To Whom Do I Address This Inquiry?
written by: Catherine MacMillan Sihoe
@onspiritswings
Green army jacket
Pockets
Buttons
It’s a summer night
And I’m walking along a dirt road
I hear woodcocks in the forest to my right
And watch dusk roll in
Through a misty distant rain
“Allow me the pleasure of introducing myself,”
Was what I heard,
And so I turned
To see a Little Man
Leaning against a fence post
Just inside the tree line
On my left
“It’s no coincidence that we should meet,”
He twinkled,
And ran his hand to his hat rim
Which he tipped my way
And replaced
“I’ve been observing your movements, of late
And wondering at the routine of it
Once a day
To pass this way, without fail
For months
What is it about this place
That brings you near?
What is it that you want
In my neck of the woods?”
And I stopped then
And stood a while
Pondering this question posed
With thoughtful
Though cautious reverence
“To whom do I address this inquiry?
I postured,
And held my ground
Though inside, my body quaked
For something about this
Jovial stranger
Said to me:
“Beware!”
And in that moment as I watched
His essence grew wings
And didn’t he leap, then
Off the ground with
Piercing cry
To swoop across my path with
Threatening talons drawn
Fiery heat
And devils eyes
Then, I
With arms held high
And lions roar
Stood firm
And met his eyes with icy stare
Enough to make him shriek
And dive for cover
Lest I betray his feeble guise
With one fell swoop
…
Let go of fear
And watch its black wings pass you by
For not a moment passes
When we don’t stand ready
To protect your steadfast heart
Fear not
Fear not!
…
And so,
With fear declined
I walked across the field toward home
And lay my boots beside the door
Stepped inside
Fire lit
Warm hearth
All is well
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
On the way home through the forest one evening a man faces fear, stands up to it, then walks on home.
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