The Wise Man

I find him meditating in the thicket

Becoming one with the wind and trees.

So serenely peaceful and tranquil

As though spiritually bound to earth and sea.

 

As I approached with my intent

To seek an answer in his inner being

To the question that was in my heart,

He opens not his eyes at all

But acknowledges my presence

As though in him I am a part.

 

Before I can ask my question

He speaks to me without a sound:

“What you come to seek,” says he,

“In your own time shall be found.”

 

“I am the being of wisdom you seek

From the village far above the sea;

The precipice village on the mountain’s peak.

In time shall you find an answer.

Seek it in great peace.

For now as I am so shall you be.”

 

“Sit now with me, young one,

And become one with earth and sea.

Bring peace into your weary soul

And become your only need.”

 

“In this lesson shall you find an answer

To the question that burns within your breast.

But take heed: Empty shall your soul be

If you fail to fulfill your quest.”

 

“Wise one,” said I, “your secret shall I learn.

I shall find the answer that I seek.

I surely shall not fail.”

“Learn now, young one, the knowledge you need

To overcome the hardships that lie in your path;

To overcome life’s windy gale.”

 

As we spent many hours there

Becoming one with the earth and sea

He taught me to value life’s treasures

And to set my mind and body free.

 

After many days of trying

Still I could not succeed

But I didn’t let failure prevail.

Many more days passed

Of disciplining my inner being

To allow my unawakened power to unveil.

 

Finally, after many weeks

And many an hour’s girth

Inside me grew a new strength

And with this a new birth.

 

Finally I felt the wisdom

That I came to seek:

The wisdom of the earth.

As I rose to my feet

I could feel the power inside me

Flowing through my spiritual birth.

 

The wise man opened up his eyes

For the first time since I arrived

And in them I saw fate’s plan for me

And what discipline had contrived.

 

The wise man spoke once more:

“My son, you found your place

In time’s shifting sands.

My purpose is fulfilled here.

You have gained true wisdom.

Go forth and heal the land.”

 

With this the wise man vanished

Inside a flash of bright light

Leaving me standing in the thicket

With not a soul in sight.

 

With the vision I saw in his eyes

I knew that it was time.

It is my destiny to heal the earth.

With the wise man’s lesson in my heart,

With my newfound wisdom,

I set forth to give the land a new birth.

 

   ©T.A.Rogers

      20041101

 

Author's Note

Unbiased truth.