Sarai

A leaf aloft, languid pirouettes
a scamper over the careful courtyard
and pause
          fluttering against sun-baked bricks
By the canal an egret, erect and furled
ruffled, nudged by sympathetic reeds
teased, tugged
          tempted again to tack o’er billowing blue
The winds have woken once more
loosing tendrils from their tortoiseshell moorings
fussing the fabric folds of fashion
and stirring something deep and wild within –
          long dormant childhood thirst
          for quests, vistas, and starry desert nights
Down below, listening is submerged in life
braying bustle of business rumbling across urban clearings
grape-vine gleanings, aching joy congratulating friends
parties and processions tripping over each other
          time held captive by the moment
But up here clamouring voices fade behind the view
the long road beckons, engulfed by the horizon
fabled lands of green await beyond these sands
          perhaps there longing may be lost in hope
Familiar footsteps carried on the breeze
his comely eyes lit with thrilled uncertainty
he too has heard the voice, but clothed in promise
          it is enough – I will go

James E. Patrick
28/05/05

[A reflection on Genesis 12:5, from her perspective.]
Photo by Poorva Rawat on Unsplash