A place infrequently visited, or sometimes visited but where very few pause. Therefore, a place of renewal. A woodland stream decides its way through a gently descending terrain. Only a short distance away in either direction it is rendered invisible by the thickening veil of leaves and trunks, but the music of its passage tells its presence a while longer. A perimeter further. The water’s ceaseless travel refreshes the air for a space around and the gentle never repeating concerto of gurglings and splashings soothes the emptying mind of any attentive onlooker. A gift to be had at no cost. It never stops cleansing and healing, like an orchestra tuning forever.

A man adjusts his position a few feet upstream, sitting on the correct rock, turning just so. Trying a spot. He appears to be tasting the entire ambience so as to occupy it in perfect harmony. One foot resting upon a drenched smooth outcrop. A number of smaller very rounded pebbles, of several perfectly appropriate colors rest near at hand. They are constantly washed by a cold splashing trickle near a slightly deeper pool. The man seems satisfied. He can reach easily forward and fondle them, sharing a brief moment in their fates. He can listen to the pitches of near and further soundings of the deeds of water and stiller objects in rhapsodic duel. He can let the movement of a planar sheet of flat water tell him of the joy of enterprise. He can blend in and not disturb all this delicious living industry, allowing his consciousness to be a circle. Beauty impressions in, delighted silent praisings out. He can blend in. Fade in. Become giving. For a timeless while.

A bubble not small or large strives by, its longevity is miraculously implausible. It carries its life on the boundary of a fast channel and a still refuge. Slowly it moves, just missing the pierce of a fallen branch, riding the tensions of competing forces. Till it teeters at the edge of a tiny but fateful precipice. Almost waving farewell with an evocative fondness.

The leaves wait for something; the air listens…

We are astonished in this
We are resurrected by it
We receive our renewal of orientation by the attentiveness of your devotions

We are surprised that you turn towards us
We are happy whenever a human turns to us in cognitive feeling
You come to us
You take the time and you do not go
You linger!
You choose
You give a gift to us from the alloted precious timespan of your life
— For human lives burn brief
We know this

We are astonished in this
We are resurrected by it
O benevolent, kindly Human!

_______RS

Note : With heart’s appreciation to Karsten Massei.

[ Image: detail of photo by Dawid Swierczek. ] (link)

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