A Walking Prayer for Richard Twiss

Walking south to you Grandfather, sweet wind of hope,
my mother the sea
rushes to my side and runs back,
rushes to my side and runs back;
whispers at my feet.

Ask, she says.

I cannot bargain with the Mighty One.

Ask, she says.

Each step a plea,
a drumbeat.
Each step a wail,
a laugh, a dance.
Each step a prayer.

I cannot bargain with the Mighty One.

You can struggle;
You can wrestle,
You can ask.

Each step a plea,
a drumbeat.
Each step a wail,
a laugh, a dance.
Each step a prayer.

Walking south to you Grandfather, sweet wind of hope,
I see a great tree
standing tall like a man
alone on a hill.

Feet still upon the path,
arms reaching to your face,
fingers strumming your sweet wind.
A tall tree,
a graceful tree,
a bold, piercing, laughing tree
standing lone on a hill.

Stretched
Between
Us
And You.

Each step a plea,
a drumbeat.
Each step a wail,
a laugh, a dance.
Each step a prayer.

Walking south to you Grandfather, sweet wind of hope,
I see my heart.
That I am selfish.
That I want his feet upon the path.
That I want to anchor his root.
That I have already forgotten
a tree never dies.

Each step a plea,
a drumbeat.
Each step a wail,
a laugh, a dance.
Each step a prayer.


February 2013: In memory of Richard Twiss -   https://www.facebook.com/RichardTwissLegacy