Do you see

Do you see her

standing by the river?

She is the beauty of oak of decades of stories, history, knowledge and wisdom.

She stands faithfully

because she is faithfully held.

Windswept lines of story

harshness of cancer

cruelty sandflies

the sand of lies

by the river

she stands faithfully

because she is faithfully held.

Years earlier

River revealed its being to her

as life source

awakened her

called her

so she wriggled her roots deeper.

River rose to meet her

take hold of her roots

and drew them down deeper

deeper into its being

holding them

holding her.

She stands faithfully

because she is faithfully held.

Ferocity of wind

turmoil in all strength

cause only her bending.

Wild tossing

never sounding

the snap preceding

landing

upon land breaking.

Confidence roots in River’s bed.

She drinks upwards

hope, love

and stretches out her story

in River’s story

its endless babbling of love for her

so kindness, love

seeps upwards

branches outwards

and touches those upon whom

she releases her leaves to fall.

Wisdom her leaves line

Ferocity of lies

encircles chaotic mind

within, a rare find

pearls of wisdom

if mined

but yet given forth in love

generosity

and sensitivity

Her standing

gabble down slamming

image of God tried

testified

that through trauma

cancer

the human spirit

still faithfully

remains, victory

of being held faithfully

in being held faithfully.

There is redemption in the wind.

A storm of hope brewing.

Her standing faithfully

lines etched harshly

write an invitation

to those, themselves finding

bending

beyond regenerating  

inviting

their listening 

for the trickle

call, gentle

to the river bed

to uproot

and put down roots

beside her

that they would find themselves in strength

along River’s edge

faithfully held.