Waiting Shadow: For Grace

For Grace,

There is a shadow 

obscured by daydreams 

she invites

that does not understand 

her need to keep it away 

from her fields of flowers

  and the hills where she tumbles

and almost has wings . . . 


There is a darkness 

in the daylight, 

even when the sun 

extends its boldest rays

to chase her wild --  

embrace her wild

need to keep on moving . . .

Dance upon the surface

Memories, safe

Clear reflections

Crystal rains


Dance upon the surface,

And delight in

weightless ease

for Now


Soon enough,

the memories that dance

beneath the waters --

Not so clear

and trapped in fearful

restlessness,

will call you from below

the careless breeze

that barely hints

of what might linger there


Below the mirrors 

Muddy waters

Waiting for the rain

to stir them


Hoping it will show

That all is not

As it appears

Beneath

the sparkling surface


Memories wait

The ones that were too 

heavy to dance

But not too sunken

to speak


Listen, 

Listen to their dreams

of night


Carry,

Carry them home

to the dreams

of day -

skies that offer

all of their colors

and moods to you,

to flowers, to hills,

and now to the shadow

you nearly forgot

that needs you

to be 

Free

--Mary Anne Stewart (January 19, 2017)

Photo by Mary Anne Stewart, July 2014 - Cecret Lake, Alta

Photo by Mary Anne Stewart, August 2015 - Cecret Lake, Alta