Started 7.7.25 and completed 8.18.25. A mix of various inspirations: D&D/adventuring vibes, the last line of aja monet’s unhurt, Tank’s cadence in Tank and the Bangas’ performance with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Cedar McCloud’s book title The Flame That Sings, and the birthday girl’s party. Cross-posted to IG.
For V and her birthday.
as the road forks and you must decide
which way to go:
the path of thorns
the path of pins and needles,
and you think,
there must be an other way,
unlatch your guitar, its smell familiar,
the frets and the chords
familiar to your hands.
let the song come forth:
the lullaby your aunt hums while pickleing
the chorus you and your lovers sing over breakfast.
let the notes sail on the wind,
feel the center of the melody, and notice:
in the forest, the birds are singing
and the great cat who walks in sunbeams purrs,
and there – the sound of water rushing.
water, like the fox, is a clever escape artist.
over the fields you’ve come,
to the limits of your gran’s map.
now through the woods
to the rushing stream you go.
where the fleet of foot dip their heads
to water cold and sweet.
to go through the forest once more
or to follow the river?
find the rhythm of your heart,
the rushing of your quiet breath.
where do you turn to, the way
a sunflower chases the sun?
pursue the path,
even if it is not well-trod.
these are often the ways that lead
to marvels like summer lightning
or following a hummingbird to dripping honeysuckle.
be the fool, you have wisdom plenty
to know which nightshade is deadly,
and which you can preserve.
the river winds its way through the mountains
so too, do you tread through this unfurling chapter.
and when fear slips its hand in yours,
asking you to cease to change,
to halt the river’s flow,
know, fear is not –
fear is not?
yes, fear is not
your only companion
in your pockets are fuchsias,
in your pack is your cousins’ dandelion coffee
in your heart is a fire that will not extinguish
so long as you shall live.
the blaze that burns
the blaze that makes the flowers bloom
the flame that licks your hand
the flame that renders water into soup.
dare to dance with the fire in you
as the night sky does with the stars.
spin the starlight into a cloak,
and pull the dream around you
and take it with you as you wake.
dare to live in this burning world
let the fear change for having known you
like water to the stone
like air to the freshly baked loaf –
know: everblooming, in you, so long as you shall live
a shining offering from the depths
to be is joy
where fear has made a home, it too makes space for joy
where water has flowed, will flow again.
and there are so many friends to love, met and not yet met.
and the path is wide enough for every creature.
the horizon is full of promise.
the ocean deep with mystery.
the sky peers down with delight.
traveler go forth
and take with your your many gifts:
a rising tide lifts all boats
so too does your everflowing heart
lift with it us all
Esther O. Lee 