a calm october morning
DESCRIPTION
Reflections from the Out of the Darkness Walk by Ed CastilloTRANSCRIPT
A Calm October Morning
I said my hellos and then found a place to be out of the way
I sat on a short wall with my legs outstretched and my back against a column within the colonnade
The early morning sky, still dark before the sunrise, was mostly clear
With a smattering of light clouds illuminated by a distant moon
I watched as the fountain at this end of the lake spouted from its center
And rose outward to then fall in a large concentric ring of splashing droplets
A small group of geese flew by, low and in a V formation, and disappeared around a bend
My gaze fell upon an Egret standing still in the shallows
So still that its whiteness seemed almost unreal against the dark water
In the distance I could see the silhouettes of joggers
Becoming momentarily vivid as they passed through the lamplight
I was taken in by this visual bounty on this calm October morning
Behind me I could hear voices and was reminded of what brought me here
I looked up at the stars and wondered if the story I had heard as a child is more than a story
Could each star be a monument to the soul of one who has passed through this life?
A tribute to their existence and the imprint they leave on those who remain, remember, and love
I searched the sky for that one star, certainly the largest and brightest
For that will surely be Ginny’s star
I find it and I smile
I left my position of solitude and the sanctuary of my reflection to join the others
We embraced, we talked, we listened, and we proceeded in unity
As we walked the sun rose and the stars began to fade in the daylight
I took comfort in knowing that even though I could no longer see the stars
They are forever present, forever bright, forever within us, eternal
I felt a sense of peace and a sense of purpose
On this calm October morning
Ed Castillo