light in the woods

Light in the Woods
the words by Patty Christiena Willis

Rubye's Light
The morning we found the house in the mountains,
I ran to the field in the back and stood under the tall zelkova tree
and listened to the wind
it was from here one summer night that I saw Rubye's light
or should I say I heard it?
can you hear light?

Those Eyes
Living on the edge of the forest, everyday I walked her paths
the ever-changing light drew me farther and farther into her depths
afternoon passed into evening
an owl flew so close I felt the soft under feathers of its wings
darkness deepened and I wondered
could I find my way home?
at that moment, I saw them
those eyes
they looked at me
waiting
would I spend the night?

Slow Shooting Star
Above the village, a long wide road leads to our place to view the stars
in the day, you can see the sea on one side and mountains rising on the other
on a clear, moonless night you are in the heavens
an outstretched hand is warmed by star light
in late summer, stars fall one after another in the blink of an eye
but one night, a lone star moved so slowly
we heard it reach the sea

Diva with Wings
One bird flies from northern China across a rough sea just to sing to me
I've never seen her but she's there
I whistle and she sings back
until she gets tired or I'm too cold and close the window
she sings from the natsmikan and camellia trees and from the bamboo grove across the valley
her wings glisten in the sun

a silver green and gold
she's all dressed up for the opera
my diva with wings

Gray Heron
A gray heron comes fishing
in our lotus pond
some days, she just stands there
not ready to fish
or fly
the forest wind
in her feathers
the cool mountain water
between her toes
the sinking sun
casting pink
on her long gray neck
the night gathering
in the east
a rising moon
and stars

Cloud Ride

Clouds gathered and dispersed endlessly above the forest
where did they come from?
where did they go?
looking up into a cloud-filled sky could take me back
to childhood and her voice,
choose your cloud,
she said
let’s jump,
said I
watch your toes

and then the flight upward
into the cool misty white
the ride could last for days
it never mattered where we went
she preferred the Amazon Delta
and I
that bit of Sahara just beyond
Djemaa al Fna

on the dawn of a market day
filled with striding merchants
snake charmers with baskets
camel carts full of oranges
all making a bee-line
to jostle for a spot in that square

that tiny dot
in the middle of the dunes
lovers and customers waited
grandmothers thirsty for fresh juice
children wide-eyed
watching for the snake’s dance

and we so high above

Light in the Woods

How can you live in that lonely place for so many years
in a lightning path
pelted with hail
buried in snow and baked slowly by a hot sun?

years are made of seasons and seasons days
every day the wind does not threaten to blow me off the road
I walk into the forest
and each day my heart pounds as if I'm on my way to meet a lover

what scent will she wear?
how will the light dance on her neck and arms?
will frost sparkle on her delicate feet?
in early evening, a forest clearing slowly fills with gold from the setting sun

in that clearing only once, she danced