Somewhere In Time
A bell rings loudly in unending open space
Flat field stretching into corners thickened in dark
Grey coalescing into black like stepping off a cliff
It's tolling long and hard now, maybe calling someone?
The grass lifts with the evening breeze,
The sound fades away and I'm standing alone
A circle of big trees, shadowed in moonlight
They nod their wide heads like their carrying rumours
Swishing dark leaves somnolent and sensual.
A white owl flickers like sudden matchlight
Crouches at my feet, head bowed like a supplicant
I cradle its head in trembling calloused hands
I feel my heartbeat resounding, resounding.
The bell tolls again, and now the dark rolls inward,
Engulfs the trees until I'm standing in a beam
The owl croons softly, kisses my shadowy feet
And melodies begin to beat like a drum in my head
I rise slowly, toes suspended in the air
Then a whirlwind grabs me and I'm tumbling out of time.
She's so old I can smell the ancient years
Earthy like dirt upturned before summer rain
Circlets of beads on her hands and both feet
She slowly sways to the drum-beat
Brr-ta-ta, brr-ta-ta, brr-ta-ta
The dust from her dress blows into my face and I feel her words like a sprinkling of rain
First soft and warm like tears then rumbling with thunder
Running rivulets wash my feet clean
She offers a handful of beads, yellow, red and green
A cascade of colour lighting up my dreams
I slip them on my ankles and the drum pounds harder;
I'm dancing and singing beside her now
The owl on my shoulder is bobbing and weaving
Sewing a blanket of light out of darkness.
Somewhere, somehow, I'm standing at a door
Withered and beaten, warped and bold
The door opens and he's clutching my hand
It smells like baked bread perfumed with love
He smiles slowly, shakes his head sadly, tears glinting like stars
He fades like mist in sunlight, barely there but not gone
Then there's just an etched shadow before he's swallowed by the dawn
I'm alone but at peace, finally home.
Copyright © Beverley Abrahams | Year Posted 2025
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