Along the bank

By Lupe Carlos III
​
I walked to this place
One hundred and fifty years away
I don’t care where or how
Today I let the wind decide
Just to be with you
 
The creek has chosen a new direction
Changing the braille of the land
It takes some effort to find the exact spot
Temporarily disorienting you
 
Gentle rain taps the needles underfoot
Diffused light casts a silver tint to your wings
Giving them a slight halo, more felt than seen
Irresistibly calling me
 
You lead me to a sheltered spot
And invite me to share a seat on a low rock
The sun breaks through and then back behind clouds
I’ve only ever prayed alone
I’ve never shared anything so personal with another
 
I offer lavender to mother earth
Smoke to father sky
Smudging the prayer with a crow’s wing fan
That’s taken me a year to bead
 
I follow you
Along the bank
Over the bridge
Into a stand of trees
I see that we are no longer separate
I am sweetgrass tossed into the fire of all that is
 
I let go
Falling deeper
Until “I” drains out of the bottom of my feet
And evaporates out of the crest of my being
All that’s left is we
You and I and all that exists
All at once and always
 
Endless journeys
Simmered down to joy
Limitless faith
Boiled down to gratitude
Boundless love
Aged into belonging
 
I must have walked lifetimes
To be so recognized in this land
To feel so much love for our mother
I watch in amazement
As every leaf and every stone welcomes me home