The Way the Water looked as we crossed to Lenore.
When I went to board the Ferry Angel of Fire was there.
” So you met my Daddy then..”
“Yes, he is quite a person.”
“My sister and I like to think so”
“Why does fire greet me on the water?”
“You are learning to ask the right questions I see?”
“So why?” I persisted.
“Ah sometimes water is fire and fire is water, and man is tree and tree is man. But enough of riddles you must tell me what is your grail, and then I will take you to the Island of Lenore.”
I thought of the three wise owls. I thought of the Tree in the soul of the island. Words welled up in me to express the inexpressible.
I
Growth of confidence and compassion
Resistance to deception and betrayl
Aspiring to understanding
Intuition to be trusted
Listening to the Man in the Green Turban
II
My grail is in myself
Somewhere deep inside
And yet I cannot find it
Yet in it I confide.
My grail is growing like
fingers, hands and toes
It is beyond any human woes.
My grail is saying look beyond
The mountain and the seas
Find yourself underneath Buddha’s Bodhi tree.
I can follow the scent of my grail
Blowing in Bob Dylan’s lyrics
And he’s a man who hopes justice will
prevail.
My grail is in the knowledge
That this is the day
This is the day the world
will find Harmony’s way.
What can I Unity do
But call out in all the blessed spots
The House, the Place
The Meadow of His prayers
And seek out my next Case
I can feel the softness of His guidance
The harshness of the challenges that He sets
Can I pray for what I need and not for what I want.
Pilgrims of all colours, pilgrims of all creeds
Gathered in the Tent, waiting to stream
Forth in the Ocean of heroic deeds.
***
Angel of Fire smiled from the tip of her head to the bottom of her toes, and she glowed.
“Meadows of His prayers… oh Daddy would love that… and all different colours too… and some with thorns and some that attract bees…”
Angel of Fire clapped her hands.
“Unity, you must not lose heart, there is much for you to do, but you need courage ! so I think Daddy will send you a few tests for that. Remember always that He loves you, and don’t forget to use your wings when you need to. “
“I will …”
She took my hands and shook them very warmly. I felt she could have burnt me to a cinder if she had wanted but instead it was like a nourishing drink flowed through every vein in my body.
“Come on board Unity – we can talk awhile until we reach the island”
So I boarded the Ferry, and saw on board some of the other passengers of SS Vulcania. I wondered if they too had been asked a question before boarding. What were their Grails?
Angel of Fire chattered away. I can’t remember all she said, but as time goes by pieces come back to me.
I do remember her saying — you must find “The Hidden Words, there is a copy that has been left at the Abbey by my brother.”
I was becoming quite amazed at the Man in the Green Turban’s family. I was sure I was probably going to meet some cousins, Aunties and Uncles at this rate.
As this thought went around in my head I gazed at the thick mist we were passing in, I could see only a little bit of the ocean, and none of the sky. I felt claustraphobic, but then I saw with my Owl’s eyes and using my tiny wings I flew high above the mist and decided to fly onto the island. I looked down at the boat and the Angel of Fire who had dozed off. She could talk that one!
I searched and scanned for this place we were meant to arrive at, and there ahead was the Abbey. I flew towards it …
Flying in Over the Island- Can’t see the Abbey Yet
(C) June Perkins all rights reserved.
I am wordless! Know by my wordlessness that your imagery has resonated on a very deep level.
Your response – especially the poem – is so full of ideas and possibilities. I can’t wait to see what prompted your posting!
I love your poem and the idea that the grail lies within. Can’t wait to learn more about your quest to find the abbey.
I’ll put the link into the post later, but for now-go to this (:
http://www.dailywriting.net/Alphabet/G.html
Oh, my! The concept of the grail being within you is something that feels good to me. It is a deep thought that will resonate in my brain for quite some time. I am looking forward to the next post.
Wow! This is deep and thoughtful and leaves me with a spirited dialogue with myself. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Vi
the post, the poetry, the pictures – all beautiful…like the Angel, I liked “meadow of his prayers” too!
A very beautiful poem surrounded by a delightful story. I especially liked the last line of the poem: “Pilgrims of all colour, etc.”
It’swonderful how the Abbey always calls us, and what it draws out of us. These words and mages are so beautiful, saturated with the peace and wisdom of the Abbey.
wow aunty june, your writing ability is definitely worthy of a PhD!
the imagery was beautiful!! beautiful!!, and i agree with whoever said they liked the idea of the grail being inside us…
it reminds me of the Baha’i quote that makes reference to the next world being (paraphrasing) “closer than our life vein”, and through doing study circles, one of the ideas that has emerged is that nearness to God and pure happiness are related… hmmm…
I am very happy to hear everyone’s responses to this piece, and — thanks to my neice, who is also inspiring me with her travels and experiences in Japan.
In discussion with lots of SS Vulcania passengers we wonder if part of the grail of a creative writer, is writing itself, and then there is what inspires one to write.