She followed the path without question, as millions before her had done
Took pride in reaching each milestone, as she ticked them off one by one
She towed the line and rose upwards; strong, straight, steady and true
But slowly began to falter, as the next milestone vanished from view

She paused to gather her strength, then picked up the pace once more
Reaching towards the canopy, as she had always done before
But the ground at her roots became boggy, churned to a deep sucking mud
The urge to go higher consumed her, though she began to doubt that she could

Energy spent, she grew still, though a voice said she must go on
We can’t stay here it whispered to her, we’ll be late if we don’t move along
Late for what? Asked a passing earthworm, who seemed able to read her mind
Late for the next milestone said she, though it’s proving hard to find

What’s a milestone? Asked the earthworm, as he frolicked in the mud at her feet
They’re markers I need to get to, so that my growth can be complete
The worm looked at her for a moment, before giving a shake of his head
I see no part of you that’s missing; let’s find this milestone instead

She sighed as despair weighed heavy, pushing her down in the mud
She had no idea of the what or where, though every branch of her screamed she should
Deflated and tired she curled inwards, if she had eyes they would surely weep
Silent tears to soak the earth, as she drifted to the deepest of sleeps

She slept through the coming seasons; through the rain, wind, sleet and snow
The earthworm steady beside her, as he witnessed her change and grow
First her leaves crisped brown, drifted down, then her trunk gathered moss at its base 
Her branches so bare she might have been dead: she withdrew from the skywards race

In sleep her gaze turned inwards, where she saw connection to more than herself
Her roots in the ground, spread all around, nourished her sisters and Earth itself
It matters not who grows the tallest, she thought, or reaches the clouds with their leaves
The pattern below is important, intertwining as our tapestry weaves

The warming kiss of a gentle spring breeze, breathed life to her being once more
She stirred with a newfound purpose, clarity dawning like never before
She reached out to her sisters around her, gently touched each tree
Our growth is not in milestones, she said, but the fullest expression of who we can be

Hazel made it her mission, to spread this knowing to each saplings soul
Each tree in the forest stood proud: one part of a much bigger whole
Growing shoulder to shoulder, no matter their width or height
Giving each other all that they need, as they soak in the sun’s warm light

And what of our friend the earthworm?  
He lived out his days in the shade at her feet
Hazel never forgot the kindness he’d shown
Their friendship forever complete.

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I’ve been missing synchronicity in my life lately, but just as I noticed it was missing, there it was again; reminding me it’s always there, just sometimes I’m not on the right wavelength to see it.  Earthworm’s have been crossing my path lately, but where I would normally ascribe meaning to creatures I encounter, for some reason I ignored them.

Then a friend who was helping me edit some of my poems commented on the use of the word’ tapestry’ in my rhyme, Making Time, and the significance this word holds.  The next day I was thinking about the earthworms and wondering if I should write about them when I remembered I’d already written a poem that featured one: this poem. When I found it, guess what word it had in it? Tapestry. The poem also seemed to carry with it words that I needed to read, and led me down a tapestry rabbit hole to a brilliant article which reminded me of the ever changing nature of the tapestry of life, and the importance of unweaving what no longer serves us, as we reweave our tapestry in the pursuit of what brings us alive.

All that from an earthworm (or several earthworms) that continued to cross my path until I noticed them; thank you Universe.

Here’s the article if you’re interested:

https://www.on-seeing.com/home/2019/2/9/creating-an-evolving-life-narrative-weaving-and-unweaving-the-tapestry

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Thanks for joining me for another Monday rhyme time; Sunday seems to have escaped me, but that’s okay, I make my own time (most of the time…okay it’s a work in progress, but I’m trying.)

How are things in your world? You had any synchronicities lately?