Seeds of Wisdom

A solitary man I make my way up the mountain One step at a time The life I know further and further behind I wish to be alone away from the busyness the incessant noise my many responsibilities life’s never ending activities work that is never done all of life’s many conflicts I reach the top sit down and cross my legs As I look out at the landscape my village is a small mass of thatched roofs the people barely seeable I see smoke rising from a central fire wondering if I will be missed From this distance the lake appears so small I imagine it fitting into a wooden spoon The horizon surrounds me stretching my eyes distracting me from the pebbles beneath me blades of grass are now myopically large I watch as the ants toil Are our lives not the same? Seasons change Summer to fall Winter to spring I witness it all My beard lengthens as my mind enlarges Secrets have been revealed Disconnected yet I am a part of all I grow downward into the ground Others come to the mountain top seeking wisdom They sit with me for a while never staying long Each takes from me so that they may give I am a man transformed Arms outstretched reaching to all the horizons covered with foliage The seasons continue to change I send my leaves down to the village beconing them to come to the mountain no longer do I want to be alone "Come sit beneath my branches caress my bark smell my scent know my soul." You come to the mountain top But I am no longer able to audibly speak All that I know resides in the rings of my seasons Still you partake of my wisdom Putting your ear to my trunk You can hear my lonely heart beat aware of my breath whistling through leather like leaves I attach my seeds to your woolen coat You are a solitary man making your way down from the mountain One step at a time Closer and closer to our village To the ones you love As you walk through the village you shake your coat Seeds fall on the fertile ground Finally I have come home...