Stillness

There remain magical places left in the world where, If you are still enough, you can hear the distant echoes which may tell you stories you wish to know.

Along well worn paths, those less travelled, and where trailblazers haven’t yet been there are storytellers taking forms which blend into the land itself.

Looking up at the sky, listening intently,

through the calls of the Ruby Crown Kinglets, the chatter of the Robins, the songs of the House Finches, the alerting awareness of the Scrub Jays and the playful fluttering of the Cedar Waxwings we can hear the echoes of the ancient chants over the fire from the ceremonial processions of the Numu or Northern Paiute people.

Sifting the soil beneath the hearty roots of the coyote willow we can hear the echoes of lighthearted conversations of the Wašiw or Washoe people weaving the fibrous branches of old into vessels for serving feasts

Below the stones lining the river’s edge helping to provide flowing life to the region we can hear the echoes of blessings and prayers spoken over a nursing child by their

Newe or Western Shoshone mother who was doing the same as the river then.

Amongst the thorns of the woods rose, floating on the shifting wind, we can hear the echoes of those nameless and unknown longing to belong and be loved.

We observe the birds.

We trod the earth.

We lay our hands upon the river rocks.

We feel the flow of the water

filtering through the past

bringing us up to date.

We hear the echoes of their stories

when we are still enough to do so,

which then move us into action

by first moving us within.

Placing our own hands upon our chest

we feel the feedback of the child

who once lived in this same body

We hear the echoes of them wanting

us to live in more harmony with the land

in more peace with each other

and in more appreciation

of these aging stories

we are sometimes unwittingly surrounded by

That we may surround ourselves

with unknown strangers

who become friends

by listening to their stories

and remaining still together

That we may surround each other

with calls, stories, songs, blessings,

conversations and prayers of love.

♾️♾️♾️

Written for:

SAGEBRUSH TO SANDSTONE:

POETRY IN THE PARK

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th, 2024

4–6pm at Crissie Caughlin Park