Once there was a soul
Who did not know
How to love
And so it set out on a journey
To learn
That which it did not know
It walked quietly
And soon came to a Great Tree
It admired the tree
And so it asked:
“Great Tree, what is Love?”
And the Great Tree said:
“True love has strong roots.
It grows stronger with the passing of time,
Always growing and reaching,
It knows how to bend
Without breaking”
The soul listened
And pondered
It could see how the Great Tree
Was the embodiment of Love
It wrapped its arms
As far around the Great Tree
As it could reach
And was thankful
Then it continued on its journey.

Next it came to an Ancient Stone
The stone sat in the middle of the soul’s path.
Ever so still
And ever so gentle
The soul spoke:
“Ancient Stone, what is Love?”
The stone replied:
“Love is humble.
It is true to itself,
Apart from circumstances
Love can sit quietly in its own thoughts”
The soul took this in.
It laid its hands on the Ancient Stone
Bid the stone peace
And the soul continued on its path

The Soul walked on a long time
Before reaching the Swift River
Sitting on the river bank
It prayed
Hearing this prayer
The Swift River spoke:
“Love has a course
It is constantly moving
Constantly changing
It cannot be bound
For bound Love stagnates”
The soul had not measured these ideas
So it meditated
And when it was finished
It washed its hands in the river
And continued

Days past
Before the soul came upon a Majestic Mountain
It stood in awe
Massive was the mountain
“Majestic Mountain, what is Love?”
The soul asked with a trembling voice.
And the mountain echoed back
“Love has many peaks
Yet has just as many valleys
Any soul wishing to love
Must climb peaks
And descend into valleys.”
With this the soul began to climb.
Until it came to the top
Of the highest peak

And from the Peak of the Mountain
The soul could see
The Deep Blue Ocean
It seemed so far
But the soul longed for it
The soul’s heart pounded
So he sang
Out loud to the Ocean
And across the distance
Ever so faintly
The Ocean whispered back:
“All Things come from Love
and in the End
All Things return to Love.”

With this,
The soul descended from the mountains
Ran toward the waves
And dove in

Thus beginning another Journey.


Austerberto R. Palis, Jr.
June 20, 2001 17:59pm