Preciso de um refúgio, um santuário etéreo,
um espaço onde o vazio se estenda sem limites,
onde minhas mágoas se afoguem, dissolvendo-se no tempo,
e, ao emergir, fiquem à deriva, sem âncora para retornar.

Não apenas as tristezas desejo abandonar,
mas também os pesares que ecoam na mente,
os tormentos insondáveis, os pensamentos errantes,
toda sombra que, impiedosa, se aninha em meu ser.

Almejo um refúgio, um bálsamo sem toque,
onde minha própria consciência me embale,
pois já não espero gestos nem promessas,
talvez nem mesmo de mim próprio.

Um refúgio onde, após a água fria em dias abrasadores,
eu possa fechar os olhos sem temor,
e, na vastidão do pensamento, encontrar descanso,
certo de que, ao despertar, serei renovado.

Preciso de um mergulho profundo,
tão intenso que, ao emergir,
seja eu outro, despido do peso do passado,
meus fardos escoando pelo ralo do esquecimento.

Que até minha essência resplandeça,
e a escuridão oculta, há tanto arraigada,
seja iluminada por quem deseje permanecer,
pois tal redenção não se dá por acaso,
mas pelo encontro de almas que veem além.

Tão restaurador será esse refúgio,
que nele reencontrarei o que há muito se perdeu:
a centelha que, adormecida,
aguarda apenas um sopro para arder outra vez.

It's getting on to 4, the sun has not shown itself
all day, the snow is melting, some bare spots of
grass appearing here and there, it's 34 degrees.
The little piles of bird seed I put out at noon on
the walkways have all but disappeared, gangs
of birds have mostly consumed it all, pretty little
ground feeders, of one kind or another. My inside
fat cat has had his nose pressed to the window all
day observing them with wide eyed interest and
quivering jaw, maybe licking his predatory lips.
Even though he has never eaten anything that did
not come out of a bag or can.

I too have enjoyed watching them busily hopping
around feasting, I always wonder where they go
when they disappear. Maybe just passing through
headed south for warmer pastures? Or are they year
round locals? Do they have any idea who put out
the feast, and how does the word get spread, do
they have scouts or lookouts, or some kind of aerial
bird only telegraph system.

At least the freezing weather kept our Barn Cats all
snugged up and off the street, at one point I quick
counted between 40 to 50 winged visiting diners
out there. The cats never even knew they were here.

Watching them feed was almost as much of a treat
for me as it was for them. It made me feel useful,
and that does not happen very often these days.
When we get old it is these little things that matter
and sustain us.