Walden Dreams: A Guided Meditation
Imagine a pathway through oak and pine woods.
When you leave the small cabin, the sky is dark blue;
June 5, 2000
To your left lies a quiet, green pond.
The setting sun kindles it suddenly gold,
like some wizard with igniting wand.
Soon you come to a cove where a small boat is moored.
Up ahead you can now clearly see
a small cabin perched on the side of a hill
in the shade of a black walnut tree.
From the chimney there rises a ribbon of smoke --
a filament ashen as fog --
and as you walk forward you see that the door
is propped open with chunks of old log.
Your heart begins racing; your spine tingles, too;
you've rarely felt such eager bliss.
You know you're about to meet Henry Thoreau
and you've dreamed all your lifetime of this.
As you climb the last yard up the leaf-matted trail,
Henry comes to the door with a smile
and, to your astonishment, greets you by name,
says he hopes that you'll stay for awhile.
He has things to discuss, he says, nodding his head
and running a hand through his hair.
He's prepared you a meal that is simple and good
and he gestures to his only chair.
"Sit down for a spell. I have questions to ask.
I suspect that you might have some, too.
Just make yourself easy. Treat my home as yours.
You're a friend who has proved loyal and true."
Thus saying, he retreats into the small hut
and you follow him across the sill.
Inside there's a cot and a table and chair.
You notice the window's light-spill.
Soon you are eating a hearty, hot meal
of beans in a vegetable stew
and you find yourself telling him what's on your mind --
the worries that most beset you.
He's easy to talk to; he listens intent
to each word you utter today.
And when you are finished, he looks in your eyes
saying what only Henry would say.
in the west a cloud fades pink to red.
You are filled with a peace that you've never yet felt
as you ponder the words that he said.
For now, it's enough just to write down your thoughts
in the journal -- like his -- that you keep.
Most important, you want to inscribe his words
before weariness claims you for sleep.
Though it may take the rest of your life to discern
the truths spoken on this day to you,
you know that you'll cherish them deep in your heart
as you treasure his friendship anew.
Copyright © Amy Belding Brown