Midwinter Dreams of You

 

Path to the Pines & Spring Beyond

    Life's a journey. Many short walks after our first few tentative steps. Now that Winter has set in with snow and cold verdant summer and fall's transition becomes a distant memory. My walks frequently take me through the Prairie into the Pines through the Woods and down to the Spring. 

    Walking is controlled falling. One foot pushes our weight forward while the opposite leg swings the next foot forward to arrest our fall as the weight is transferred to that foot.  Then repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, on and on and on. A fall happens when one foot catches on something or slips along the way. We trip. Frequently we trip at the start of life while learning and toward the end as our footsteps become faltering and unsteady. Those early trips a learning experience.  We get up bandage knees and move on. Trips late in life can be our final downfall. A potential tragedy. 

     Walking in winter requires willingness to venture forth into the elements. The hardest part putting on cold weather clothes.  Then out the door. Feet tentative at first each footstep grows surer as I  walk on pavement to the Prairie. Then a step off the paved way onto the narrow snow packed footpath going to the Pines. No wind. Quiet calm. The pause between the in breath and the exhale. Cold yet the sun shines in a blue, blue sky. What more can I ask for? Simple. No worry. No hurry. I start taking pictures cued in by Winter's beauty.  Nature opens the door and I want to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I want to see the Spring now that snow blankets everything. I keep walking observing as I go.

     The path shared, trod by others before me; some with boots like mine, one with long skinny skis, dog paws, coyote feet, rabbit tracks, even deer have ventured onto the Prairie path.

Into the Pines

Thru the Hardwoods

To the Spring

To the Spring

(Hit full screen on the video above to view the water springing forth from beneath the boulder, to see the hoar frost on the water cress.)

The Same Path takes me Home

    Seasons change. A few years ago in winter while snow fell on a cold day I wrote the song Midwinter Dreams of You! That longing for conscious connection with the power that flows through all things. The lyrics are below go to the black square below them to hear a recent recording of Midwinter Dreams of You. 

 Midwinter Dreams of You!

Snow falls softly down,

Covers over frozen ground;

Trees like statues stand

Sentinels in icy wind;

Midwinter dreams of you

A longing hard to express

Words always fail

Can only suggest the tale;

In a cavern deep in white gown 

You never sleep,

Tucked beneath your breast,

The eternal flame

You caress;

There it pulses and glows 

Throughout the dark abyss

For all who would be blessed

For all who would bless;

Your warmth spreads through the night,

Bringing dreamers to the light,

Midwinter dreams of you

A child quickening in the womb

You're the only one,

The lover of all loves,

Yes you're the only one

The lover of all loves!

      Winter a cold dark time of survival, hibernation for many animals. A fresh blanket of snow after the storm. The wind no longer blows. A profound silence settles in opens the door to the divinity of the soul. Listen to the sound beyond sound. The deep quiet. Peace. Serenity.  Winter's celebration leads from the death of one year to renewal of the next. The promised New Life of spring.

          Darlene & I send you seasons greetings. We wish you and your family the best for the New Year.

Anthony G. Hendricks, author, poet, nature lover -- naturally;  Buddha Blues, recently published with a great cover created by his Sister Judith; available at Amazon as print on demand or as an e book at Amazon or Kobo. With formatting help on cover and interior by Woven Red. Other books The Wasteland Revisited, a book length poem about the dystopia causing global warming; available as an e book at Amazon; A Journey In The Human Dilemma, collected poetry and prose; trade paper back.