by Karen Wilk
I hear with an accent
……But not so this noble tree
Call it a default,
……a challenge
…………My descent,
Upbringing or past–
……You have one too.
Mine has an accent,
……Sometimes sweet retreat
But bias
……jaded?
…………Blinded
………………Embedded
……………………Deadheaded.
Makes me mad,
……Makes me sad
…………Why couldn’t I hear it?
………………Why did I believe it?
Community prejudice
……In gilded frames
Frames too tight for wiggling,
……For outside the line colouring
…………For growth and different thinking–
………………For majesty and mystery linking
……………………to a bigger God
The God who makes little cones into
……Douglas Firs
…………Ancient, regal, divine
Holding many secrets
……Including those
…………beyond our time
Old but ever new
……Deep roots
…………Ever seeking
………………Ever nurturing, ever reaching
Branches out stretching
……To the sky
…………Soft, fresh needles sprouting
Shading
……Nourishing little creatures
…………Song birds singing
………………Animals scratching
Wise One without words preaching…
Are we listening, hearing?
Why can’t we be more like this grand tree?
Age-old, strong, evergreen, free
……Ever changing, growing to be
…………More and new
Waving, engraving space for scribbles
……In gold
……And green, orange, red, blues
What might the future hold
……How might our lives enfold
…………If we could only let go
……And hear, learn, share multiple accents–
…………In startling rainbow hues
Like many branches growing each unique and true
All a gift that life and thriving represents
Beyond our limited thinking
……not bounded by our clouded contexts.
If I were to listen to the Tree
……and more importantly
…………To the God who made it to be
………………Our Teacher
……………………What would I hear and be?
…………………………Would Creator’s accent set me free?
Creator’s accent
……Glorious, expansive
…………Radiant, vivid, advansive
………………Brave, and bold, glance of
……………………Young and old
……On the left and on the right,
……In the middle and in sight
Inviting me
……Curiously,
…………Into the subtlety
………………Of frameless holy profundity
……………………To scribble in infinity
…………………………To play and learn and dance abundantly,
To be still in Fir Tree’s company–
……To change and grow
…………To know, not know and let go
………………As I am and will be, aglow
……………………Underneath Creator’s Tree…
Speckled sunlight beams
……Underground living water streams
Engraced
……Embraced
…………With space
………………All are free– Ancient new evergreen tree
……………………Beyond frames’ measure
…………………………Golden growing Godly treasure.
Join Christine Sine on October 14 or watch the recording later. October and November, the season between Canadian Thanksgiving and American Thanksgiving, is gratitude season on Godspacelight. Christine Sine will encourage you to enter into the practice of gratitude in this interactive retreat that will help us enter this season of gratitude with joy and delight in our hearts.