“……and now we go separate ways for separate duties!”

“……and now we go separate ways for separate duties!”

 

 

 

 

So, friends needing healing, friends needing feedings–

And friends needing new set of directions to the next bright spot

Did now divide themselves quite by nature into three leadings:

One group to nurse Spottedy,one to find food, one to find new map dot.

 

 

 

 

So scouting group formed by blend of Flop-Eared Boy and Donkey to hear

Both to lead in listening for water, for sounds of sizzling light to guide their parade,

For sounds of new friends in aide, for those working to bring grains to bear

These friends more strongly on their way, for sounds of forces forbade.

 

 

 

 

So quick food foraging group was already behind Old Crookeye, Old Dog;

To see better, to reach out with scoping and sniffing nearby ready eats

Bringing Mistress Mouse up from the rear to twitch out crumbs from clog

Bringing Littley Lamb to nose out tender shootlings from byways as treats.

 

 

 

 

So tender ministering toes and Bushy Palms and blinking and twinking

Did Croaker and Terrapin, Cuddles and Jiggles, Old Stump Woman and Fuzzy Worm

Bring to seep healing and love into Old Spottedy’ heart and soul, once sinking

Sung to blissful rest by Ugly Bird and overflown with cooling by Old Crow o’er the berm.

“……this high clean place is only a way station, you know!”

“……this high clean place is only a way station, you know!”

 

Back in scratchy corner did Old Croakie wink and sigh,

“Now I rest, now I soak up peace, now I be all new.”

“Not so snappy, Mr. Hoppy,” swirled a whisper by and by

Out of steeplely cone of dust pushed askew.

 

 

“This here jest be rest-stop, jest be station on the way

“on the path yon critterly questers do pursue.

“When yon friends on journey get filled with Light-ray,

“They be called out to high rocky places and lowly slew.”

 

 

So smoked on dusty voice, “Ye be hoppin’ with critters,

“For they love you and need you and call you along!”

“What be this voice under dust?”gulped Croakey in jitters.

“This dusty voice is Time before Time:  Eternal Song.”

 

“……and we so hungry now are full”

 

“……and we so hungry now are full”

Comes Spottedy Goat and Littley Lamb, so draggely

in finding through singing and dancing all friends in far

distances ne’er foreseen ‘fore meetin’ th’ Babe so spraggley

tellin’ of questin’ and Light-n’ing for to seek without bar.

 

 

Comes Old Crookeye and Sheepsey Dog and Croakey

all stumbly and bumbly and hoppey and boppey to enter New Way

Comes Turtley and FloppyEared boy and donkey so stokey

with strange airs and spare dews and scarce grains for the day.

 

 

“Aye, aye, ye critters and unfolk,ye brothers and sisters so rare:

“Now be ye hunger so, thirst so for right true-blue berry and fruit,”

Crooned down Ol’ Crow from above New Trailin’ Way so fair.

“Now ye needs put eye and nose and ear to findin’ food w’out soot.”

 

 

“Oh, oh, dear Crow and Ugly Bird, we’uns so weak, so starved a’fore New Way,”

groaned all critterly friends in floppin’ and boppin’ and stoppin’ on path.

“Oh,  no, my no, all ye wingedy ones up high point to no food, no tray

of feedin’ such seekin’ groundlings just as we come to True Way in bath.”

 

 

For, lo, the critters did lay all about on high rocks o’er falls so pure and clear

Yet showing no vines or trees, neither fruit nor nut nor crust of ol’ fish.

“Oh, oh, woe, woe we bee’uns w’out food for bodies all stretched to get here;

“Oh, weesie beesie all knackered and knockered w’out hope of a dish.”

 

 

“Wait, wait, halt, halt, ye moanin’ groanin’ critters down there,”did call Ol’ Crow.

“Spot ye now, squint ye now, hear ye now, yon Bluesey divin’ in rushin’ river.

“Stand tall, ye now blessed critters, for ye soon be feed with Livin’ Bread down low.

“Stretch out ye hands and touch a New Bluesey, Now Rainbow Fly, w’ promisen quiver.”

 

 

 

“……and suddenly we heard singing!”

 

 

 

“……and suddenly we heard singing!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, now, dear friends and fellow travelers, we watch,we swatch,

Sturdy loving critterly folk make their rugged way o’er water and rock

Ever looking up, ever guided by the Winged Ones, in quest so splotch

With bramble and thorn and glitter and song of wind with heart to stock.

Let us now hold back and listen so still in thrill at climb up a notch

In trail under Wing and Bill shone next ray of Light none could mock.

 

 

“Be quietsy, ye ol’ Stumpy Woman, no snortsing of Bush Nose do make;

“For weuns do stretch heartstring to hear sweetsie note by yon lake:”

Thus did friends and critters all did rest with all steps did forsake

To listen and watch and stretch their souls out to veriest edge of calm take.

 

 

Toes whispering in the grass,

Fingers whispering the honeysuckle

Tongue whispering in the ice,

Lips whispering in the search.

 

 

Windy sun chasing joy;

Tossing branches weaving birds.

Purple perfume smoothing steps;

Dewdropping grasses washing minds.

 

 

Chirping birds, chipping old stump.

Rustling grasses, flaking old skin.

Floating petals, drying bloom edges.

 

 

“The least, the least!” cried Old Crow.

“Ne’er forget the least,” scraped Grasshopper.

She pondered, “All these berries be enough?”

 

 

And so did friends find battered Lil Child

‘neath a poking bramble, near to fainting

And so did friends lift up bleeding Lil Child

bringing saved one to healing juice in painting.

 

 

 

 

 

SEEING A BRIGHTER LIGHT BEYOND A TANGLED DARK VALE

 

SEE THAT BETTER LIGHT OUT YONDER?

 

Heaving and breathing and cleaving and leaving

the beds of night for the far-hanging ledges

Shoving and scuffing and cuffing and shreveing

the arms and legs on the way of pledges

 

No wondering no plundering no blinking or shrinking

each friend somehow anyhow leaned and keened there

Not never not clever to scope more journey in thinking

each pain each gain tossed far behind the past to snare

 

Oh me oh my oh sigh oh nigh to nouncing finish line

while unknown Old Crow flapped in calling new sight

Old Crow scolding the molding of quest thought fine

Old Crow skewing eye to far far peak holding true light

 

Oh bother oh brother oh mother oh no more cover

Oh no oh so oh do-si-do inshiver inquiver at far peak

Oh friends oh trends oh mends of mind to seek far lover

Of all our souls in tolls of Crow across black tangly creek