In the Meadow of My Youth

For my youngest brother, Ian

In the magic meadow of my youth
Tall grasses grow, birch and sumac glow,
Crab apples cook in sweet October's sun,
Cornflowers call out concerning blue jays,
Bearing messages from other better days.
Bullrushes prosper, bare bushes prickle,
Muddy footprints bring back where I belong

This path took me too many times to count
Through canopies of trees and deep designs,
A place between the House Where Hunger Dwelt
And Hutton School, where once a clear stream ran
And strawberry fields captured our delight,
Before filling stations, fast food, the Blight [1],
Fall to high rises, follies for these times

Here in a little wood faeryland lived on,
Trolls, imps and elves looked out from gnarled trunks
And gnomes came out to play, remember them?
Here high hopes took shape despite depressions,
Whispers of adventure lifted the heart
And though suburban housing closes in
And fences cast shadows on holy ground
The magic of the place holds true
The meadow a measure of my love

I did not find my wild pear tree there today
No doubt it found a place in paradise with Pan
But a blue jay called and a train passed by
Though little brother could not come with me
He wanders in a deep forest of despair
But I will take him there tomorrow, someday, soon

We will fly this magic carpet of desire
Stretch hands high to take what life has given
That little golden apple left on a spindly tree
A perfect metaphor for our immortality
He will smile like he did so long ago
When we wondered in this meadow all aglow
With the nature of God, the mystery of All
Responding to the universal spiritual call

All this and more the meadow speaks to me
Before it dies to be reborn elsewhere
Preserve me well within your inner eyes
Plant me where'er you go, wild and free

[1] Since the writing of this poem in October 1996, developers finally dismantled the remnants of this 'meadow of my youth' in London, Ontario.The Nature Spirits have fled, the Elementals vow revenge..there is so much work to be done to save such magical places...

 

Back to Moon Over Topanga