The Universe Meets Me On My Walk

The poem finally dislodged itself from my psyche and became this: I went on my usual walk up Rock Canyon and was hit with a sudden wave of acceptance and peace. It was really nice.

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To make sense of my muddles, I went on a walk
To the top of the hill, steep and tall. 
At the summit The Universe waited for me: 
With a smile as if no time passed at all. 

The sun hung in the sky, a halo in gold, 
A shimmering, humming bright yolk. 
It split apart and trickled around the Universe, 
Shivering the air and my spine as It spoke. 

"You're holding too tight to what you think you are," 
It said, brushing over the nail-marks in my skin. 
It laughed a little, but the laugh was sad, too. 
"If you don't let go, you'll never really begin." 

I knew it was right, but I wasn't so sure. 
Surely I've been something, since I've been for a while. 
"I'm trying too hard again, aren't I?" I said quietly. 
The Universe just tsked with a smile. 

It brushed my cheek with the implication of infinity, 
And then slowed it all down to a blink.
"There's a difference between desire and desperation, you know,
And it's much less than you really might think." 

It turned me to the world below the hill I had climbed, 
And pierced me with each pinprick of light. 
The Universe kissed my forehead with the gift of Okayness. 
Then it vanished with a whispered, "Goodnight."

November 6, 2023