Elements of Alchemy Yamba

We are having our spring sale from today until Sunday night. 30% off store wide.

Love this 🩷

I went to the river again
Because I needed her
And I brought her nothing but myself
Because this is all
She has ever asked of me
At one time
That was asking too much
When I didn’t possess awareness
Or understanding
Or the kind of eyes that see in all directions—
Up and down, forward and backward,
Inwardly and outwardly

But time and change and a growing history
Made me take notice of her, the river,
And helped me name the shifting
Edges and depths we shared
I went to her again and again
I came to know her evolutions
The sweep of her history
I stared at her
I was resurrected by her
My turbulence was pacified by her
I found myself when needed
I lost myself when needed too
I compared her presence
To previous memories and versions I knew of her;
I thought of who I was, the memories and versions
Of myself when I visited her
The way she invited reflection
And endlessly granted peace

I brought my thoughts and joys,
My secrets and sorrows and
She responded in kind,
Revealing her changing meanders
Of erosion and deposition,
How she keeps accepting
And including,
Endlessly, everything

There remains a loving and enduring witness there,
Alongside a river,
And when I visit her
The muddiness becomes clear
And I tell her how important she is to me
Every time
And every time I tell her she is beautiful

~ Laurel Trautwein, “Acceptance”trautwein.poetry

Art by Andrea Durfee