearnings 
of my heart's dreams. . . . 






Alone, outside, 
at a moment of peace,
 imagined, hinted, then 
YES, heard! 
 The celestial voices
 of the fleet above. 
Together, 
traversing continents,
 hinting at eternal cycles 
and circles
 that might redeem me
 if I could just know them, 
find my flock, 
embark on my own 
journey.  





A few years later,
 away at college 
in Northern New Hampshire
 I climbed my first 'mountain'
 Bald Peak.

At the top,
 crouching at the sheer 

I  M  M  E  N  S  I  T  Y

 of space and height, 
I imagined that I heard
 a familiar voice. 

Then it was faint
 but distinct! 

 A V of Canada Geese
 was approaching! 
My first mountain - 
with old friends. 
At last I was 
in their realm 
thousands of feet 
high.  





They flew as accustomed
 at such remote
height,  
 but here the peaks 
rise up to meet 
the sky.  

My luck, or blessing 
was strong that day; 
The V of singing birds 
grew closer.  

At once I understood 
that they were heading
 right in my direction!

 Indeed, I waited
 breathless in the sky
 as they drew nearer. 

Individual voices 
could be divined
 for the first time
 by me.  

"This is a special moment. 
This is a wonderful gift.
 This is the mystery 
of Life's wonder
 and reward." 

 The fleet drew close.
 Now I saw 
not a single 
V, 
but a tribe
 of tired, skillful 
Voyagers.

 Each voice 
in it's turn proclaiming 
"I'm still here - keep going!"

The tiny perfect formation 
I had watched out of sight 
my entire life,
 was now seen
 in it's gypsy truth
 up close.

 In my mind's eye
 today,
I still can see their
 eyes,
 determination,
 skillful shifting on the winds, 
an ancient admirable
 wonderful keeping-on
 over eons. . . . . 

A sight seen only
 through fortuitous 
circumstance.  

On the wing, on the wind,
 on the trial 
to what I would
 become;  
That day's portion 
took me up a mountain
 to see a divine thing, 
a talisman of my life 
that I shall quite probably
 see
 one last time
 at death's door. 

 It was a smallish mountain
 among giants; 
But it was big enough
 for me that day- 








Thank For Climbing
together with us
today!

Plant your comment,
"I was here"

Hooray!

                       Fondly, cloudia

30 comments:

Brian Miller said...

what a cool story...smiles...first mountain i made it up (without my parents as we did do some growing up) was in high school....we used to go camping on friday nights, me and friends...we would just sleep in a sleeping bag on the side of the trail...love those geese too...smiles.

aloha from va

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Gosh I bet this puts you in a very small group of people who have had this experience Cloudia, if I wasn't so scared of heights I would have loved that too :)

Young at Heart said...

Magical!!

Leovi said...

Wonderful photos, I like those beautiful colors, wonderful! Excellent photos!

Adam said...

great photos

Charles Gramlich said...

I remember as a kid hearing the honking of the geese flying over. It transported me as well, although I think I took it mostly for granted in those long ago days. Not anymore.

TexWisGirl said...

really beautiful, cloudia.

Daryl said...

hard to hear geese over the cars ...

Myrna R. said...

What a beautiful write. A personal, mystical experience. Thanks for sharing it.
(Haven't been around much. The flu and stress of moving have consumed my time.)

The Weaver of Grass said...

What a lovely story Cloudia - geese fly over here on their migratory trail too and we look for them every year. But your experience sounds unique.

Filip and Kristel said...

When you wear a yellow dress like that, I am sure you get noticed.

Greetings,
Filip

Teresa said...

Great story. When I saw the post's title, I was wondering if the ending would include the words "silly goose," but perhaps that phrase is a misnomer.

Cloudia said...

'Silly goose'. Haha:-) thanks, dears

LONDONLULU said...

Wondrous and so cool, I was conversely feeling somewhat trapped living in tiny HI as a child and couldn't wait to go off to into the big wild world of the East Coast and beyond! (Even CA was too close for comfort:) Just shows there are adventures and mountains to be climbed no matter where we are!

Hilary said...

Beautifully told, Cloudia. I am thrilled every time I see a V formation.. which is just about daily. They never fail to entertain. And neither do you.

Unknown said...

Thanks to deforestation here in Virginia the geese are here year round. often though you will see them in their V's winging away somewhere.

Giga said...

Miło by było na jakiś czas stać sie ptakiem i zobaczyć piękny świat z góry. Pozdrawiam.
It would be nice for a while to become a bird and see the beautiful world of mountains. Yours.

Rajesh said...

Wonderful set of images.

Anonymous said...

Yes, wild birds not only sing about freedom, but they fly.

Please have you all a good weekend ahead.

Dianne said...

the images work so well with your words

Linda said...

Wonderful. Happy Easter.

rupam sarma said...

Beautiful photos.
Have a nice weekend.

Elephant's Child said...

Your beautiful and liberating story has put tears in my eyes. Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend.

DeniseinVA said...

I always enjoy climbing a mountain with you Cloudia. Loved reading about this one. Thank you my friend.

Cloudia said...

Your comments here thrill & humble me! Thanks so much, dear friends

Erika said...

(\___/)
(= ‘.’=)
(”)__(”)
Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter!!!

Dina said...

How exciting! What a gift and message you were given!
As you surely know, wild goose = the Holy Spirit.

Tabor said...

Congrats on your POTW! yes, the call of the geese touches my heart each year and I have seen them in many places high above on their energetic and happy journey.

TexWisGirl said...

congrats on your POTW!

Unknown said...

Here via Hilary and congratulations on your POTW! This was an amazing journey and I enjoyed how you presented it! :)