Refugees of Reason

The Garden

Standing here with you;
gazing down along two
freshly mowed paths,
looking onwards, to an oft
visited and lovely garden;
a personal place
that only you and I know.

Let me take you there.
Come. Hold my hand,
move those beautifully
bronzed feet forward
and off together
on this journey
down a chosen path.

Slow. No need for hurry;
time enough to glance
across as the other path
remains in view; to
pause, to admire, only
for you to shiver, as if
to say "keep moving,
warm me," and urge us on.

Rising, descending,
as the path broadens
on approach, this path
converges near the other.
Once again, we pause;
I leave you there,
oh so close to the precipice,
to cross over to the other,
to linger, to contemplate
a moment longer, very
near the garden gate.

Dew glistens
on the folded leaves
that wait to be cast aside,
and gain entry to a beautiful
flower just beyond;
to covet, to harvest,
and soon present
to you, my lover.

Proceeding, delicately,
treading carefully at first,
it is wet here,
breathing now,
the garden aromas
that permeate the air;
fresh scents, yet musky too,
the dark hidden spots
every garden conceals
from sun's revealing rays.

Sons and daughters
from this land have passed
this way before, leaving
damaged the entry gate;
despite its crooked folds
and bended nature, it yields
with little effort and
opens easily to reveal
the flower in all its bloom.

Again a pause
— to peer briefly beyond
a raised and forested mound
towards the distal hills
on the horizon. Mesmerized,
as when one sees a mirage,
I stretch towards them
a doubtful hand -
they seem nearly
to be within reach.

I must, I tell myself,
climb to their peaks
and dally there,
but for now, you and I,
our eyes connect,
as do our souls
in this soulful place,
we take in this moment,
this time, this place,
companions now.

Together, we become
one on this journey,
we come together and
end in this moment just
beyond the garden gate;
pure joy
in Nature's simple delights
as we pass together
through this damp,
but lovely place.

~ gtk