The Power of Story – Soaring

by Lorenzo Lago

the medicine woman lightly taps her drum
I lay on my back on soft blanket
as I close my eyes
I instantly move to a higher, safer place

from eyes of a hawk that soars through the sky
a few hundred meters above
I gaze down and I see myself at six years old
I am riding my bicycle at the school grounds
in the same way
I am also looking up at the hawk from my bike
and I am also a third party conceiving both images

as a young boy I am smiling
these school grounds are familiar
many of my childhood experiences began on these sacred fields
this is where my friends and I gathered to learn how life unfolds
this is where my first fight began
we were only innocent kids, not meaning to harm each other
but egged on by the older boys, we tussled
this is where I was surprised
by my first kiss from a little girl with long blond hair

the hawk is looking down on all my adventures from childhood
time seems to stand still
the past and present are moving within each other

looking toward the sky
I see the soft shades of the hawk are white, tan and brown
wings spread
the hawk proudly and gracefully glides throughout the sky
changing altitudes with confidence
this sight lifts my heart like a revelation

soon I am flying next to this magnificent sky creature
soaring to the open horizon and sailing with the wind

I am set free
I am the eyes of the hawk
the eyes of a six year old
and the eyes of the third person that watches with reverence

all three feel that this is a gift
as I ride my bicycle
and as I look down on the ground’s activities
as I visualize it all
I grasp the connection

space and infinity are suspended when all three spirits climb together toward heaven

I let the hawk into my life by gently touching my chest three times

the drumming stops
as I sit up
the great bird opens its large wings
and gracefully landing
it slowly settles on my upper back
closing its beautiful wings
the hawk’s talons sink into the deep muscles of my back

I feel warmth and peace
trust and wisdom
we are now sacred friends
both hearts beat in time
with the universe and with one spirit

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Soaring is excerpted from
ROMANCE ON THE HIGH SEAS pages 80-81
Read more about Lorenzo at www.lorenzolago.com

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