LESSON LEARNED
Raindrops in Puddles
Stowed in our souls — memories that no longer hurt but solely instruct
“Betrayal has deep roots.” Father Michael Fish
Raindrops in puddles pooling outside the coffee shop’s window – reminding me of canoeing on Caddo Lake, sunlight splashing like diamonds cast from Uranus albeit, for too many years, too many advances ever more deeply into the bayou the lily pads distracted me.
I should have paid more attention to the tupelo and bald cypress trees where, eyes arising from the water like whitecaps, an alligator basked – pulling himself into a wet suit of thin human skin then kindly offering to help me steer before knocking me overboard with an oar.
©Jenine Bsharah Baines 2023
Suffering is inevitable, but whether we choose to learn from it or not is up to us. Will seed sprout from the scar? (To play with the immortal words of Wendell Berry. Below, an excerpt from his poem, The Slip.)
Where the imperfect has departed, the perfect begins its struggle to return. The good gift begins again its descent. The maker moves in the unmade, stirring the water until it clouds, dark beneath the surface, stirring and darkening the soul until pain perceives new possibility. There is nothing to do but learn and wait, return to work on what remains. Seed will sprout in the scar. Though death is in the healing, it will heal.
Thank you, team at Know Thyself, Heal Thyself for the home for this poem. Diana C., Ravyne Hawke, Spyder
Thank you, dearest readers. Love.
please click here if inclined to ponder, play, dream and sing with me.
Thank you for subscribing.
