It was the early morning breeze at the mountain top
The one that blows against your face
As you smile at the distant horizon
Watching the orange sun awaken from its slumber
With the birds in the valley below
Starting to sing, one by one
And slowly combining for a beautiful melody
One so pure and beautiful
That it fills your heart with a unique ecstasy
Like the orchestra you watched on your sixth birthday.
To your parents, this was an ordinary birthday gift
But to you, this was the moment.
This was the first time you fell in love.

It was the large tree in the middle of the lonely field
Branches spread out like arms as if to show the size of her heart
It had a shade like none I had seen
For within, you could listen to the whispers from the leaves
Tales of all those that had sought shelter
But left suddenly like they had come
Leaving only a scratch on the bark
A mark  that would later become permanent
Just to show that they were there but not there
To them, it was a label
But to her, it was another mind wrenching heartbreak
One she would have to shed her leaves for
And be reborn in the next season’s rain.
I always told myself I would be better
Because I always found peace in this place.
Here, I was finally free and nothing but a man.
I could sob without a care
Confident that the wind would not blow away my tears.
I could speak and watch with wonder
At the leaves roaring with laughter
And when I lay in the warm embrace that was her branches,
I did not dream of the fun times I had as a young boy
Dancing around naked in the mid afternoon rain
Nor of the wild times spent grazing the drunkard’s cows.
I instead dreamt of the future
Of me playing the flute to my favorite song
My grandson seated a few paces away
Smiling with tears in his eyes
Knowing fully well that this was the place.
This, was where love was pure.

©️Maathe