ON AN OVERGROWN PATH

We were walking in the woods one morning as we are won't to do

Feeling a gentle breeze upon our faces…kissed by the morning dew…

We were following our normal trail…ambling along with ease

When he happened onto an overgrown path leading through the trees.

A path we quickly followed…brushing away low branches…shuffling through the weeds…

Because sometimes you need to take a path…not knowing where it leads.

We had walked a little distance enjoying our early morning stroll

When up ahead a lone old lady was stopped upon a knoll.

Her eyes were closed, she was smiling…I don’t think she noticed us al all

as she seemed totally engrossed in the emerging colors of the fall.

When she saw us both she smiled, put her hands upon her hips

then waved us over,…but as we approached she put a finger to her lips.

“Close your eyes.” She whispered as we joined her on the knoll…

“Some sounds you can only hear,” she said…”when you open up your soul.”

“Now open your eyes and take this in…all of nature’s art.”

“Some sights you can only see” she said…”when you open up you're heart.”

“My husband and I used to walk this path…some of these trees were seeds we’d sown…

And now, to keep his memory alive…I walk this path alone…”

Sometimes I need to walk in the sunshine…I need to listen to the birds

I need to walk with only my memories…in silence…without words….”

“Because my heart needs the trees as companions, needs to walk under the sky

It is then I feel he’s walking with me as he did in years gone by.”

We were glad we took this path…glad we shared her laughter and her tears

And we left her as we found her…awash in her yesteryears.

As for us…we didn’t want to disturb her any more…so we marched on straight ahead

feeling blessed we took this path today…and amazed at where it led.