A Space for a Turtle Poem

2021, you are hectic and frantic, so I search for pockets of peace; and I find you while holding my child’s hand, and I find you while watching the snow gently fall, and I find you in words and in poetry.

Dazzling and sparking with meaning, I find a deeper presence pulsing.

Everywhere.

You are my solid ground.

I wrote the following turtle poem back in 2016 while walking through the park one morning. I hope you enjoy it!

Turtle on the Rock                                                                                    

She was just sitting there when I rounded the corner, perched on her gray throne. Nose raised and neck stretched to the sky. I saw her markings clearly, like someone had drawn red lines from her eyes down her face. Green skin, glistening gently in the cool summer morning sun. 

And then she was gone, in an instant, as I was blinking the blazing sun from my eyes.

Silently. Gently. Ancient.

An ancient ritual of turtle and water. Symbiotic. Each helping the other to survive. 

Where had she gone, I wondered? To the bottom? To the other side of the pond? 

I stopped in mid stride to contemplate such things, waiting for her to resurface, the waves of her retreat gently fading into the water.

Its glass-like surface returning, hiding her presence and sending me on my way.